I kicked off a project to draw every day for 100 days on July 1st. You can read all about it here, and get my hot tips on how to manage a daily drawing challenge like this here (I’ve done three daily drawing challenges since 2020). You can catch up with previous weeks here.

Let me know how your gatherfiltermake100 challenge is going! It’s not too late to join! The best time to join in was July 1st, the second best time is now!! And remember, I made a special chat thread for my subscribers joining in - do say hello over there too!

OK, on with the show!

Day 41

Haha! This made me laugh! I was trying to draw Dylan with some fat paint sticks and wasn’t getting any accuracy, so it’s all a bit wonky; his eyes were in completely the wrong place, so I tried to correct them, which made things worse! But I rather like the pose and expression! I wish I had got the eyes right! I tried to do him again, but it was awful, and I stopped.

Day 42

I wanted to paint mum again after last week. I was trying to go for a light touch (after yesterday’s effort!), but in retrospect, perhaps it looks a bit patchy. Ahh well, onwards!

Day 43

My first emergency nighttime drawing! I’ve been so busy this week, trying to get ready for our holiday, so I ran out of time on this day, so I thought - ah-ha! A nighttime drawing it is! It’s not setting the world alight, but I enjoyed doing this with limited colours, using paint sticks!

Day 44

The colours went a bit mad here! I was painting at speed, because I had chicken breasts in the bike pannier, and I didn’t want them to get too hot in the heat of the day - it was a VERY HOT HEATWAVE DAY! I thought it would be interesting to take a “before” pic (see below), before I added the paint sticks. I had a very limited selection in my bag, and I had a feeling they might be a bit heavy-handed. What do you think? Anyway, lovely, as always, to sit by the river and paint!

Day 45

I was getting into real pre-holiday mode here. I spent a long while in the studio getting the art materials I wanted to take together - I can report, as I write this post-holiday, that I took WAAAY too much stuff. Nick and Dylan always joke about my propensity to be a bit “just-in-case” about things, and I joke about being “three-bags-Beech1” as I ALWAYS overload myself with stuff.

Anyway, back to today - this was a doodle I did as I was trying to get the ink to flow in my Sailor Fude pen. Do any of you know it? I think I originally learned about it from my friend and fellow 2022 alumni Baljinder Kaur, who does BEAUTIFUL sketches2 with it. It’s a fountain pen with a bent nib, meaning you can get a lovely variety of line with it. If you draw on the flat part you get a chunky line; if you flip it and draw with the very tip, you get a lovely fine line. I actually did draw with this on holiday, so I’m glad I took it. I started drawing my shelves absent-mindedly to get the ink flowing in the pen, and I remember thinking to myself: ooh! This might have to be my drawing for the day! And I was glad later, when I was very tired and HOT - it was ANOTHER one of the hottest days of the most recent heatwave - later!

Day 46

I remember I thought I’d see how my water-brush pens would work before I took them on holiday. I fill mine with Dr Ph Martin’s Radiant Watercolour inks; they’re perfect because you can dispense small drops into the pens, mixed with water, and they don’t clog the pens (mostly. I have found some colours do, so there’s a bit of trial and error.) They have a gorgeous colour selection too. My favourites are Norway Blue and Sunset Orange/Red.

As I have painted the garden so much already, I decided to switch my view up and sat facing the house for a change. I used the double-ended pencil I started using during the three materials challenge3. I like that just using two colours brings a nice unity to the piece. I remember feeling like I had run out of time, but actually, I think it’s OK as it stands now I look at it.

Day 47

The first official day of our holiday! We decided to break the journey to Tenby (where we would be camping for the first week) up by staying overnight in Bristol with my in-laws. I whipped out the sketchbook when we stopped for tea halfway there. We found a lovely cafe with a beautiful view over the hills, which were sadly all yellowing after the recent heat waves, and I grabbed the pencil roll I’d filled with some Tombows and pencils. I’ve not used Tombows for AGES, and I remember feeling like I was making do a bit, but I enjoyed making this sketch, although I find fussy foliage a bit frustrating - there was lots in the foreground. Anyway, I was glad I’d done this later, as it left me free to catch up properly while we were there without worrying about my daily drawing!

And so, the end of another week, and I leave you poised on the point of a week camping in Wales. Will I survive!? You’ll have to tune in for the next instalment to find out!

If you’re joining in with your own 100 day challenge, let me know in the comments. Join me here by tagging me on any posts or Notes or over on Instagram using the hashtag #gatherfiltermake100. You can join anytime, just start with 1/100 and carry on from there!

If you enjoyed this, please do give it a like and share it with a friend, and help me appease the algorithm Gods!

Until next time!

Ella xx

I’m back from holiday! It’s the start of the new school term, and I’m excited to be back and looking forward to a fun, creative month with you all! Below are all the dates for your calendar.

I’m still going with my gatherfiltermake100 daily drawing challenge - to draw every day for 100 days. You can join in for free, and if you want, I’ll be doing some deep-dive bonus content posts for paid subscribers. I’ve made a section on my homepage here, where you can read all about it, and see all my weekly round-up posts with my sketches from the last week.

All these dates are also in my calendar post where I sometimes add any extra details or updates for each meet-up.

