FASHION illustrator Pippa McManus loves fashion and adores models, so putting together 26 illustrations of her favourite models from A to Z for her exhibition A is for Arizona was as easy as A,B,C.
“There were some letters in the alphabet that I had at least five models for and I had to choose which one to draw, but there were some obvious choices too, I’m a big fan of Kate Moss, so she was obviously going to be K,” she said.
“It was really difficult to cull them, because I love them all. But it gave me the chance to research a lot of the girls I’ve drawn and learn more about them.”
The talented artist’s star is ascending of late with her being asked to attend various fashion events around the globe to draw models straight from the runway. She did it at Perth Fashion Festival last year, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival in Sydney this year and has her sights set on New York Fashion Week next year.
For A is for Arizona, her first solo exhibition of original paintings, she used pictures from magazines to inspire her and then changed the outfits on the models to suit the colours she wanted to highlight in the pieces.
It features models of the moment from all over the world including Ruby Jean Wilsonok, Daga Zioberok, Lindsey Wixsonok, Arizona Museok and our own Gemma Wardok.
“I’m really happy to be having this exhibition at 140 William, it’s a beautiful space. I didn’t really want to have it in a gallery because I don’t think of my work as fine art, it’s a bit more commercial than that,” she said.
“And the reason that it only runs for such a short time is that I really want people to be able to take their pieces home and enjoy them.”
And does she have a favourite among them?
“For me, my favourite of the moment, would have to be Arizona Museok, she is the biggest and the best in the world right now at what she does,” she said.
“But I’ll always stay faithful to Kate Moss. I’ve loved her for a very long time.”
The Essentials
What: A is for Arizona
Where: 140 William, William Street, Perth
When: June 22 to 24, open 11am to 4pm