amjamin

Naecia Dixon with her illustrations "I am not a word person," said Naecia Dixon, a fashion illustrator, who plays with forms, colours, and figurines and expresses her emotions through myriad strokes than the defined shapes of letters and sentences. The fine lines that define fashion illustration, according to Dixon, are a work of art. "This form has principle elements of art," she said. "I am still a raw talent. I have so much to learn." The difference, according to her, is that in fashion illustration, the subjects are the clothes and the accessories, which become the focal point and have intricate details. In simpler terms, fashion illustration is the communication of fashion that can be expressed through drawing, painting, or illustration. Detailing is the key in getting the best results. "Fashion is a tough industry; it is very competitive," said Dixon, who is self-taught and dreams of taking this natural talent from paper to t...

'The Head' (right), one of the most intriguing photographs taken by Jamaican art photographer Ken Ramsay The soft lights reflected off the row of framed, black and white photographs, and as sun set in the distant horizon and the trees swayed in the cool evening breeze at Redbones Gallery in Kingston, the hues in the skies provided a creative perspective to the silhouettes and faces frozen in the frames. The occasion was to showcase and celebrate the works and life of Ken Ramsay, one of Jamaica's most prolific and well-known art photographers. "He always had different perspectives of life," recounted Anthony Bailey, Ramsay's nephew and one of the organisers of the exhibition. "This always reflected in whatever he did - from the riding boots and the scarf, which made a statement to his love and passion for capturing the beauty around him." Each piece of Ramsay's work, a heady mixture of creativity, craftsmanship and detail, has a story ...

There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who, with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun, said Pablo Picasso, world-renowned Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer. A group of students from the School of Visual Arts (SVA) Textile Department, at Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts (EMC), set out to transform their spots into the sun - ­ dispelling the colours of the rainbow. These creative minds were at work to create couture for the annual alternative fashion show at the EMC. “Alternative fashion show was created to push the creative boundaries of the students,” informed Robert Hall, lecturer at the Textile Department, SVA.  “It has now become a major fund-raising occasion for School of Visual Arts Textile Department and the mission is to create designs using non-traditional materials such as plastic, aluminum cans, stones, etc.” These stude...

The arc lights on the stage shining on the costumes of the actors and forming silhouettes can be perceived as dramatic, essential, complementary, or even hard-hitting at times. Theatre couture has an important role in encapsulating the theme of the play, which is as critical as the talent of the actors, blends of light and sound, and the props on the stage. Pirate "Costumes for theatre tend to be more intricate and detailed as they are seen from closer, in a more intimate environment," says Greg Thames, who wears multiple hats of costume and set designer, technical director, stage manager, make-up designer, and director. The theme, colour scheme, design and the look of the costumes have to critically blend with the overall production. "As a designer of costumes for theatre and film, I work closely with the production director to make sure the costumes fit in with their overall vision," says Quiendell Fereguson. Costumes for theatre not only style th...