to each their own of course, but i think you’ve been way too dismissive. fredflare.com is already full of “clear product photos”, the same as all other fashion websites. of course, seeing exactly the clothing & items on offer is important, but i commend any company who tries an interesting new way to share their wares. i love illustration, & this is exactly the kind of thing that would draw me to a companies website. so fair enough that this isn’t your thing, but calling it an “incredibly irritating style of advertising”? i’m pretty sure most would disagree. & if eight year olds could draw this well, most illustrators would probably be out of a job thanks to all the child prodigies.

I LOVE the drawings, they’re are so cute.They definitely made me check out the products in the shop. Different tastes I guess.

@Jen, Kitty: Fair enough, but I still think the drawings are hideous. It takes far too long to look at all these items and my interest is lost. Like you said, personal preference.

These drawings are great, hardly the work of a child. I imagine that you are probably jealous as you can’t draw yourself.

you clearly miss the point.

gemma’s work is ace!

@Sara: you’re killing me! Awesome.

Actually, I am able to draw and paint – thank you for your comment! I just don’t care for pig nosed scrawling, I suppose.

Drawings are awesome, Gemma makes amazing work. You are tarded for writing this post.

@Corey If we’re going to be pitching opinions on illustrator’s talents, I vote for http://daniellemeder.com/; she’s very good at what she does.

Additionally, if you’re going to be calling me an idiot, you may want to avoid sounding like one yourself.

I find these illustrations so much more exciting than the standard fashion illustrations. They represent the fun of Fred Flare products.
For product photos you can always just go to the website. I don’t understand why you’re so bitchy about them. If you don’t like them, why bother posting them on your blog?

How are her illustrations “pig-nosed scrawling”? This “incredibly irritating style of advertising” works because there is a huge market for it.

But to the point of the matter: to be dismissive is one thing, to hate excessively on someone’s art is something completely different.

@Kitty: Well, this is a forum for what I like and dislike, which people choose to visit [or not]. Everything I write about is subject to my own opinion, and that will not change.

There is no kindness law that says I have to be positively sweet on everything. It is my choice and right to have opinions and express them, as you have to disagree and relay that information.

Oh you clearly must know what good art is, can you please create some and show us what would work better in this sitch? Oh whats that, you have no idea wtf you’re talking about? oh ok.

Gemma rules, and shes contributing far more to the world then your whiny little blog.

I just think there’s enough negativity in the world, it doesn’t need adding to. And it’s very easy to put somebody elses hard work down when you’re just blogging and not putting your drawings /paintings/creative work out there.
It may be the internet but these drawings were still done by a real person. Where does all that hate even come from! Ugh.

@Kitty: Like I said, that’s a fair opinion, but I choose to highlight what I don’t care for as much as what I do.

Oh also, I think the link you posted is also very good, Danielle Meder. But it’s a totally different style and the two can’t really be compared other than the fact they’re both illustration.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course, but I think you were unnecessarily abusive to this artist. I like Gemma’s work. (and clearly so do many other people).

This is just a matter of taste as I absolutely love this illustration and am bored of conventional product photography.

“This incredibly irritating style of advertising never works” is a very strong statement and more of a personal opinion than fact I would say.

I love Gemma’s work. Its quirky and funny and witty – and makes a nice change to all the overly vectored crap that seems to be taking over the place these days. Fair enough if you don’t like it; of course you have a right to your own opinion! But it would have been more interesting to see you express it in an equally funny and witty manner instead of what came off as pretty snarky and bitter. No offence, obviously.

@Carolina: Thank you for providing polite and constructive crit! I agree, I probably could have stood to be a little less biting, but hey, apparently I’m grumpy on Monday mornings.

As the artist behind the “nasty little cartoon girls” I would like to add my own comment to this.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has written such nice things about me.

To the blogger:
I am a full time freelance illustrator, which means I get paid to draw things like this, on a regualar basis. I have worked for several high profile companies. So clearly, not everyone shares your opinion.

I trained at art school to do my job and came out with a first class honours degree. My illustration style may well be “naive” and childlike but I have worked with children, and I am pretty sure none of the 6 year olds I worked with were very competent using Photoshop.

I appreciate that you’re entitled to your opinion but the way you have expressed it here was venemous and bitchy. I don’t expect everyone to like my work- far from it. I don’t like every kind of illustration either. However, I would NEVER write a blog about someone’s work in this manner, because it is hurtful and damaging to that person.
In fact, I spend a lot of my time promoting other artists’ work. Perhaps you could try writing nice posts about the work you do enjoy, rather than this kind of hatemongering.

Thanks.

Deleting comments isn’t very sporting of you, especially when the artist you’ve totally slagged off spares her time to grace your little post.

Lucky she capped it

@Natalie: Guess I’m not allowed to eat lunch before reviewing all of your nonsense! Seriously, you’re too much.

This is a fashion & style blog-not a design/illustration blog. Your statements have no sustainability. The problem was that your opinion was stated as a fact…that this marketing campaign [and illustration] was a failure.

That breaks my heart. Because for artists, our work is an extension of ourselves. Gemma Correll is no failure.

As you can see, we’re a strong community that supports our artists. Be aware of what you say.

@Rachel: Sure, this isn’t a design/illustration blog, but the act of posting about an artist I don’t care for is my prerogative. I think it’s great that you and a load of others love this work – but it’s my right to state that I don’t.

If you don’t care for what I write, don’t come by.

A BLOG is a frequent, chronological publication of PERSONAL THOUGHTS, commentary, descriptions of events and/or other material such as graphics or video.

I commend and thank demicouture for the regular posts, research and willingness to share her personal thoughts with us. Fashion, art and advertising are subjective and not everyone will see eye-to-eye on any given opinion – be it on the “must have boot for Fall 09″ or the advertising campaigns of Fred Flare. The artwork in question does not inspire me to click over to FF’s BUT the heated discussion sparked because of this post will. Advertising is meant to provoke a reaction…and look what’s happened here.

Kudos to demicouture for starting such an interesting discussion and to those of you who responded and shared your opinions in an intelligent manner. xoxo

To the artist:
Congratulations on having a honours degree from Art school. I’m sure at some point during your studies they must have taught you something about criticism.
I’m sure you’ve come across some acerbic penned critics from time to time during your career as a full-time freelance illustrator, however you must recognize that passion behind criticism does not always equate to hate.
As a professional journalist, I’m sure I’ve bruised a few egos here and there with my opinions, but I’ve also withstood the slings and arrows of those not so appreciative of my point of view.
Ultimately it’s up to you to be mature and keep a stiff upper-lip. Telling a professional critic to not be critical is absolutely absurd.

I realize this is an attempt at gaining the interest of a young generation of girls, these illustrations do absolutely nothing to show the cut/fit/hang of any of the garments. Even the harness around the pug is drawn in an anatomically impossible manner.
To those who are critical: You are being critical and are voicing your opinion on this blog, why is the blogger not allowed to voice their opinion in the same way? This is someone who is well-versed in the fashion world, and has the knowledge and experience to comment on design as it relates to fashion, which is what they have done.