Edition No. 17
Rachel Cooper is one of the wisest, most grounded people I know. She is someone who is endlessly creative, and focussed on her love of art.
Some of you may know her through her fashion brand Frank & Dollys. She is not only the creative director but hand paints the many designs that are printed onto dresses, shirts, and more. Rachel’s work has been featured in Vogue and F&D has been selected as an Australian Fashion Council Curated Brand.
To me, Rachel is a friend and confidante. She is someone whose opinion I trust explicitly. She also has a way of viewing the world through the artist’s eye — seeing beauty everywhere, and bringing it to life in magical ways.
Enjoy…
What are you working on right now?
I’m deep in a colour series at the moment; exploring colour theory through my painting practice, which has become a lovely kind of obsession. I’ve also recently made a commitment to myself to create every single day, no matter how small. It’s quietly shaping my daily habits. Alongside that, each collection we make takes 9 months to create from conception to release so I always have at least 4 on the go at different stages; fabric design, garment design, sample approval, and release.
What is a recent life lesson you learned?
That I don’t need to get to the end of my to-do list before I pick up a paintbrush. I’m used to saving creativity for last, as though it has to be earned once everything else is done. Now I’m learning to treat it as a priority, something I protect and nurture. As a mum of three, the to-do list will always be there.
What was the last fun or unexpected thing you did?
Playing cards with my teenage kids. I’m realising every day how much I love their company. We share the same sense of humour; they’re quick and dry and wickedly funny, I’m just really enjoying them in this stage of life.
Where are your favourite places to eat, visit or stay locally?
We eat really well at home, so I’m not the most reliable local restaurant guide. But a coffee from Sparrow on the Bangalow main street on a slow Saturday morning is hard to beat, and we are blessed with an abundance of waterfalls, swimming holes and beaches to choose from in our region.
Where are your favourite places to eat, visit or stay further afield?
Ubud, Bali always. The local food there is unbeatable. My favourite restaurants include Sweet Orange, which sits overlooking rice paddies and is only accessible by motorbike. Another favourite is Warung Rama for the most simple and delicious local cuisine. Suka Espresso make my all time favourite coffee in the world, I dream about it while I’m not in Ubud! And Paris, specifically Le Marais. There’s a patisserie on Rue Montorgueil called Stohrer, the oldest in Paris, founded in 1730. The croissants are extraordinary and the interior is a listed historical monument.
A favourite gift for friends?
Good oil pastels or a beautiful sketchbook, a novel or an invitation tea ceremony to transport you for an hour from your day. I also save offcuts of canvas from custom paintings to paint small canvases to give in place of cards.
What is on your wish list?
A long stretch of uninterrupted studio time. And more walls to paint on.
What is a recent favourite book you read?
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I read it for the first time when I was seventeen and it changed my life. I returned to it every couple of years, and have just finished again. It’s the only book I’ve ever read more than once, and it finds me differently each time.
What is a recent film or program you enjoyed?
I don’t watch much, but I’m a devoted listener of The Italian Renaissance Podcast, hosted by Lawrence Gianangeli, which covers the culture and art of 15th and 16th century Italy. It’s become essential listening in the studio.
What are you listening to right now?
The Summer Portraits by Ludovico Einaudi. He wrote the album after staying in a villa filled with oil paintings left behind by a woman who painted there every single summer of her life.
Finally, who would you like me to interview next?
Poppy Walker. She’s a dear friend and one of the most eternally creative people I know. A documentary filmmaker based right here in the Northern Rivers, her work has screened at film festivals around the world, and she brings that same depth of curiosity and humanity to everything she does. I think your readers would find her fascinating.
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You can buy Rachel’s designs and art at Frank & Dollys. Follow her and Frank & Dollys on Instagram.
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