Articles Tagged with: Emily Brickel Edelson
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August 5, 2016
New New New!!!!

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My NEW Book, Sketch and Go : 5 Minute Fashion Illustration available for pre-order HERE! 

Hi guys!!!

I know it’s been so long since I have been posting blogs, but it takes a visit from Ikea builders and a home office update to relocate me from working at my desk to get me away from my massive to do lists (switching from a black to white desk and adding more cabinets and bookshelves to store all of my artwork and supplies).

Anyway. Working hard for me is an understatement and it’s about to get even busier!!!

I know I have been filling you in a little on my book but now, it’s here!!! It’s available for pre-order NOW and you can purchase it here www.chicsketch.com/sketchandgo  or www.emilybrickeledelson.com/book   It is set to be published October 11th but if you pre-order NOW you will be the first to get it!

AND, excitingly I was able to sketch live, UNVEIL and announce my book on Elle Magazine’s Facebook live!! Here watch it all to see what is to come for fall!

A little nerve wrecking I know, speaking LIVE and simultaneously drawing is not an easy fete.

ELLE! I mean…..

The same magazine I interned at almost 10 years ago and now I was live sketching with over 37 thousand views! I am beyond blessed, excited and grateful that they had me on and can’t wait to show you what else I have in store!

Speaking of New….

While you’re at it! Check out my brand spankin new website!!! I am so proud of how it turned out and all the work I have been doing for Chic Sketch and my book and I can finally blurt it out loud – and share it on this gorgeous site!!!

NOW instead of going to www.EmilyBrickel.com – my old site that I had been wayyyy to swamped to keep updating, now you can go to www.EmilyBrickelEdelson.com -This website is updated with EVERYTHING I’ve been working on (well almost everything!)  I added my new married name, the same name that’s on my BOOK and the name that I proudly go by!!! Yes, three names! Why?

  1. Because More is More. Why as women do we have to remove a name (and sometimes remove that identity) when instead we can just add on a new fabulous married name to it and add on new meaning and new experiences to this path that we call life.  Call it another stripe on my sleeve.
  2. As women we have all been working so hard to make a name for ourselves, and as an artist when I have been signing my name as Emily Brickel on my art for so long, all of a sudden signing Emily Edelson would be like a completely different person, one that whole pages and pages of artwork would not be connected to.
  3. Family.  To me getting married is adding on a whole amazing side of new family but also keeping close to your birth family. My dad for instance passed away when I was 12 and it didn’t sit right with me to remove that name from mine. My dad (and mom) were and are both very talented artists and the Brickel family has some really strong art genes, so I never wanted to get rid of the real last daily connection that I have to my dad.
  4. It just sounds great! That is if in fact you pronounce my maiden name right! That’s pronounced Em-ily  BRI-Kell  Edel-son (Like Eddy Brickell but I’m with one L)  See also

Now I’m not saying that if you choose to remove your maiden name in favor of your new shiny married name that there is anything wrong with that, I’m just saying this is what made me happy to do for me. Do what makes you happy!

And on that note of happiness.

Writing makes me so happy! Creating art that is both detailed and intricate or quick and chic (ahem Chic Sketch) also make me happy! So do a ton of other things like being a kick a$$ entrepreneur, CEO boss lady, being a fashionista, fashion design, travel, time with family and friends, sharing my gifts with the world and teaching others how to draw and live a life of their dreams!!! These things all make me so happy and I am so blessed that I can continue to do all of these things and share it with you. That being said, with all this going on I can’t possibly blog weekly with long, long posts and new detailed art every week. Therefore, I am changing my blog’s format! I will blog as much as I can and update you on all the exciting things going on but I also loveeee social media and living life, so check out the blog on ChicSketch.com, check out my social media and ChicSketch’s social media for constant updates all the time!

Here’s where to follow: On Instagram and Twitter @EmilyBrickel and @ChicSketch, On Snapchat and Facebook @Emily.Brickel and @ChicSketch

I will be snapping, gramming and posting live for my almost month long list of amazing trips this August, and all of NY Fashion week in September so make sure you follow and stay tuned!!!!!!!