Ella xx

Upcoming Dates – September 2026

Every weekday, 9.30–10.30am (UK time) unless crossed out below. Please check the calendar page for any dates that change. Read all about Studio Club here.

• w/c Sep 1st: mon (Bank Hol), tues, wed, thurs, fri

• w/c Sep 13th: mon, tues, wed, thurs, fri

• w/c Sep 20th: mon, tues, wed, thurs, fri

• w/c Sep 27th: mon, tues, wed, thurs, fri

Please note: I’m trying Thursday as the new regular Art Club day for a bit, to see how it works! Read all about Art Club here.

• Thursday 10th Sep, live on Zoom, 12.30–1.30pm - TBC

• Thursday 17th Sep, live on Zoom, 12.30–1.30pm - Still-life/Staffordshire figurines/own choice

Read all about Picture Book Club here.

• Thursday 24th Sep, live on Zoom, 8-9pm

Book: The Elephant and the Bad Baby written by Elfrida Vipont and illustrated by the brilliant, classic Raymond Briggs.

Check out friends of Gather, Filter, Make Helen Hancocks at her bookshop Shelf Editions or Katie Clapham at her bookshop Storytellers Inc. for stock.

Looking forward to a fun September!

Ella xx

All the links are below, for paid subscribers

Read more

Thanks to everyone who came to the live Picture Book Club last month.

In July’s Picture Book Club we looked at Gozzle. Written by Julia Donaldson - a quick Google search tells me she is the bestselling UK Children’s author of all time, surpassing JK, and has sold over 50 million copies worldwide! I thought it was high time we did a Julia book! And it’s wonderfully illustrated by Sara Ogilvie, whose books with Julia have sold over 1M copies - not to be sniffed at!! I picked it up on a whim in a bookshop a few months ago, as I wanted to do some research, actually reading books, rather than marvelling at the lovely pictures (I get distracted!). I was really moved by it, and was also struck by the format - It’s 48 pages long and is told frequently in panels, with the book loosely divided into chapters/sections by the seasons. It just stood out to me, and I decided there and then it would be an interesting one for Picture Book Club.

I hope you enjoy the discussion, and do leave any comments and thoughts of your own in the chat.

Our next book will be The Elephant and the Bad Baby written by Elfrida Vipont and illustrated by the brilliant, classic Raymond Briggs. I decided to do this book when I was in Bologna, and I saw a talk where Matthew Forsythe was raving about it, and it reminded me that it’s been on my shortlist for ages. It was one of my favourite books to read with Dylan when he was little. It’s delightfully absurd, and full of clever little details. I think it’ll be a fun one! I’m on holiday in August, so the next one will be in Sept, date TBC.

Check out friends of Gather, Filter, Make Helen Hancocks at her bookshop Shelf Editions or Katie Clapham at her bookshop Storytellers Inc. for stock.

The Replay is below for paid subscribers, along with some question prompts to help you think through the book.

Unrtil next time,

Ella xx

Read more

I’m here with the replays for July’s Art Clubs. Both Art Club videos were made with the Kings Cross Illustration Fair in mind - see my post about it here - which is always a big event in the calendar. I normally get a burst of creative energy before a fair; my brain goes into overdrive thinking of new creative things I can sell, and, for better or worse, I go into a slight creative panic, meaning I throw a million metaphorical balls into the air, or maybe, more appropriately, a million pieces of spaghetti to the wall to see what will stick! I’ve learned over the last few years of fairs that this will happen, whether I like it or not - the panic creating - and I may as well lean into it! So this bled into Art Club, of course, and I decided to make both Art Clubs (hopefully) useful for the fair. I decided, as is my wont at the moment, to paint Staffordshire figurines for both sessions - going with the idea that what I enjoy radiates into the work. I hope so!

If you want to know more about Art Club - you can read about it here.

This post is free to read for all Subscribers, and I like to make sure there’s lots for free subscribers to enjoy here. The replays are below for paid subscribers.

Session One

So, for Session One I decidedI’d paint my favourite figurine - the grumpy girls (as I like to think of them) with goat!

A few people asked me if it was available to purchase when I posted the image afterwards, so I’ve added it to my shop here.

Session 2

For Session 2, I decided to paint two at once - I always enjoy the energy of switching between paintings; it gives you a chance for a little bit of fresh eyes energy as you paint - and is also helpful for drying time. It’s how I paint all my illustrations. I usually work on two pieces at the same time.

After the hour was up, I decided I wanted to carry on painting, as they were still quite unfinished, so I recorded a bonus video afterwards. It’s also so much better quality than the usual Zoom recording. It’s a shame, because I’d love for all the videos to be this crisp, but Zoom blurs them out a bit. Any techies with a solution, please drop me a line!

Anyway, this is how they both looked when Art Club finished:

And here are the finished pieces. Subtle, but they have more depth, I hope!

As ever, the replays and reference photos are below, for paid subscribers. Don’t forget, if you want to upgrade, here’s the discount:

Also, to note, if you’re reading this on an Apple device, they add a hefty percentage if you upgrade directly from the app, so if you open Substack on your phone or desktop (not the app), you can join without the additional cost. Let me know if you have any probs with this.

