Spring Collection

A round-up of March and what’s to come in April at the Gleeful Dabbler HQ

My website is called The Gleeful Dabbler because I’m so gleeful to be able to do this. It’s also because it’s named after Frida Kahlo (see my about page). Also because there are lots of other Zoe Parkers to get confused with. And a dabbler is a category of duck, I like ducks, especially Mallards.

More reasons to be gleeful: there’s a big Frida Kahlo exhibition coming to Tate Modern in June, so look out for that!

And now back to March, and our Cover Star!

This month it’s Desiree Mackenzie, who signed up for my Newsletter Subscription in March and was chosen to be drawn as a fashion illustration. Desiree is the founder of Inspired to Change, solution focused hypnotherapy in Bromley. I’ll put a link to her website (and all other mentions) at the end of the newsletter.

Glamourous Desiree from Inspired to Change.

Do tell everyone you know to sign up for my newsletter- who knows, if they sign up this month they could be April’s cover star!

Well now, March began in a very exciting fashion and you can read all about it in my earlier blogs. It also ended in a very exciting fashion:

On the evening of Friday March 27th I attended a Fashion Show and piano recital in Crystal Palace. This was a really beautiful occasion and I felt privileged to attend. I had a seat reserved for me right at the front so I could draw the models on the catwalk easily!

The show was organised by entrepreneur and multi-talented artist and musician Ziza Natur and it formed the (almost!) finale to the arts event, Reflections Art Festival in the Crystal Palace Triangle Neighbourhood. The spectacular fashion show itself featured reclaimed, repurposed fabrics and garments by Haus of Wincott. The models paraded up and down the centre of St John the Evangelist church, which was a superb backdrop - with amazing acoustics. The vicar was there too, enjoying the show.

I sketched incredibly quickly to get down as many details as possible, and took a few quick pics so that I could add colour when I got home. It was a very colourful show, based on Aladdin and A Whole New World as Creative Director Chris Wincott had repurposed Disney fabrics (including curtains!) into glorious clothes.

The show began with some young fashion students showing off their own designs, I didn’t catch their names but I did draw them so perhaps someone could enlighten me?

Then there was an interval so that we could enjoy the incredible piano playing of Cristiana Achim, this was really beautiful.

This was followed by the colourful and animated runway show, and a talk by Chris Wincott on the ideas behind the designs. Ziza and Cristiana brought the evening to a close with a singing and piano duet which sounded fabulous and reached the rafters of the church.

Finally the models posed for photographs and the guests enjoyed drinks (yes, there was a bar in the church hooray!) and a spot of networking.

I also illustrated a couple of guests when I got home. I couldn’t resist, they both looked so fabulous. I’m sure you will spot them, they are also Fashion Designers who work with sustainable fashion, John Lee Brunswick and Daylan Mollentze.

My many pics below:

More incredible illustration opportunities arose when I attended the amazing Schiaparelli exhibition, Fashion Becomes Art at the V&A.

I was there for hours, drawing as many designs as I could, and added colour to some when I got home to The Gleeful Dabbler Studio.

Of course, I urge you to visit the exhibition though the tickets are now like gold dust!

I was lucky with my own outfit, which I wanted to look at Schiaparelli as possible- I wore a burnt-orange silk dress with Swarovski beads which was hand made for my by couturier Elizabeth Bessant, and a vintage jacket which I picked up from Stanley Arts Second Chances market just the day before. It was a lucky find from the stall Holding Back the Years.

More excitement to come in April:

April 10th and 11th I’ll be at the Hart and Friends 12th Annual Art Exhibition at the Tin Tabernacle in Hythe, Kent.

I’ll be creating Live Portrait Illustrations there, as well as selling some original work and prints!

A poster advertising the exhibition.

On 23rd April I’ll be at Selhurst Park - not for the football- but for an amazing event hosted by The Chartwell Children’s Cancer Trust. I’ll be there creating a large Live Illustration of events as they happen and speakers as they speak!

This will be really, really exciting!! The poster below gives a hint at what’s to come…

Poster Advertising the Connecting for Cause Event on April 23rd

Then on the 26th, I have my stand at SoCro at Coombe Wood Coach House cafe:

My poster for my weekend pop-up stall at the Coach House Cafe.

And then coming up on May 1st, I have another Dress Up and Draw Workshop, hooray! This one is will take place at the beautiful location of the Hive Design Studio in Sanderstead.

Click on the image for all the details including a link to book.

A self-portrait fashion illustration of me in all my Dress Up and Draw workshop gear.

Finally, here are the links to people, places and events mentioned:

Frida Kahlo Exhibition at Tate Modern in June

Desiree Mackenzie at Inspired To Change

Multi-talented entrepreneur Ziza Natur

Fabulous Fashion Designer Christopher Wincott at Haus of Wincott

Sustainable Fashion Designer John Lee Brunswick and Daylan Mollentze

Incredible Schiaparelli Exhibition

Elizabeth Bessant Couture creator of beautiful, bespoke attire for brides, bridesmaids and guests.

Vintage Clothing at Holding Back the Years

Stay Gleeful this month and I’ll be back soon with more news and events.

I am now open for Commissions as well as prints and postcards in my website shop.

Do get in touch if you are interested in my services as a Live Event Illustrator or a Live Wedding Illustrator, a Fashion Illustrator or Graphic Recorder

Thanks for reading,

Zoe