Drawing Imperfectly and Why its a Skill
- Elyse Blackshaw
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
Blog by London Fashion illustrator Elyse Blackshaw
As a fashion illustrator working in London, I’m surrounded by digital tools, AI experiments, and polished renderings that dominate the industry. Yet, when I sit down at my little home studio desk, I find myself reaching for the simple tools... paper, pens and a fine line. An oil pastel if I'm feeling wild. There’s something about the rawness of hand drawn lines and marks that feels irreplaceable. I feel emotionally connected to them.
Why Imperfection Matters to Me and Why I Think it is a Skill
My artworks are rarely flawless. A line will definitely wobble, it's possible a smudge or fingeprint might appear where I didn’t intend it, but those marks show the reality of creatign art in real life. They are evidence that a human made it. For me, it also shows that illustration isn’t just about depicting clothes, but it’s about capturing a feeling, a gesture, even a fleeting moment. Imperfection is what makes the work human, and it’s what I believe connects most deeply with my audience.
But drawing imperfectly is not only a style choice, but actually, a real skill! You have to be able to understand materials and how they behave. You have to be able to access two areas of your brain at the same time - control and spontaneity. It's a hybrid mindset, but you really need the right conditions to access it. Too controlled and your work feels tight. An unfortable environment and it's difficult to feel relaxed and spontaneous. When creating at live events, that goldilocks zone is a real skill to be able to access. Making imperfect actually look stylish is not just an accident, it takes time to develop.
Working With Marketing and Events
In recent projects, I’ve noticed marketing and events are really leaning into this authenticity. They’re asking for live illustrations that feel authentic and lively. When I share a sketch that still has the looseness of my first idea, it often resonates more than a refined digital rendering. It’s proof that fashion is, and has always been, about expression.
Balancing Digital and Hand-Drawn
I don’t reject digital tools, they are a part of my practice, and they open up exciting possibilities. But I still try and retain my authentic mark making and fluidity. It’s a way of grounding something digital but that still carries the same qualities of my human hand.
Looking Ahead
As fashion continues to embrace virtual spaces and AI aesthetics, I still believe hand drawn illustration will only become more valuable. I get asked if I am worried about AI, but my answer is always no. Believing AI is a threat is doubting the value of your work. I fundamentally believe that AI cannot replicate my mistakes, or imperfections. I rarely predict what I am going to draw or how it is going to turn out... so how will AI? If the world prefers AI, I think that will be a sad reality. Even if AI takes over, I will still be here drawing my imperfect artwork!
You can own a piece of my imperfect artwork here!