Get 50% off forever

I hope you enjoy the replays. If you could be so kind as to give this post a like, comment or share, I would greatly appreciate it! And if you commented live, or on the replays, do comment below or on the Art Club thread, where you can also post photos of your artwork.

Subscribe now

Until next time!

Ella xx

Read more

What is Picture Book Club?

Picture Book Club is an online book club to explore children’s books together. We look closely at illustration, storytelling, publishing and everything in-between; conversations often meander wonderfully, and it’s always the highlight of my month! It’s part book discussion, part creative conversation, and always shaped by the group. One of my favourite things on the MA was when we looked at Picture Books together and analysed them, so I am thrilled to run this on my Substack.

How it works:

• Picture Book Club is usually on the last Thursday of every month. I previously ran it at 8-9pm (UK time), but I’m experimenting with moving to 5pm (here is a handy time-zone converter). Times and dates do vary - I post these every month in a monthly dates for your diary post, and I also update the calendar links post, which is always pinned at the top of my homepage.

• I announce the book at the beginning of the month along with some questions for you to consider. If you want, you can buy the book in advance, read for yourself, and see what insights you get from reading it with a more analytical eye.

• To join, click on the live link at the time specified.

• I begin by doing a reading of the book, showing photos of my copy to read along with me if you haven’t managed to get hold of a copy.

• We then move into a chatty, informal discussion about the book. Depending on the book, we might focus on composition, how colour informs the story or mood, the pacing and rhythm, flow, word/image interplay; we usually meander over all of these and more.

• Each session lasts around an hour, and I post replays afterwards.

Why? How? What?!

I think you can learn so much by analysing a Picture Book; it can be all too easy to dismiss a children’s book as easy, cute, a passion project (read hobby), something that you can dash off in a few months. But the reality is years in the making, and something I personally take as seriously as any painting I see hanging in the National Gallery or the latest adult bestseller, and I love this chance to analyse all the granular detail of a Picture Book. Why did the illustrator use a double-page spread here? How does that affect the overall story? Why does it work so well when the words and images don’t mimic each other? Or when does it serve the story if they do?

It’s this and so much more that I love about Picture Book Club, and I hope you will too!

I hope you find what you’re looking for here! This newsletter has brought so much fun, beautiful connections and joy to me, and if you join, I hope it will bring the same to you!

Love,

What is Art Club?

Art Club is a fun, relaxed and informal space for making and exploring together. Each session is designed as a moment to step away from pressure or perfection and allow lots of space for happy accidents through play, mark-making, and intuitive flow. We work alongside each other in real-time, sharing prompts, experiments and reflections, with the focus on showing up rather than producing finished work. All Art Clubs are available as replays, and each new session adds to the back catalogue to watch and play along with.

How it works:

• Art Club is usually on the first and second Thursday or every month at (UK) lunchtime (here is a handy time-zone converter). Times do vary - I post the dates every month in a monthly dates for your diary post, and I also update the calendar links post, which is always pinned at the top of my homepage. =

• To join, click on the live link at the time specified

• It’s a chatty informal art-making session. We start with a hello and chat while I set up, and then I lead us with a 10 minute(or so) warm up, where we take a line for a walk, make marks and remind ourselves that all art is good art!

• I select an image - which is sometimes a photo I have taken, sometimes a phot that has taken my fancy, and sometimes an image I’ve selected from one of my vintage books collection.

• I pin the the overhead camera which shows me working, and I talk through what I’m making. We usually meander into creative chitty chat during the session, and I dip in and out of what I’m doing.

• Each session lasts around an hour, and I post replays afterwards. I make an Art Club Bundle post each month with both replays in the one post. I normally edit out the first 10 minutes while we chat and I set up, so join live to see me worrying about not being ready, as always! But it’s normally a nice chance for us to have a meandering chat as I get ready.

Why? How? What?!

I’m a firm believer that all art is good art! And I know how easy it is to fall into perfectionism when you are creating art; after all, you want what you make to be good, and pretty and worthwhile. But, ironically, it can be this desire that scuppers your actual opportunities to improve, grow, learn, get better!

So Art Club is designed to allow all of that play, making mistakes, experimenting, trying new things that we avoid, in order to not ruin the other work we’re making! This is why I start Art Club with a warm-up; it’s a reminder that this is a safe art space, a chance to make some bad art, and learn in the process! I have made plenty of artwork I’m not going to be putting in my portfolio anytime soon, but I’ve also made pieces I’ve sold, made into cards, concertina books, and prints, and I’ve also learned new techniques and strategies that I apply to my paid illustration work.

I hope you find what you’re looking for here! This newsletter has brought so much fun, beautiful connections and joy to me, and if you join, I hope it will bring the same to you!

Love,

Hi! I’m Ella Beech, a children’s book author and illustrator living in Cambridge UK.

So, you’ve found yourself in the little bit of the internet I call Gather • Filter • Make. Who is it for I hear you ask?

• people who are curious about illustration (without the hype)

  I want this to be a space that feels free of bullshit, hype, false promises and claims that joining my space can make you an uber-successful illustrator. Instead, I want it to be a place where people can get a real glimpse of what it is like to be an illustrator. When I was still at work and considering leaving, I was desperate to get a real sense of what it would be like, and to get an insight into what I could expect. I looked around far and wide to find the answers, and couldn’t find what I was looking for. So this is for past me, and everyone looking for similar answers!

