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Over a year ago illustrator Richard Haines took to the streets of New York in an effort to document the people he encountered and, with a bit of luck, to create some work for himself. What he brought back was a delicious slice of time and place topped with a huge serving of style. Haines' must-follow blog, What I Saw Today, not only managed to make pencil and paper sexy again, it also inadvertently blew most of his streetstyle-blog counterparts out of the water.
The so-called Designerman's drawings, which are filled with vigorous, determined line, bursts of bold color and often endearingly-scrawled "notes-to-self", have made him the darling of the fashion and art crowds and garnered him gigs with J.Crew, InStyle, Barney's and even caused Kanye West to put down the mirror and take notice.
Richard, talks with Filius designer Alessandro Tomassetti about drawing, seeing and leg-warmers.
How did the moniker of Designerman come about?
'Designerman' was actually a mistake. When I was signing up on Blogspot I entered it as a password. I didn't realize it was going to be part of the title. But it stuck and now it's part of the identity-I guess it could be worse!
I've read about your design training with fashion powerhouses Calvin Klein and Bill Blass. Tell me about your art training; when did you realize you could draw?
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I realized I could draw at a really young age-maybe 4 or 5. It was kind of a salvation for me. I created my own world-which can be a good thing or a bad thing. All the other boys were sketching airplanes on their notebooks -I was drawing evening dresses. My father was not thrilled.
My training was pretty non-existent until I had art classes in high school and then majored in graphic arts in college. Working at places like Blass and Calvin Klein taught me how to use my 'eye', how to articulate style -it gave me a level of sophistication that I didn't have before.
I've likened the ability to draw to having a superpower that you don't realize is cool until much later in life; did you have a similar experience?
I never really thought about it until recently. I'm very grateful to have the ability to do it, but it's so much a part of me that it's like breathing.In high school I did realize that it was something special because I became the 'class artist' -doing all the posters and flyers-it helped me carve out a niche with all the jocks and frat boys.
There's a video that the guys at 3sixteen did of me-I'm sketching as I'm being interviewed. I've never really seen myself draw before and I was kind of amazed. I kept thinking as I watched it 'How the hell do I know where to put the next line?' That's the beauty of it; it just kind of happens without really thinking.
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The Fireplace at Rose Bar... |
Your blog, What I Saw Today showcases compelling drawings of real people and their style. What inspired you to put pencil to paper in a field dominated by the instant-gratification of digital photography?
The original concept was to start a blog so I could get more freelance work as a fashion designer. I figured if people could see that I knew what was going on on the streets of NYC that I would have a greater chance for more work. I really had no idea it would take off as an illustration blog.
I also started it as a 'love letter' to New York. I've lived here for 30 years and I love it as much today as when I moved here. It's really a tribute to the diversity and vitality of the city. It's a great example of putting something out there and not having preconceived ideas of what will come back!
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What makes up your on-the-run drawing kit?
It's pretty simple: I have a Muji pencil case filled with my favorite pencils, a sketch pad, business cards so people know I'm legit when I stop them, and a sketch pad. I keep everything in my 'J Crew' canvas bag. and of course my iphone in case I want to take a photo.
Someone familiar with fashion sees in your work the dynamic capture of a fleeting style moment. Someone familiar with art sees the technical skill and draughtsmanship that denote something much more lasting. How do you see your work? Do you make a distinction between illustrator and artist?
I love this question! I taught myself to draw when I was a kid, so I always feel that technically I always have room for improvement. What I do know I have in spades is the love of fashion and style -when I see people well put together it's almost like a contact high -and I think people respond to that exuberance!
When I had my first gallery show last month I kept asking myself, 'Is this too fashion illustrationish to be in a gallery?', but I think I was the only one asking that question. One blogger said that I'm capturing a moment in New York history that will only be more significant as time passes -I never thought of what I was doing from such an intellectual point of view but I see what he is saying.
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| Heel! |
Have you spotted any alarming trends that you want to denounce?
I've seen some alarming trends editorially, but not on the streets. 'Hammer' pants, leg warmers...a lot of 80's stuff never left the pages of magazines, much to my relief.
Who out there is doing it for you, creatively-speaking?
Well, first and foremost, the kids on the streets and in clubs and parties are always doing it for me. Especially now that money is tight-people get much more creative. A walk through 'Opening Ceremony' always gets me excited, and I love looking at the collections like Lanvin, and lately I've seen a lot of influence from Rick Owens, but I'm pretty late to the party with that.
I love what magazines like 'Dazed and Confused' do with covers (what a relief to not see the same tired actors). And I love 'Fantastic Man' and anything styled by Nicola Formichetti -I think he's genius.
How many white shirts do you own?
I can't even begin to count them. One can never have too many white shirts. It's a fall back like jeans. Women have lipstick, we have white shirts.
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Why is different good?
I don't know if it necessarily is. That statement leaves a lot of room for interpretation. I prefer 'original, or authentic, is good'. When people really do things from the heart and not for another reason, it's the best and that goes for baking a pie or starting a blog!
What have you got that they ain’t got?
Ha! Well, we all bring different things to the table. I guess my love and ability to draw, and a love of fashion that at this point spans a lot of time. I remember when the world was a very different place and have seen so much evolution; I think I bring that point of view. Working with people like Calvin Klein honed my way of looking at things.
Bowie or Einstein? Why?
Well I prefer Einstein creating the theory of relativity, and Bowie writing Space Oddity, so I choose both of them for their enormous talents, drive and contributions.
Filius Shirt:N.129 in white poplin.