Georg-Friedrich Gebhardt is an aspiring fashion designer from Germany. At only 18 years old, he has created a huge array of collections that many would love to be seen wearing on the streets or, better yet, on the runway. Most of Mr. Gebhardt’s designs are done in watercolor or drawn digitally on a tablet.

ToonariPost (TP): How and when did you first start practicing your art? Are you traditionally trained or self-taught?

Georg-Friedrich Gebhardt (GFG): I started to draw clothes when I was 16 or 17, and I am 100 percent self-taught. To the question HOW I started, I really don’t know. I think it was a progression. At first, I drew characters, and then somehow I got into designing.

TP: What mediums do you use for your art work?  Which is your favorite and why?

GFG: Right now, I use my tablet a lot to draw digitally, but I also like to use watercolors. I don’t have a favorite because both have pros and cons. The main reason I use digital art is that you have so many options with colors, effects, and textures, and the main reason I use watercolors is that I really like the texture and the flow of the colors. So, I like both, although I think coloring with watercolors is a bit more difficult than digital-coloring!

TP: You draw mainly fashion designs. Do you think you would ever make some of your own designs into real clothing pieces?

GFG: I hope so! I had an internship where I learned some things about sewing, but I hope when I start studying fashion design, I will learn some more about that topic!

TP: Who is your favorite designer and why?

GFG: My favorite designer is definitely Alexander McQueen! I really like his style, the different shapes of his designs, the colors… just everything!

TP: What piece of your work is your favorite and why?  Which one are you most proud of?

GFG: I am really proud of my “Capitol Couture” collection and my “Hit The Road” collection because here you can see that I like to design both haute couture and ready-to-wear. I am also proud of both pieces because I like every single design there, and I can see improvement.

TP: When you first started, did you ever hit any bumps in your art process? How did you overcome them?

GFG: I don’t know, but I always have some problems with realistic body proportions, and the only way to overcome them is PRACTICE!

TP: Who or what are your inspirations and why?

GFG: I get my inspirations from so many things, so I would probably say my whole environment is my inspiration. For example, my family, my friends, nature, the internet, other artists, music, movies–there are just so many things! And why is my environment my inspiration? Because it gives me so many ideas for new designs!

TP: What artists would you consider working with to do a piece? Why, and what type of work do you think would come from this partnership?

GFG: I would love to work with Silvia Pelissero, a.k.a. Agnes-cecile, on DeviantART because I love her work! Her paintings are fantastic! It would be amazing to work with her, and I would ask her if she can make patterns which I would use in my designs.

The other artist is Lixi, a.k.a. Viva-la-lixi, on DeviantART because she is such a nice and talented person.I really love her designs and her style! I think some pretty nice designs would be the outcome of that partnership!

TP: If there was any art medium that you wish you could master, what would it be and why?

GFG: I would have to choose between drawing digitally and drawing with watercolors, and I think I would pick the watercolors just because, in my opinion, it is a bit harder to use them.

TP: What are your goals in life?  Do you plan to continue art as a hobby, or make it a career?

GFG: I really want to work in the fashion industry, maybe as a designer or a fashion buyer or a creative director, and because of that, I will start studying fashion design in Berlin. So, I think my goals in life are pretty simple: a nice job and a long, healthy, and good life.

TP: Can you tell me more about your background?  What experiences brought you to be the person you are today?

GFG: Well, my name is Georg-Friedrich Gebhardt, but my family and friends call me Fritz. I was born in Schwerin, Germany. I traveled a lot with my parents through Europe and visited different countries and cities. My favorite cities so far are London, Paris, and of course, Berlin! When I started to design clothes, my family and my friends were really supportive, and they all have encouraged me to follow my dream to make it in the fashion industry.

So, last year I finished school and started an internship at a little local label, and this summer, I will move out from home, and I will move to Berlin. There I will start to study fashion design at the Kunsthochschule Berlin-Weißensee.

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About the author

Kala Istvanek
Presently, I am attending Carthage College in Kenosha, U.S.A. I will be graduating with a degree in Asian Studies, with a minor in English and Studio Art. I have been a bookworm ever since I could read and I can never turn down a book. Art is also one of my loves and discovering new artists is always a thrill for me.