Let's get some shoes!

Illustrative Storytelling
Project: Communication
A partnership of two people were given a word, instructed to create a piece of artwork inspired by the word independently, and mail the artwork to the classmate. Once the artwork is received, a new piece must be created inspired by the partner’s work.

Yeah, it’s as complicated as it sounds.

Our word was “Roommates.” My partner has never had a roommate. I have had twenty-six. Currently, my old roommate and best friend is studying in Milan. I decided to design an over-sized postcard from Milan, with text actually written from Dan on the back, and actually mail the real artwork, using the postage as part of the art piece.

The reverse text read as follows:

“Milan. Undoubtedly one of the world’s most important cities for fashion and design, fabulous Milan is home to fashionistas Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana. The city is also famous for the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in the Piazza Duomo, reputed to be the world’s oldest shopping mall.”

The hypothetical letter from Dan read:

“Frank,
I now know that when we were roommates sophomore year, I did not have Mono. I was bored. Milan is incredible, the boys beautiful, and the shopping fabulous. There are two things to know about Milan. 1) The city is covered in graffiti (not gang related). 2) The city is covered in dog shit (also not gang related). There is a saying that goes something like, 'In Milan, you buy $600 shoes just to step in dog shit.' I have yet to be victimized.
Love, Dan”



I sketched and inked 18 designer shoes, rearranged the drawings in PhotoShop, printed and photocopied the illustration, gouached the oversized postcard where I approximately thought the shoes would be, then transferred the black-and-white photocopies to the illustration board with a xylene acetone marker. It’s basically a cheap, quick method of screen printing.

**Can you find the Pucci pumps?**