Prismacolor I

 

Surrender

Illustration By Donna Massa  2007 

The World of Prismacolor!                             

This illustration is personal, it was an enlightening breakthrough in my life.  I was going through physical issues that required extensive physical therapy in a few different areas of my life.  It was a journey in healing my mind, body and soul. 

TRUST was the biggest issue to overcome.  Trust involves letting go of ego, a guarded heart and closed mind.  Much of everyday life is built on trust.   

The illustration shows a woman in the middle of an ocean floating.  Just imagine all the things lurking in the ocean waters, fish & birds of pray, a storm at sea, extreme sunburn, no water or food, the darkness of the night sky,  and being totally alone with no one in sight no life line or support.  There is nothing but the element of water symbolizing the emotions, the element of air symbolizing the mind & intellect and the element of fire from the sun symbolizing ambition, determination and the will to either live or die. The element missing is Earth symbolizing the solid stable ground under your feet like living in a home without a ceiling or a floor.

If you notice her limbs are becoming submerged within the water connecting to the push and pull of the swirling waves then disappearing into the depths of the sea.  The mid section of her body is afloat almost sitting on top of the water.  Her hair like seaweed flowing in a direction away from her skull.  Her head is turned towards the horizon of the sun’s entrance into the sky, bringing light, warmth and hope to the dawning of a new day.  She is at total peace, one with self and everything that surrounds her.  There is no need to panic, stress out or feel overwhelming anxiety, the process has begun she has no choice but to trust letting go of all her fears. 

She has surrendered opening her mind to trust, heart to love and soul to accept.  She finally has peace of mind, she is one with the three elements, appreciative of Mother Earth and trusts unconditionally the Universe the ultimate provider… 

Mother & Child IV

 

Mother & Child

Illustration by Donna Massa

This Illustration is actually a Christmas card.  I decided to use this Series in a different way.  I wanted to take it one step further by introducing two young girls with another child on the way.  This was to symbolize the best gifts of all, having two children and a new born child.  However you can interpret this illustration in a few different  ways depending on the circumstances.  The little girl hugging up to her mother shows a close bond however the youngest little girl may belong to her husband to be along with the new baby she is carrying.  Perhaps, both children are hers and the baby she is carrying is her third child.  The last scenario, neither of the two girls are her children and they belong to her husband to be and she is having her first new born child.  Either way you choose to interpret this illustration being blessed with two angel girls was just not enough, and there is always magic with the number 3!

The bride on this special day is wearing an all white rayon velvet long cape over her wedding gown with a draped hood trimmed in white fox, the same fox used in the muff the youngest Flower Girl is holding.   The brides gown is a white strapless embroidered French Alenson lace, umpire body line, full A-line skirt with small pleats starting at the princess bodice seam, flat over tummy with an 

Embroidered scalloped trim.  The skirt has multiple layers of pure silk chiffon flowing down outlining her body.

The oldest Flower Girl is gazing up at this beautiful bride with much love and excitement.  This Flower Girl is wearing a basic light pink pure silk satin dress with a cap sleeve, princess seam waistline bodice with a wide gathered waistline sash.  At the center back there is a bow, and long streamers ruffling down her back.  Her beautiful full skirt is slightly exaggerated in length as this affect was done on purpose.  

The second Flower Girl is also wearing a basic light pink pure silk satin dress with a Sabrina neckline, long fitted sleeves with white lace trim, a princess seem waistline bodice with a wide gathered waistline sash.  The skirt also has box pleats starting at the princess seam flat over tummy.  The skirt is full and floor length.  Both Children are wearing wreaths with baby pink roses, holly berries, and baby’s breath.

There is a small gift lying on top of the fox muff from the girls to the bride this is their gift to her on this beautiful Christmas Wedding Day…🖤

 

Mother & Daughter III

Mother & Child

Illustration by Donna Massa

This illustration makes a strong statement in style. The emotional bond between these two souls is unconditional their hearts beat as one.  When I created this two piece gown I wanted to design the pattern, and have it made up just to see it live!  This is beadwork on Pique a hard fabric, luxurious volume, with a beautiful finish in white.  The beads are a combination of white pearls and clear beads in different sizes and shapes  The heavy part of the beading begins at the boarder of the hemline and grows up the dress in leaf like patterns. The darker the pattern the heavier the beads.  The boarder of the hemline is an all beaded tub-trim to match.  The top of the gown is white Fortuny pleated chiffon. This French style pleating is smaller than normal pleating and closer together. This is an over-lay blouse that has bell sleeves, a high beaded collar, a Swing design that is shorter in the front and gradually dips to the back.  The brides head piece is a beaded Cloche with beaded fringe and small white feathers inserted around the brim. There is a Pique bow at the center back of the Cloche with an elastic to gather her long thick hair. 

