Artist Program: Nicole Jarecz
Nicole Jarecz is a fashion illustrator based in Detroit, MI. For as long as she can remember she was always attracted to drawing and creating but found that fashion illustration was her passion.
She creates feminine pieces that are made with graphite, watercolor, ink, charcoal and colored pencil. It’s all about a feeling and an attention to detail that makes her work different than other fashion illustrations.
Walk Us Through Your Creative Process
A lot of my research is fashion-based. I pull ideas from magazines, recent runway collections, and emerging trends. I’m always observing what’s current and how style is evolving.
I love working on newsprint, so I usually begin there to sketch out my initial ideas and get a sense of the composition. Once I feel confident in the direction, I transfer the sketch onto my final paper, typically Stonehenge paper.
Much of my process is intuitive. I usually start with a feeling and just go for it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s part of being a mixed media artist.
I work with a variety of materials: ink, colored pencil, watercolor, gouache, layering different mediums to create texture, depth, and movement, especially when illustrating fabrics. I’m inspired by street style, nature, and everyday moments. The sketch phase is always loose and gestural, typically done on newsprint before moving to a premium surface for the finished piece.
Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?
Much of my inspiration comes from travel. I lived in Paris for six years (2010–2016), and that experience deeply shaped my artistic voice. I still travel back frequently, and being exposed to different cultures, people, and places continues to influence my work.
I try to stay open-minded about where my art can go and what it can become. I’m inspired by the people I meet, the environments I experience, and the energy of the places I visit.
What Matters Most to You When Selecting Paper?
Color, weight, and texture are all equally important to me.
With Legion, I’ve found the best balance of all three. The color tones are incredibly rich, I love working on toned backgrounds for my illustrations, and the Stonehenge Colors pad has beautiful neutral shades that I use often.
Weight is especially important for commissioned pieces. When a client invests in artwork, I want it to feel substantial and premium. Texture also plays a major role, papers like Stonehenge White are thick and versatile, and they handle mixed media beautifully.
Stonehenge White and the Stonehenge Colors pad all perform exceptionally well with ink, watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil. Legion papers are versatile, which is essential for me since I work across multiple mediums.
As a student at CCS College for Creative Studies in Detroit, I used premium papers occasionally, but mostly newsprint for cost reasons. Now that I’m working full-time as an artist, investing in premium paper makes a noticeable difference. My illustrations look elevated and more refined.
At sketching events, I may use more affordable paper for quick five-minute drawings, but for commissioned work, I always explain to clients that premium paper enhances the longevity and overall quality of the piece. It truly changes the final result.
How Did You Discover Legion?
I first discovered Legion through Instagram, then started purchasing the paper at Blick Art Supply. After using it, I fell in love with it. That was about eight years ago.
I began tagging Legion in my posts and building that connection organically. From there, the relationship grew naturally.
What Do You Hope People Take Away from Your Work?
I hope people fall in love with fashion illustration.
I discovered fashion illustration while studying at CCS in a history of illustration course. Once I saw it, I was immediately captivated. I even took private lessons with my professor to dive deeper into the discipline.
There’s something incredibly special about fashion illustration, the movement, the gesture, the feeling of fabric in motion. It offers something different from photography. There’s emotion and interpretation in every line.
When I host sketching events and people say they’ve never seen anything like it before, that excites me. I love introducing others to this art form and encouraging them to explore it further.
If viewers walk away wanting to learn more about fashion illustration, then I’ve done my job.
