Uniform c. 1936

Aaron Fastovsky made this drawing of a uniform with what looks like colored pencils. It's all about process, isn't it? Layering those marks to build up the form. Look at the way he renders the jacket. Notice how the blue isn't just blue, it's got a bit of purple mixed in, maybe some gray. And the red trim? It's not a flat, declarative red, but something softer, more nuanced, which makes it more interesting to look at, don't you think? The textures are fascinating. He lets the paper show through, which creates this kind of shimmering effect, like light bouncing off the fabric. Then there's the detail in the buttons and the way he suggests the folds of the cloth. It's a very precise way of seeing, yet there’s a softness too. It reminds me a little bit of some of the costume drawings by Charles Le Brun in terms of the historical subject matter, but with a more intimate, personal feel. It’s like a quiet conversation with history.