Her daughter is wearing the same Pique fabric with a slightly different beadwork pattern that compliments her mothers full skirt that bellows out to a long flounce towards the back.  Flounce is a gradual dip in the back resembling a train.  Her beaded round neckline has an Umpire style bodice meaning rising above her waistline, with an insert of smocked Fortuny pleating.  She has a three quarter Bishops full sleeve with beaded gathered ruffles at her forearm.  Her Cloche head piece is like her mothers, plain Pique with a beaded trim to match around the brim.  

They are sitting in a garden on a bench with a white padded, matte satin cushion.  They are gazing into each other eyes with adoration and love in celebrating together this special day…🖤

Mother & Child II

Mother & Child

Illustration by Donna Massa 

This is the second fashion Illustration in the Mother & Child Series.  In this illustration I wanted to show their close bond in a slightly different way.  The bride is wearing a two piece wedding gown.  The top is a strapless bodice with a box pleated peplum in ivory Venetian Lace, and an ivory silk-satin ribbon at the waistline.  The shirt is in a hard fabric.  What I mean by a hard fabric is, it maintains body and fullness.  In this case her skirt is in ivory pure silk taffeta with wide box pleats at the waistline.  The skirt is full and bellows out with a gental sweep at the back of her skirt.  A sweep is when the back of the gown dips slightly in the back.  

Her little girl is in ivory Venetian lace with a more simpler lace pattern.  She has a sleeveless bodice, a wide pure silk ribbon sash around her waist, and a full shirt evenly gathered at the waistline.  This little girl is looking straight out while her mother kisses her cheek.  She knows she is loved and comforted, content in her mothers arms…🖤

Mother & Child I

 

The Mother & Child Series

Illustration by Donna Massa

Medium Pen & Ink

My former occupation for many years was a Model and Fashion Designer for the prestigious well known Bridal Manufacturer, The House of Bianchi Inc. in Boston, MA. USA.  And, because of this I created this special Series with a few special artifacts in mind.  First, I wanted to design the gown the bride was wearing, and second the Flower Girl’s dress that her young daughter would be wearing.  Mothers and daughters share a wonderful bond and I wanted to show this through Fashion Illustration.  

Working with pen & ink is a Medium I have always felt comfortable using.  I love to pay close attention to detail, and there are different techniques you can explore while having fun with the concept of black & white.  Along with this Medium I’ve used a No. 2 soft pencil for shading and adding dimension.  

Working with different bridal fabrics, beadwork on fabric, laces and trims is what starts the creative juices flowing in creating a bridal gown.  Once you know the fabric your using whether hard as in silk taffeta or soft as in chiffon, you then begin the creative process of designing the style of the gown, its silhouette or body line in a visual way starting with a sketch.  In this case the fabric chosen is an all over embroidered white Cotton Eyelet.  This fabric has dimensional self fabric flowers also called motifs on the base of the skirt.  There are a wide range of Cotton Eyelet trims to choose from to match perfectly around the hemline of the dress.

The bodice or top part of the dress is a Cotton Eyelet medallion halter neckline, sleeveless, in white Jersey knit.  This fabric gathers, stretches, and molds to the body and is quite close fitting, this is the look I wanted to achieve for the top.  The skirt is a dropped Baskue waistline, two teared symmetrical ruffle rap over a full A-line skirt.  The embroidered Cotton Eyelet skirt, is a whimsical all over flower pattern growing up the fabric transforming into scattered small hearts.  The teared ruffled skirt has a Cotton Eyelet English style trim at the hemline.  The full A-line skirt is the same Eyelet pattern with larger dimensional flowers and a wide rope affect Eyelet trim around the hemline.

Her daughter is also in the same embroidered white Cotton Eyelet fabric only in a different all over pattern that is simple due to her age.  This Flower Girl dress has a scoop neckline, a waistline with self fabric chording, and a three quarter puff sleeve with chording trim.  The skirt is an all over Cotton Eyelet print gathered at the top with an embroidered Eyelet ribbon boarder at the hemline of the skirt.  The soft taffeta lining skirt that is under the top skirt has embroidered Eyelet ruffles to complete the hemline of the dress.  The trick here is the top skirt hangs well over the ruffles attached to the lining skirt, this adds a nice affect to the styling of the dress and makes it much lighter to wear.  The love, adoration and emotional bond they share together is why I chose to name these illustrations the “Mother & Child Series.” There is nothing like having a daughter or daughters.  Mothers are blessed as they remain close, and are so special to us throughout our lives…🖤