Whenever I am sketching at live events that are open to the public, DON’T WORRY! You’re invited!!! However, a lot of our clients host us at insider only events that you need to be on the list for.  So as much as I would like to, I can’t invite you to that but you will hear about it first by subscribing to my newsletter here on my blog page  http://www.emilybrickeledelson.com/blog/ and stay tuned to social for pictures!

What I learned from all of this? Don’t overwork it!

Perfection is really elusive so don’t worry about being perfect, just worry about getting it DONE in a way that you are really proud of.  This is especially true of art, of Chic Sketches (when I teach new illustrators to keep it sketchy and not overwork their art) and of life!

In my new book I talk about everything from….

How to:
– To get in the zone,
– To move past your fear of creating (and this can even be applied to anything that you are creating – from a business to the perfect Instagram layout and caption).

I talk about:
– Channeling your inner guru,
– What you need to succeed – from the tools to the attitude.
–  I show you how to draw fashion illustration,
–  From the basics of beginners to the detailed tricks of the trade.

Then after you know the basics, or if you are an experienced artist
– I take you into the pro tips of creating 5 minute sketches on the go
–  And tips for different settings from backstage at a fashion show or even at home at your desk.

If you have ever thought about drawing for fun OR as a profession…
This book is for you!

Perfect for:
Teens learning to draw and who loves fashion,
Instagram illustrators who want to hone your skill,
Fashion illustrators who want to learn the new, quick method of sketching completed works of art and not just scratchy pencil lines,
Creative entrepreneurs who need to get inspired, to stay inspired and create great work to share your gift with the world!
People who have always wanted to learn how to draw but never had the time to create long, time consuming artwork.

It’s all in there – and I poured my heart and soul in there too!

What else is included?
– How to get started in this career or hobby
– What supplies you need
– Insider pro- tips
– Start to Finish sketches of the process
– Traditional body proportions vs. Fashion Illustration proportions,
– How to draw eyes, nose, lips, hair and faces in all different angles,
– How to draw garments and accessories,
– How to draw standing, walking and action poses
– How to draw editorial poses
– 500 fashion illustration templates printed in special blue ink that disappears when you photocopy it – so only your drawing will show.
And so much more!

This book is written in my fashion-loving style so reading through each chapter is a blast.

Hope you love this book as much as I loved writing and illustrating it!
Please dig in, mark it up, highlight and draw in it.
This is going to be your new inspirational best friend.

Hope that Inspires YOU to live your dreams. Every. Single. Day…..
Xoxo
Emily

Get that and more… and everything you want to know about me on
www.EmilyBrickelEdelson.com

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel and Snapchat @Emily.Brickel

May 30, 2016
One year ago today….
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Photo by Suzanne Delawar at the Fontainebleau Miami, Our wedding, May 30th 2015, Custom Wedding gown by me!

I can’t believe it was one year ago that I was getting married!

I also can’t believe it’s been ages since my last blog post.

In honor of that, I wanted to share with you our so-far unreleased wedding video here!

SO much has happened in this last year, and so much has happened in these last 5 months since my last post.

For starters I wrote a book, all approx. 20K words of it, over 500 sketches, edited with my book publisher and launching in September! It is available now for preorder on amazon here.

I literally poured my heart and soul into this book and spent months creating something so special to inspire you if you, especially if you love fashion illustration and want to learn how to draw! It’s all about mastering my Sketch & Go techniques from my years in the industry and live sketching practices at events and fashion shows!

I have wanted to write so many blogs in the meantime but I have not even had a second, which leads me to how fast Chic Sketch is growing!

We have launched a new website this past February chicsketch.com, launched a second version of our app Chic Sketch 2.0 where you can tag your sketches (just download the app for free, submit a photo for $9.99 and wait for your Chic Sketch to be created by me or one of our talented fashion illustrators), view weekly fashion trends curated by me, see feeds of our live VIP co-branded events from award shows to private events with Kate Spade or Hermes, watch a video of your sketch being created, chat, share to social media and more!