• people who love process and play

  As you probably know by now, I am obsessed with process! I think figuring out the mindset behind making work is half of the ingredients to actually making illustration. Discoveries I have made about myself, particularly during the MA, about how I work have been literally life-changing for me, and I am passionate about sharing that. Again, this is partly for past me, who was feeling lost and not sure how to move forward with my practice. I also love to play around with art materials, explore working intuitively, making artwork experiments, and playing around to keep my practice as an artist fresh and exciting.

• for people who simply like my work!

  This is the bit that feels the most uncomfortable for me at the moment, but I am determined to get more comfortable with it! Eventually, I would like my Substack to be a place where I simply show new work, explore my practice and share it with people because they like my work! This feels like the next part of my development as I transition from a student to an illustrator, and it feels the most scary to me somehow. Hopefully, I will grow into it, like an itchy jumper that gets all soft and frayed in all the right bits the more I wear it!

• for the journey!

  Again, for past me who just wanted to know all the juicy details of my journey, I want my Substack to continue to be a record of my progress, struggles and meanders along this crazy path I decided to take when I left work in 2019!

So, what will you get here on my Substack?

• Studio reflections and behind-the-scenes process

• Illustration practice and creative mindset

• Picture Book Club discussions

• Art Club making sessions

• Accountability Club co-working

• New work, experiments and occasional shop updates

Free Subscribers

I always want to have some free content as well as paid, so if you sign up as a free subscriber you will get regular posts in the form of life and studio updates, creative thoughts, musings and what I call “creative rambles”. Making a big mid-life change like I did, I discovered an interest in the creative process. It’s not just about making work, but how… what helps? What hinders? How can I delve deeper and better understand myself and my practice? I have learned how helpful it is to reflect on what you make, and I hope by doing that here, I can help you too.

Here are some of my top posts:

Paid Subscribers

I offer paid subscriptions for people who want extra creative content and to be part of an online community. You can expect

Online meet-ups

I host three live meet-ups.

Studio Club is a daily co-working space designed to support sustained creative practice. Join me most weekdays (9.30–10.30am UK time) for a live Zoom session where we show-up together and work quietly alongside one another.

These sessions are about creating space for the “engine room” work of creativity: returning to neglected projects, exploring ideas, and building momentum through regular practice. There’s no pressure to perform, just a chance to work creatively together for an hour (or catch up on admin!) and the encouragement that comes from working together.

Read all about Studio Club here.

Art Club is a fun, relaxed and informal space for making and exploring together. Each session is designed as a moment to step away from pressure or perfection and allow lots of space for happy accidents through play, mark-making, and intuitive flow. We work alongside each other in real-time, sharing prompts, experiments and reflections, with the focus on showing up rather than producing finished work. All Art Clubs are available as replays, and each new session adds to the back catalogue to watch and play along with.

Read all about Art Club here.

Picture Book Club is an online book club to explore children’s books together. We look closely at illustration, storytelling, publishing and everything in-between; conversations often meander wonderfully, and it’s always the highlight of my month! It’s part book discussion, part creative conversation, and always shaped by the group. One of my favourite things on the MA was when we looked at Picture Books together and analysed them, so I am thrilled to run this on my Substack. I announce the book at the beginning of the month along with some questions for you to consider, and then the live Zoom happens the end of the month to chat all about it! It is available as a replay afterwards for those who can’t make it.

Read all about Picture Book Club here.

Behind the Scenes videos:

• video diaries (vlogs)

• videos looking through my latest sketchbooks

• process videos (for example, time-lapses or films of me painting)

• Photoshop mini masterclasses

• publishing chat from my days working in-house in children’s book publishing

• Picture book and materials recommendations and chat

• whatever else is capturing my imagination at the moment

Subscribe now

How does it work?

When you subscribe you get updates sent in the form of an email, straight to your inbox. But you can also see everything on the webpage where all my posts are collated together, or on the Substack app.

f you choose to become a paid subscriber, you’ll receive regular creative content straight to your inbox while directly supporting the ongoing work behind this Substack. Gather • Filter • Make has grown into a Bestseller thanks to a wonderful community of readers, and I’m hugely grateful to everyone who helps sustain it. Paid subscribers also receive early access to sales, special offers, discounts, and first dibs on anything new I create.

A bit about me

I thought I would be an “artist” when I grew up
I followed that trajectory for most of my young adult life: Art GCSE and A-Level, an extremely exciting and fulfilling year doing a Foundation Course in Art and Design at Wimbledon School of Art and then I went on to do a BA in Fine Art Painting at Winchester School of Art.

Reality
I remember clearly the moment I realised I had no idea how to be an artist after graduation. The idea of getting a studio and just painting felt utterly out of reach to me, as I had to pay rent and buy food and stuff! So by chance, I got a “stop-gap’“ job that happened to be in…

Children’s Books
And somehow, I ended up staying for 21 years! It was an amazing experience, and I wouldn’t swap it, but it did rather scupper my plans of becoming an artist. I worked mainly in Pre-School publishing, working my way up from Design assistant, Designer, Senior Designer and eventually to Art Director. Before I left I worked for four years heading up the Pre-School and Novelty book Imprint Campbell Books (an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Books).

