Montana Forbes

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Fashion

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Molly in SK vintage fashion illustration

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Woman with scars on face and neck in a digital illustration

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Illustration of 'illumination' for Quentin Blake's 90th birthday

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Absolute expression in total reduction

She masters the expression of each figure with simple line and filled color in absolute sophistication.

Montana Forbes is a self-taught artist with a Visual Communications BA degree and a background in graphic design. Her figurative work is a subtle balance of form and line, highlighted by an intrinsic sense of colour that developed in formative years growing up and travelling between the United States, southern Africa and the UK. Each artwork is sketched in pencil or ink then transferred into Photoshop for further reworking and colour addition. She attributes magazines (vintage & current) and photography as major influences. Her style lends to working on a wide variety of projects that include fashion, portraiture, anatomical and medical illustrations amongst others.

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Interview

Highlights of the last 12 months? Creating my own t-shirts and being asked to participate in an upcoming fashion exhibition in Berlin this summer. Do you have any formal design training? Yes, a BA degree in Visual Communications from AIU (American Intercontinental University). Where do you live now & what drew you there? I live in the north west of London, it is every city rolled into one and personally no other can match its individuality. Where is your studio and can you describe it for me? It’s a converted 2nd bedroom with wooden floors. It has a work-station (computer, printer and scanner), various books/magazines/artwork along one wall and a chaise longue and easel along the opposite wall. Who or What is your biggest inspiration? The female anatomy, fashion and other artists. How do you get your ideas? Browsing through magazines, galleries and taking long walks around London. Do you collect anything? Shoes, books, music, magazines, feathers and leaves in the autumn. Do you keep a scrapbook? Of sorts, in virtual form and tear outs from magazines. Tell us about a favourite project you’ve recently completed. Illustrating current 'fashion icons' (legendary) Iris Apfel and (blogger) Tavi for Hong Kong based Milk-X magazine. What would be your dream job/commission. Working/collaborating with fashion labels and creating some artwork for fashion magazine covers. Who are your art heroes? Kara Walker, Wangechi Mutu, Mark Rothko and Gauguin. Who are your design heroes? Zaha Hadid (architecture) and Stella McCartney (fashion). If you were not an illustrator, what would you be? An art editor for a fashion magazine. How do you think a friend, or professor who knows you well would describe you? Quirky and inquisitive. If you could take a holiday leaving tomorrow, where would you go & what would you do? I would do a mini world tour. Visit friends, explore vintage stores, art galleries and go out dancing.

Favourites

Café: Brunch at Smiths Of Smithfield Gallery: FIG Fashion Illustration Gallery Art Equipment/Tool: HB pencils, charcoal and my Mac Food: Thai Fusion Drink: Coffee and Wine at Borough Market Shop: Vintage from Marshmellow Mountain