It has literally been non-stop! I am creating my dream life with my husband in our relationship and our company Chic Sketch.  It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears but is worth every second! We work so hard to create amazing things for you to enjoy with more on the way!

I hope to update my blog more but for now I will have sporadic updates.

If you want to stay in touch with me you can follow me on social media @EmilyBrickel and @ChicSketch on Instagram, facebook and my newest favorite, Snapchat! (My snap name is Emily.Brickel and ChicSketch) or email me at Emily@EmilyBrickel.com or info@chicsketch.com

My husband and I just returned from Spain this morning from our cousin’s wedding and our anniversary trip, I am beyond tired but this is something I have really wanted to update you on and share my wedding video! It was a really special night and I have so many amazing memories from our wedding.

I want to say that I feel so blessed and honored to be able to create my dream life and I really believe that you can too by keeping a positive outlook, dreaming big and working hard.  I miss writing for you guys and I am working on a way to update and incorporate everything I have been working on in one place so stay tuned for an updated website coming soon!

Lots of love!

xx

Emily

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2015
2016 Mantra

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Illustration from my 2016 Calendar!

This year, be way more YOU. Feel more, give more, do more, play more, dream more, BE more. Compete with YOURSELF, no one else.  Color outside the lines and take the path less traveled. If there is something you see in the world that you want to change, change it.

Don’t be afraid to speak up for what you believe in, ESPECIALLY if no one else is. Create your own path, write your own story. Forget those who just watch and judge you because they are just standing on the sidelines. If you want advice, ask someone who IS where you want to be, and has been where you want to go – not someone who tells you you can’t.

“It always seems impossible until it’s done” -N. Mandela.

GO and catch YOUR star, better yet BE a shooting star and last but not least, Never dim your light just because it’s shining in someone else’s eyes – they will find some sunglasses and that is what we call shade.

For 2016, and if you are so inclined, for every month – choose a new mantra and repeat it to yourself anytime you need a little pick me up.

Mine for this month/year is : I AM A POWERFUL CREATOR

Happy New Year! Shine Bright darlings! xo

Hope that inspires you,
Xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

December 29, 2015
2016 Dreaming!

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Cover of my 2016 Fashion Illustration Calendar!!!

We are less than a week away from 2016 and around this time I always do some major soul searching!

Right before a new chapter is the best time to tune in and dream about your ideal new year and new experiences!

Earlier today I was kind of trekking on, deep in this long term and special project I’m working on but so involved in what is due NOW that I really hadn’t started thinking about 2016 in a deep, connected way. Sure I have plans for the new year and coming months and have been working on them for months but I’m talking about really meditating on, feeling and manifesting my desires for the new year.

Today, when I took a nice steamy shower, I sat on the shower floor, closed my eyes and literally imagined my way through what I wanted each month to be like. I imagined how amazing it would be and all the things I would feel and experience and then I expressed gratitude for all of those things coming true, feeling as if they are written in the stars and meant to be. Trusting that it will happen similar to or if not better than my dreams and meditations.

I sat there, enamored in the feelings of this new year, allowing myself to create my dream year when moments before I was just steamrolling through what I had to get done, feeling frazzled and not connected to my true goals.

All it took was 15 minutes to myself, in my own head space to reconnect with the feelings, happenings and accomplishments I wanted to have for the coming year.

I highly recommend you try this too.

“She designed the life she loved….and lived it!”

“And in the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were too afraid to have, and the decisions we waited too long to make.” – anon.

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan and guess what they have planned for you? Not much!” – Jim Rohn

If you want to live the life of your dreams, don’t wait for anyone else to plan it for you. Design your own life and live by design.

I’m all about planning and that’s why I created my Fashion Illustration calendar for a 4th in a row! The 2016 Fashion Illustration calendar I think, and I have heard, is my best one yet!

I am so happy to share it with you! It is limited edition so I only have a few more left! If you want one, order here! Below are some photos from the calendar!

Order it HERE! Ready to ship next day! 

Here are some more photos of the pages!