Leap of faith
There wasn’t one lightbulb moment, more like a slow yearning to be creative that just got too loud to ignore any more. I realised that I wasn’t getting any younger, and it felt like my creative aspirations were slipping silently away.

So, in 2019 I gave in my notice! I applied to do the prestigious MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art - and wow, what an amazing two-and-a-half years that was! It was truly magical to devote myself full-time to my creative development with a group of equally dedicated and excited people.

Living the dream
Since then I have illustrated five published children’s books and am working on new books, which will be published in 2026 and beyond. My first book The Night Before Christmas was published by The Folio Society in 2023 and was shortlisted for the V&A awards in the Illustration for Children category in 2024; My books have been shortlisted for numerous awards, Bologna Illustrators Exhibition, BolognaRagazzi Amazing Bookshelf, ABCD Awards, British Book Design & Production Awards, the Peters Children’s Book of the Year and the Macmillan Prize for Illustration. And Dear Vincent was named a Times Children’s Book of the Year.

My published books

As well as the illustration work, I work as a part-time Associate Lecturer on the MA at Cambridge School of Art In Children’s Book Illustrations (yes, the same MA I did in 2019!). I also sell original artwork, archival prints and zines over in my shop.

I hope you find what you’re looking for here! This newsletter has brought so much fun, beautiful connections and joy to me, and if you join, I hope it will bring the same to you!

Love,

What is Studio Club?

Studio Club is a daily co-working space designed to support sustained creative practice. Join me most weekdays (9.30–10.30am UK time) for a live Zoom session where we show up together and work quietly alongside one another.

These sessions are about creating space for the “engine room” work of creativity: returning to neglected projects, exploring ideas, and building momentum through regular practice. There’s no pressure to perform, just a chance to work creatively together for an hour (or catch up on admin!) and the encouragement that comes from working together.

It all started here:

Note: when I first started Studio Club I called it Accountability Club, because it felt like a does-what-it-says-in-the-tin name, but as it grew over the weeks and months, I realised Studio Club was a better name, as it encapsulates the co-creating vibes better.

And this was the post I wrote in the first flush of co-working.

How it works:

• Join the live link (below for paid subscribers) at 9.30 am every day (here is a handy time-zone converter)

• We say hello for 5-10 minutes chat. I’ll ask you what you’re working on, and tell you what I’m focusing on too. (If you don’t want to chat, just let me know in the chat at the beginning.)

• After that, we’ll turn our mics off (but leave your camera on if you want, as it gives the nice feeling of working in a studio together) and work on creative projects together. This quickly stacks up, and I hope we’ll all start making lots of lovely creative progress!

• After 50 mins or so, I let you know time is up, and we have a quick wrap-up and chat about what we did for 5-10 mins. This sometimes bleeds into lovely creative chats, which is such a lovely way to start the day! It creates a lovely feeling of working in a studio with lots of other creatives; for me personally it gives me a big boost to my day, and combats that feeling of isolation you can get as a freelance creative working by yourself all day.

• I run Studio Club as often as I can, but sometimes can’t make it, of course. I post the dates in the calendar links post here. It looks something like this:

  • Co-working schedule w/c 16th June:

    Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri

Why? How? What?!

I know we all have creative projects we want to develop more, but never quite get around to as often as we might want, so this is for exactly those things. The projects sitting quietly in a pile (or in your head) waiting for you to start work.

I try to resist the urge to work on my official projects during this time as much as possible; the book work will always come first for me, so I need this extra hour to carve out time for the things that are harder to prioritse - developing projects, exploring materials, playing, waffling, experimenting, going down creative rabbit holes. I know that the fantasy life of an illustrator is doing this all the time, but the reality for me is hours at my desk getting the actual commissions done. But I know I also need to have half an eye on the future too, and carving out an hour like this really does add up.

An added bonus of Studio Club is hearing what everyone is up to every day; it’s always a delightful mix. It can range from developing story ideas to doing the cleaning; eating breakfast is always on my list - ha! We have people who paint every session, other people might be working on thumbnails, writing a difficult email, making artwork for their book. There’s no right or wrong, and every day there’s also plenty of people - and I am very guilty of this - simply getting through their daily admin!

We’ve had two people celebrating new book deals recently, made extra exciting as we’ve been alongside them as they developed and pitched the ideas in Studio Club! We sometimes end up getting caught up in a chat with each other, helping problem solve creative knots, giving recommendations, or a boost of confidence to each other.

Don’t know how to start or what to work on? Much like taking a line for a walk in Art Club, I suggest you just do anything. Make a mark on a piece of paper. Write one word. Draw a box and fill it. Before long, you will find yourself making another mark/word/box…

I hope you find what you’re looking for here! This newsletter has brought so much fun, beautiful connections and joy to me, and if you join, I hope it will bring the same to you!

Love,

Here’s a link below to visit my shop and take a browse there; and for those who’d like a nosy, like you’re at my stand at an Illustration Fair, I’ve created a whistlestop tour of my wares!

Don’t forget: paid subscribers get 15% off my online shop. Click here to reveal the discount.

Shop now!

NEW CONCERTINA BOOKS!

