I present the marvelous Zandra Rhodes, pioneering fashion & textile designer… and her sketchbooks.
Tutorial 1 Zandra Rhodes: Using sketchbooks from UCA Learning Technologists on Vimeo.
It's rare nowadays that I see something on the vast interwebs that is so singularly unique.
but she IS isn't she?
Each page a labyrinth of texture & line.
Such intricate detail.
And of course we love the fact that she's in her mid-70's don't we? Because of course, if she's still churning out ideas it bodes well for us doesn't it?
exhilarating.
all images above found at THE SELBY . Follow the link to see more photos of her home & studio.
I come across articles from time to time about artists or creative thinkers that reach they’re prime at middle age and often much older. i print them out, pull them out of the magazine and put them in my journals. gives me hope.
I’m in my mid 70’s but admit that I’ve never heard of Zandra. I must say that my style (haute comfort) is much more tame than hers is. I’d say this lady is very avant guard, to put it mlldly. HA
I admire her sketchbooks immensely! What a collection since the 50’s…good for her. Being so involved in her art and creativity keeps her young. Age is only a number after all. I’ll soon be 76 yet in my mind I’m still rocking and rolling like I did in my 20’s & 30’s. I’m shocked when I say how old I am in years!
Thank you for this presentation. I’ve been enjoying these photos on The Selby for awhile. I love your comments, especially regarding Rhodes’ age. Yes, it bodes very well for us! And a little eye candy never hurts!
Thanks for the inspiration! Beatrice, Wood, Iris Apfel, and Betsy Johnson all rolled into one!
Her sketchbooks are stunning…thanks for sharing!
Ah yes, we oldies remember Zandra Rhodes from the late 60s and early 70s. She was a real pioneer when I lived in England. A bit too too for me, plus even then as a young mother I wasn’t into designer clothes but it was a glimpse into a whole other way of seeing things. Glad she’s still doing what she does so well.
I watched a video about her a while back–isn’t she wonderful!!
Fabulous work, and so different! I like the way her sketchbook pages leap right on to her clothing designs. Thanks for sharing !
Simply wonderful! Thank you for sharing, I love her work.
Ein in Morro Bay
Oh, thank you so much for finding and sharing this! The sketchbook papers look like tissue vellum, which would enable her to layer them over other pages, colors, patterns, which is important to designers. I don’t get why she draws on both sides, though. And my LOL favorite quote from the Tibetan dress drawing: “You never know when you want to do a dress with the breasts out.” ROTFLOL <3 <3 <3 xoxo
I’ve loved to hear Zandra talk about her drawings. I noticed the pages in her sketchbook must be very thin as she hold a white sheet of paper behind it to show the picture. What paper is that, that hold pen and ink and colour so well? colour? but not aquarelle? I’d love to know?
Wonderful post ,a blast from the past in the 60,s Zandra and Jenny Kee were my idols …loved seeing her journals …what do you think her pages were made of ,looked like some kind of synthetic material….
So so fabulous!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Her work is wonderful thank you for showing it. Did you show some of her work a few weeks ago?
Zandra is wonderful. She has to be — look at the great color on her nails!!!!!!!!!!
Love her – she is Stunning in style and spirit. Thank you so much for sharing this link.
Oh, the late 60s, early 70s and fashions by Zandra Rhodes and Vivienne Westwood . . thanks for reactivating the memories!
Love Zandra’s work. Also, my Art Journal group met yesterday and sketched strawberries and daffodils ala Mary Ann Moss.
A fun day was had by all. 🙂
Oh, wow. Awesome.
Joan Miró’s show just opened at the Denver Art Museum – the exhibit celebrates the works he created during the last 20 years of his life. At age 85 he wrote – I painted in a frenzy, so that people will know that I am alive, that I’m breathing, that I still have a few more places to go. I’m heading in new directions.
Love this . Thanks for sharing .
That is just too amazing! Yesterday when I was at Beverly’s Fabrics I saw a wild print and when I looked to see which designer it was — it was Zandra Rhodes!! I had never heard of her and now twice within 2 days!! Apparently the cosmos is telling me to pay attention! Thanks MaryAnn!