Click here for more images of each month!

I use my wall calendar at a glance and tape it on the inside of my kitchen cabinets.  I use it every day to log work outs, brushing my dog’s teeth (yes I have to do that, at least I try to do it!), birthdays, trips and events. I also log “date night” and keep track of any habits I am trying to form. I love looking back on my calendar and seeing what I did each month and the memories I made at the end of each year.

For my business calendar and planner I use the Day Designer Flagship edition. Mine is the black and white spotted one but I purchased it in august (they have a mid year one) because my previous method was not working for me. I needed a more robust way to plan and manage my multiple businesses and personal events while planning my wedding.  Seriously this helped me so much and it doesn’t hurt that it is so gorgeous with daily inspirational quotes and gold tabs and binding.

I love to have a spot for tasks, planning and work to-do’s in a portable planner as well as my separate fashion illustration wall calendar to keep at home (or in the office) and have my social events and personal goals on it. I love writing it all in with different color sharpie fine point pens. So fun and cute to look at.

Whatever you decide, take the time to plan your life (you don’t even need a calendar, just do it in your head and write it down in a spiral notebook or journal!)

Hope that inspires you to live a 2016 year beyond your wildest dreams!

xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

November 2, 2015
Halloween Fashion Recap

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Sketch of Bad Blood Music Video – Taylor Swift and her #Squad

Hope you had a happy Halloween weekend! This is my favorite time of year, and this year our company Chic Sketch and I have teamed up with Seventeen Magazine, and People Style Watch to bring you some of the BEST celebrity Halloween costumes from years past, along with some AMAZING costume ideas and predictions for this year’s ghoulish wear!

The sketches were so popular they were picked up by Radar Online and Hollywood Life!

Check out my sketches and the feature on Seventeen Magazine here:

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And on Radar Online here:

Here’s the link to the Hollywoodlife Feature:


And three images were posted on the Instagram of @PeopleStyle here:

Here is a full recap of all of my halloween sketches in one place!


Hedi Klum as a Hindu Goddess

Taylor Swift as a Pega-Corn

Kelly Osborne as Magenta from Rocky Horror Picture Show

North West

Michael Kors as a Vintage Photographer


Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman as a black and white silent scream queen.


Kate Moss as Cara Delevingne


Kim Kardashian on the Paper Magazine cover


A Minion


Ariana Grande

Anna Dello Russo as a bird

Heidi Klum as Bodies Museum exhibit


Pretty Little Liars


Karl Lagerfeld and his cat Choupette

Beyonce in her music video


The Golden Snitch


Cinderella of course.

The many styles of Cookie from Empire


Alessandra Ambrosio as a cat

and my FAVORITE, so much so that I had to recreate this as my halloween costume.

The cast of Scream Queens.

Here is a photo of me and my husband recreating the look of Ariana Grande AKA Chanel #2 and the Red Devil.


and my best Ariana pose:

Lastly, I am incredibly honoured and humbled to share with you that I have been named “One of Fashion’s Best Illustrators” by WhoWhatWear.com

Check out the article here! (Check out #5!)

So there you have it! My recap of halloween. Hope everyone had a spooky chic time!

Hope that inspires you,
Xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

October 15, 2015
What You Put In

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Here I am, sitting at my computer on a Saturday night at 2 am.

(written earlier this week)

Not because I have no plans, or because I just came home from a night out. No, but because this was the first time in a while I had a chance to write my blog. I missed writing it and just felt a burst of inspiration.  I have no idea how, because I have been working 12 days in a row, completely exhausted from 3 days straight of drawing for Comic Con with one day left to go (Sunday).  I am sitting here, so incredibly satisfied by that.  It is really hard to go two weeks with working two weekends in a row but the work I am doing is my passion and I am so grateful to be doing that kind of work and sharing my gift.