I love to collect and paint Staffordshire and Derbyshire* ceramic figurines, and after a few years of painting them regularly at Art Club and in the studio, I decided it was high time I made something with them. I thought a concertina book felt apt, and would be a good way for them to be displayed in the same way you might display real-life figurines on your mantlepiece! I've collected my paintings into two concertina designs;

HELLO?!

The first I have called "Hello?!" inspired by the "cover" image of Venus holding a shell to her ear!

SIDE 1

SIDE 2

BOSH!

Thos second I’ve called "Bosh!" inspired by the bruisers on the front "cover" illustration!

SIDE 1

SIDE 2

Each concertina comes with a belly-band I decorated/titled myself using Posca pens. Because each one is made by hand, each design will vary ever so slightly.

NEW ARTWORK!

I’ve curated a collection of original artwork pieces that I’m most proud and fond of and have added to my shop. All inspired by my current obsession: Staffordshire Figurines. Drawing and painting from them inspires me so much; I find stories and characters in each piece I paint, and I hope that they inspire the same in you!

PRINTS!

I’ve added some brand new print designs to my shop! Again, inspired by my current obsession with Staffordshire Figurines! My prints are all printed on beautiful, softly textured Hahnemuhle Matt Fibre Paper, 200gsm with archival inks. Available A5 - A2.

Shop them all below, and take a look at my growing collection of prints, mostly of my observational sketches, like these.

Shop prints

VIRTUAL ILLUSTRATION FAIR - SUMMER SALE!

I still have a few things left from my summer sale - a chance to get some original artwork for a bargain price!

SHOP SUMMER SALE

CARDS

I have over 15 card designs now, some of my most popular prints, some from my favourite Staffordshire paintings, and of course, some festive ones. It’s never too early…!

shop cards

ZINES!

I have 10 zines now - quite the collection! Not sure what a zine is? It’s basically a small booklet - zine is short for magazine! My zines are collections of sketches that I’ve selected from my sketchbooks, scanned, done a very basic tidy-up (I like to keep most of the marks there, so they feel authentic) and brought together into themed zines. I have two ones of paintings made from my garden, two of the river, two from Tenby, our regular holiday destination, and others from holidays, plus one of people sketches where I collected together a bunch of sketches of people I had made. Here thet all are below, with a video I made with a look-through them all.

shop zines

And don’t forget your 15% paid subscribers discount! Click here to reveal the code.

If you have any questions about anything, feel free to drop me an email: ellabeechbooks@gmail.com

Ella xx

Happy August! I hope you’re not baking too much, and you and your garden are not suffering too much from this crazy heatwave! If you’re not currently in the middle of a heatwave - do let me know in the comments, and send some rain and cooling vibes our way please!

So, this is usually when I would write the August calendar email, but we’re going on holiday from the 14th - 30th August1, so business is definitely not as normal this month. I was going to try and fit in some Art Clubs this month, but somehow it’s already 10th August, and I’ve not even written my calendar post, so I’m admitting defeat and making August officially a holiday month!

But here are a few things while I’m away.

Join me for a daily drawing challenge…

In case you haven’t already seen, I’ve launched a daily drawing challenge I’m calling gatherfiltermake100. The challenge is to draw every day for 100 days. You can join in anytime for free - all you have to do to join is start! The task is simple: make a drawing/sketch/paint splodge every day; it can be as small as you want, as quick as you want, as messy as you want. The idea is to build a habit, build confidence, and you might find, by the end of the 100 days that you want to keep going. I’ve done it a few times before. Read about it here.

I’m posting a weekly (ish) round up of my daily drawing,s which you can see here.

Here’s my post launching the project - why not join in right now!? I may be on day 37, but it’s never too late to start. The best time to start the project was 37 days ago, the second best time is right now!

I’ll be doing some deep-dive bonus content posts for paid subscribers - keep your eyes out for those - the first will be a sketchbook look though, as I’ve already filled a whole sketchbook!

I’ll be running Studio Club daily until August 14th, when I’ll be away until 31st August. Every weekday, 9.30–10.30am (UK time) link below for paid subscribers.

I’ll be posting the Replays of Art Club and Studio Club from last month before I go, but in the meantime, here are some posts you might enjoy while I’m away.

Have a lovely August! See some of you at Studio Club for the rest of the week, and I’ll be over on Notes while I’m away - do comment and say hi over there!

Until next time,

Ella xx

Read more

I kicked off a project to draw every day for 100 days on July 1st. You can read all about it here, and get my hot tips on how to manage a daily drawing challenge like this here (I’ve done three daily drawing challenges since 2020). You can catch up with previous weeks here.

It feels like I blinked and a week went past! How am I writing week 6 already!? I was deeply focused to try and finish the sketches for my new book last week, but despite that, I got my sketch done every day. I invoked the hack I wrote about last week - to get the sketch done as early in the day as possible - and it really helped! In fact, it was giving me a real dopamine hit every day when I remembered that I had already done my sketch!

There’s no other big revelations this week - just a sense of rhythm and keeping going; and this was all boosted by the actual official #threematerialsdrawingchallenge that was actually being held this week, (rather than me jumping the gun by a whole week!) The #3materialsdrawingchallenge is a drawing challenge hosted by and (mainly) over in instagram. The challenge is to make a daily drawing using only three materials (eg. Three watercolour colours, not a whole palette). It’s usually hosted over the summer, and this year, it was over the first week of August. So I made every drawing this week using only three colours - and really enjoyed adding this challenge to the mix. Thank you to the hosts for the extra boost to my week!

