Reporting fashion
duction. He thinks, also, that the average woman
will copy a drawn dress, unconscious that it
really exists, where she would not imitate photo
graphic reality.
His major complaint is that most artists are
unfamiliar with newspaper technique. Above all
he recommends that a thorough knowledge of
process methods should control their work.
Now the authorities have spoken and written,
the student is in possession of much good advice.
Most students will be well advised to assimilate
ita few will be equally well advised to ignore
it. It has been given with care and sincerity, but
most people, when offered what they asked for,
can only explain that it is not what they meant.
In fashion, an artist's work can transgress most
of the given rules, if in itself it is good enough to
do so but the qualification is of first importance,
and its application limited. The student, there
fore, should cultivate, on the practical side, an
ability to draw, a first-class knowledge of
anatomy (which in any case is useful), freedom
from catalogue technique, familiarity with
reproduction processes, and an aptitude for other
things besides fashion. Any commercial artist,
but especially the would-be fashion artist, must
also develop those less tangible qualifications
his own perception and powers of interpretation
on which, ultimately, depend the qualities of
his work.
Newspaper fashion work must appeal visually to people who are not primarily interested in
fashion this is as essential as a good fashion point." Draioings by Robb for the DAILY express)
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