I am so honored to be sketching for AT&T at Comic Con and for all the other amazing Live Sketching events that I have been so blessed to draw at.  It has only been one year ago this month since I started live sketching at Bene Rialto and taking that jump of faith has completely transformed my life.  I got an out-of-the-blue request to sketch live, something that until that point I had never done. Petrified and unsure, when asked if I could do it, my answer was YES.  I technically had drawn live all the time (at my desk), the only difference was this was in front of a crowd at a fashion cocktail party.

I think my point here is that taking the LEAP of faith, when faced with an opportunity – the answer should always be YES, you can do it. If you don’t know exactly how, or are afraid, find a way. Everything is figure-out-able and there is a YouTube video for anything now a days. Trust in yourself and know that you are capable.  Also know that your past failures and experiences have all been preparing you for this day and the chances you choose to take.

My other point is that when you want something so bad, nothing can stand in your way.  The 13 days in a row (If I am able to take off half a day on Monday – if not it will be 19 days in a row), the exhaustion and tireless nights working till 5 am are nothing short of the road to get there.

“I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy, I’m telling you it’s going to be WORTH IT!” – anon.

I hope that I can share my journey with you, on the path to my dreams and that I can inspire you to live your dreams too. That really is the most important thing in the UNIVERSE! We are each blessed with an amazing gift, whether it be art, design, baking, singing, selling or making people smile and feel safe – no gift is too small to need to share it.

It is our JOB, better yet – our CALLING as human beings to find your gift, trust in it and follow your path to fulfilling your calling here on earth.  We owe it to the whole world to share our gifts, because if not, we leave the world or our community a little less bright.

Look inward, never take no for an answer, DREAM IT, see it in your mind, live it in your heart, speak it out loud to anyone who will listen and let the Universe catch up with your dream.  It is never too late.

Every yes or no decision you make is either guiding you closer or farther away from your dreams.  Don’t be so selfish as to think that being modest or self-deprecating is the way to earn brownie points.  It is your JOB to express yourself, not to burrow it away in some hidden place and deprive the world of the amazing things you have to give.  You have to give every piece of your soul to this life.  Don’t hold back.  “No” means try harder. Ask questions, fight for what you believe in and NEVER dim your light because it’s shining in someone else’s eyes.  I’m not saying to be pompous, but I’m saying to realize YOUR WORTH! Trust in yourself.

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram & Snapchat @EmilyBrickel

June 18, 2015
The Wedding of my Dreams – Designing The DRESS

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Well, I am back…. as a married woman!

Wow, that makes me feel/sound old! I just got back from the most incredible 11 day wedding trip / mini-moon to our favorite place… Miami and I want to say { TAKE ME BACK there! }

We did it, we tied the knot and I hate to say it but I am soooooo extremely relieved that the planning is over. I did enjoy a lot of the process – especially designing and making my dream wedding dress (more on that in this post), but I won’t miss the pressure, opinions and stress of the wedding planning.

I’m SO elated that we are married and now we can enjoy our time together because it was a heck of a stressful year (did I say that already). Being married – is AMAZING. We feel so much more like a team and like our roots are grounded deep into a sturdy foundation.  I feel like there is a new found respect and deeper love that we have – and I didn’t think it was possible or that much would change since we have been living together for years.

Brides-to-be, let me assure you that your wedding day will be everything you dreamed of AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!

You will look the best you have ever looked (thus far), everything will fall into place, the venue and all of your vendors will create a magical fairytale land that you are the QUEEN of and it gets so much more fun than that!!

Gratefully, my wedding went off without a hitch! Some minor things did go askew but they are things that only I would notice. We ran late getting ready which cut into some photo time but we all looked gorgeous and the shots we did get (which were still a TON) are insanely amazing and I haven’t even seen all of them yet! – SO much more on my wedding to come….I am waiting for those amazing photos to give you more details!

THE DRESS 
The one thing that was the most important to me, and the only thing I ever was certain of as a little girl was that I wanted to design my wedding gown.

Growing up, you accumulate stories in your head about why you are not good enough, talented enough or capable enough of living your WILDEST dreams. My wildest dream (well one of them) has always been to be a renowned fashion designer. So, like any well-acclimated person in society would do – I doubted myself.