Ok, on to the daily drawings. As per last week, I tried to take photos and post in my Notes when I remembered, so I’m posting the (slightly edited, to take out repeated tagging etc) words I accompanied each post with, where I remembered, and the rest is what I remember feeling as I write this post today (written in italics).

Let me know how your gatherfiltermake100 challenge is going! It’s not too late to join! The best time to join in was July 1st, the second best time is now!! And remember, I made a special chat thread for my subscribers joining in - do say hello over there too!

OK, on with the show!

Day 34

N.B. I got in a right old muddle with the days at this point in the project, but going through everything at a later date, as I write this, I think this is now correct. Eagle-eyed readers might spot that I originally had this one marked as a “miscellaneous” day, but I think I’ve figured out that this was indeed day 34, and the rest of the days flow from that. That means the days marked in the corners are incorrect in the pics, but the days I am posting them here are the right days. Something only I care about, but noting down for my own benefit.

Can you make out some figures in there - and a foot!? I started by making some little sketches that I was frustrated with and kept starting again, but I actually quite like them now I look back - I’ll show them in my sketchbook look-through, which I will try and get done this week. Note to self: Why do I have such a fierce inner critic! I must remember about the magic drawer! Anyway, I ended up making some thumbnails after reminded me how fun they are to do in our of our Studio Club chats. Posting it here, so it’s not completely lost!

Day 35

Today I used blue, pink and yellow Posca pens. I was very tired after an intense day of drawing for my new book, but I decided I’d probably enjoy it once I got going, and went to a favourite spot by the river. The light was bad for photos, so I took a video instead - and you can see how idyllic it is!! (see video here).

(Note from today - I remember feeling beyond tired on this day, but once I was out, sitting in this idyllic spot, I enjoyed myself, of course! In retrospect - it’s a bit pastel, but all drawings are good drawings! Repeat to self!)

Day 36

Drawing our cat with three materials! I was delighted when he settled in the old potato grow bag, so he would stay still, but as is always the way, I prefer the quick ones I did!

This was a case of wanting to get my drawing done at the beginning of the day, so I didn’t have a day like the day before (delightful as it was) where I had to get a drawing done when I was already exhausted! It turns out that the challenge of getting a drawing done at home, when I already feel like I’ve drawn our garden from every angle, meant that I started to get a little bit creative about what I was drawing - and in this case, I spotted our cat, Sonny, and decided to sketch him. It was fun to try and capture him as he ate his food, then sat around digesting afterwards!

Days 37

I’ve been practicing getting the drawing or artwork done earlier in the day, so it doesn’t hang over me all day, and leave it until I am the most tired! So today after lunch, and Nick was doing the washing up, I grabbed my sketchbook!

Day 38

I grabbed the sketchbook and pens first thing, and went out to the garden to find a perspective I’ve not done before. I love being in the garden, and it’s always tempting to pop-out there to draw, but I don’t want to sketch the same view every time, so it was fun to find a new perspective for today. I tucked myself under the honeysuckle down the side passage and drew the mini greenhouse I erected last weekend, which I’ve filled with cuttings and seedlings. I started with the greenhouse (sounds a bit grand for a small plastic frame thingy) using three fat markers/paint pens, which were quite hard to handle, and it was all a bit blobby, but by the end of the sketch I was getting the hang of them, and figuring out the mark-making, and I wished I could go back and draw all the pots and plants inside again, but ahh well - too late! I really enjoy this sort of problem solving in a piece, and it was fun to play with different marks, layering and colour combinations in this one!

Day 39

My mum is visiting for the weekend, so, excited to have a new model, I did this as a sort of doodle as we chatted, and then added Nick as an after thought, and was slightly annoyed as I made him too big. But, ahh well, trying not to be a perfectionist!

Day 40

I had to try and capture mum, in her Mexican top, brought back by her cousin 20 years ago, as she did the crossword with the lush garden behind her! I wanted to paint her this time, to try and move away from my obsession with the Posca pens! I was slightly frustrated not to be able to get much detail in with the big brushes, but actually, I quite like that it’s more impressionistic now I look back at it!

And that’s the end of another week!

Onwards! If you’re joining in with your own 100 day challenge, let me know in the comments. Join me here by tagging me on any posts or Notes or over on Instagram using the hashtag #gatherfiltermake100. You can join anytime, just start with 1/100 and carry on from there!

If you enjoyed this, please do give it a like and share it with a friend, and help me appease the algorithm Gods!

Until next time!

Ella xx

I kicked off a project to draw every day for 100 days on July 1st. You can read all about it here, and get my hot tips on how to manage a daily drawing challenge like this here (I’ve done three daily drawing challenges since 2020).

So, I’m here with the round up for week 5. Although I’m posting this mid-week, I’m making this a week’s round up, so I keep these posts manageable.