When it came time to find a dress, I went to many stores, tried on dozens of gowns, but none were for me. I found some I could love if I changed this or that. I found gorgeous dresses that anyone else would be ecstatic about. Yet, in my head, it wasn’t mine because I hadn’t designed it. That small voice was being stepped over by the more socially acceptable voices of the sales people and onlookers that “this looks great on you”, “it’s beautiful”, “it’s perfect”.

Months of agonizing and finally finding ONE dress that I did become obsessed-in-love with, it turns out that it was literally 10x’s my budget.

I found a white feather on the floor when I left for that dress appointment, I thought it had to be a sign that this dress was THE ONE.  Imagining in my mind that I could some how make that impossible budget happen (I could buy the sample, I could call a friend to get an industry discount, call directly to Israel where it was made and befriend the designer etc. etc.) Yeah. MMMKay. Not happening.

This was the blessing. I had exhausted my options. It was my wedding and I would NOT settle for a dress I wasn’t in love with. I couldn’t have that pricey designer dress, so I was going to have to dig into my deepest fears, pull out my strength and design the dress of my dreams.

I wasn’t exactly sure what that would look like yet (Ha!) but I sat down, and I designed. I knew what I wanted it to feel like, I knew the silhouette, the glamour, and the impression I wanted it to make.  I know my body and what flatters me, I tried on enough dresses to know what I didn’t like.

Ready for my main inspiration? Please don’t laugh…

Do you remember this scene from The Little Mermaid


The one when Ariel came out of the water with as a human to meet her Prince? She was covered in the most stunning glimmers of white sparkle. This was what I had in the back of my head when trying on gowns and nothing came close.

Now on to find the fabric! I scoured the garment district walking up and down and into every single store looking for clear or white sequins to do the trick. This idea was hard to come by. Finally I found the fabric. It had come straight from India and it was exactly what I wanted. It had that shine and sparkle I was looking for. It was sheer, so it needed to be backed.

So production began and my dress was born! There are a lot more details that went into it but I’ll spare you the nitty gritty.

I am all about the little things so I designed my train to be 111 inches long (I wanted the train to be extremely long and super dramatic, plus 111 is a powerful number for good luck and blessings) and I had a piece of my great grandmother’s veil sewn into the lining of the dress over my heart.

The dress was inspired by Old Hollywood glam and I wanted something unlike anything that was out there on the market today.
I designed an Old Hollywood take on the modern sweetheart neckline. I went with a figure flattering mermaid silhouette and gave it a modern feel by going with no embellishments or lace aside from the sequined fabric.

In production, my dress had two layers of train, needed over 70 yards of sequined fabric, 30 yards of silk faille, 50 yards of crinoline, an internal corset, padding (so no undergarments were necessary) and horsehair lining all around the two layers of train on all the hems.  The top layer of train was not holding the shape like I thought it would but I realized that was because the sequins were so heavy. I was disappointed at first but I realized the sequins were more important to me than the structure on the train so instead I hand laid each tuck and fold of the train and how it would flow.  It really became a couture dress with real blood, sweat and tears soaked into it somewhere.  Due to the weight (25 pounds), it was really hard to walk. We decided to make the bottom and longest train detachable so that I could take it off, bustle the top layer and actually dance!

This was a real labor of love and something I am so proud of myself for and so grateful to my mom (and family) for believing in me and supporting me to make this possible.

So with out further adieu, I present to you my gorgeous wedding gown.

Right before I walked down the aisle!

During our “First Look”

The Kiss – pronounced Mr. & Mrs. Edelson

There are so many more photos of me, behind the scenes with the dress in the making and my fittings but I will save that for another time.

This is not the first wedding gown I have made and I LOVE working with brides who want to create something so unique to them and show off their personality. If you or someone you know is interested in a custom made wedding gown please email me at Emily@EmilyBrickel.com

Remember: If you aren’t afraid, you are not dreaming big enough!

Hope that inspires you!
xoxo
Emily

Follow me on Instagram @EmilyBrickel

Copyright Emily Brickel Edelson 2018. All Rights Reserved