The takeaway for this week is that I finally feel like I’m in the swing of this 100 day drawing project! I wanted to acknowledge that because I think it’s important to notice that it can take AGES to feel in the swing of a drawing project like this! For anyone wavering and struggling to keep going, this is a gentle nudge to say: keep going! I remember this from last projects I’ve done - it really is a struggle at first. I think I’ve taken longer to settle into it as well, because of the Kings Cross Illustration fair coming at the beginning, which dominated the last two weeks before this one, as you might have seen in my last post.

Why am I feeling more in the swing? I think it’s a mixture of things. I’m going to list them below, which will hopefully be useful for ME and for YOU

1. I changed materials. This was prompted by seeing that and were hosting the #3materialsdrawingchallenge this week. As I wrote about in my last post (I jumped the gun and started early). And I enjoyed it so much, I just decided I would join in when I wanted, even though I was officially still a week early1. And I’m so glad I did - I needed the jumpstart. I think I had (unintentionally) been taking the challenge a bit too seriously. As I reflected last week, I was getting a bit of stage fright; And I think I fell into the all-too-easy trap of trying to make useful and good sketches. And then this week, I finally got into a more playful, relaxed mindset. (that’s not to say I didn’t have glimpses of this over the last 26 days, but I can feel a shift this week).

2. I kept going! As always, I had days where I was feeling VERY tired, resistant, and that I didn’t have time! But when that happened, I reminded myself, just do something to keep going! I chose the easiest option I could think of, and just did what felt doable. And looking back, I feel really pleased that I kept going.

3. I didn’t (always) leave it until the end of the day! This is something I am still working on, but I tried to nudge myself to do the sketch earlier in the day. I think this works two ways: A) as you see below, it frees you up to do another relaxed sketch later in the day if you want, as you’ve already done a “back-up” sketch. B) I guess this is obvious, but it’s one less thing on your “to-do” list for the day.

And a note on that last point: the other big theme for the week - despite the fact that I feel I’m settling into it - has been the feeling that my daily drawing was hanging over me as a job on my to-do list all day. But… the difference this week is that because I’m feeling more in the thick of the project, I think the drawings/artwork are coming more easily, so once I do finally get to them they feel better, less of a struggle, and the decision-making is easier; the hand is moving with less hesitation. And even though I’ve felt very resistant before starting, it’s also very rewarding during and afterwards. So I think that’s progress, right?!

Ok, I’ll let the daily drawings do the talking now. I tried to take photos and post in my Notes when I remembered, so I’m posting the (slightly edited, to take out repeated tagging etc) words I accompanied each post with, where I remembered, and the rest is what I remember feeling as I write this post today (which I’ve written in italics).

Let me know how your gatherfiltermake100 challenge is going! It’s not too late to join! The best time to join in was July 1st, the second best time is now! (I’ve nicked this from one of my favourite wise people )! And remember, I made a special chat thread for my subscribers joining in - do say hello over there too!

OK, on with the show!

Day 27

Today, inspired by the #threematerialsdrawingchallenge I took three Posca pens down to the river with me. I really enjoyed playing with the three colours and trying to knock the scene into shape. Fun!

*I’m a week early for this, but I’m feeling inspired, so I’m going with it!

(Note from today - I remember feeling SO MUCH enjoyment from making this piece. The sun was glistening on the water, it was late afternoon, and I had finished work for the day. It felt like a bit of a squeeze to fit it in, but I clocked off half an hour early to get this done.)

Day 28

Today I sat by the river and decided to draw passers-by using three materials again - a marker pen, a Stabilo Woody and a double-ended pencil. Enjoying the tangle of and contorted limbs as I attempted to capture walking movement! Ha!

(Note from today - I remember feeling quite enthusiastic as I set out, but I didn’t enjoy the materials I chose, and suddenly time was slipping through my fingers. SO I decided to draw people as they walked along using three materials. I remember feeling at the time that it felt like progress from my previous people sketches (in graphite pencil) that I was managing to draw people whilst switching between materials, despite the wonkyness!)

Days 29 & 30

As you can see, I’ve been in the garden! Always a challenge to draw all that foliage, but also - an enjoyable challenge!

Still enjoying the challenge of drawing with just three materials (or 4 - I don’t mind a bit of a cheat). I’m a week early!! But can’t stop!

(Note from today - I needed to include flowers in the book I’m currently in the middle of sketching for, so I decided to draw flowers in the garden for research. I remember feeling really in the flow for these. This was a day that I did a “backup sketch” in the morning, which meant that the other two sketches felt like bonus sketches, which added to an extra relaxed feeling when I started.)

Day 31

I was feeling SUPER tired on this day. I had had a really concentrating day of sketching (for my new book) in the studio, and I didn’t want to do any more drawing, I just wanted to sit in front of the telly and eat chocolate! So I cut some flowers from the garden and sketched while I vegged on the sofa! I don’t love the sketch, but it was an important keep-going one! Well done past me!

Day 32

As I was cycling back from the garden centre (my panniers full of half-price, slightly browning plants I’m hoping to rescue) I stopped to do my daily drawing by the river as it was looking so beautiful!

Working in three materials again - this is made with peach and red paint sticks and a sky blue Tombow!

(Note from today - I was having such a lovely day shopping for plants I didn’t really want to stop, but I caught that thought, looked at how beautiful it was, and as I cycled past another bridge by the river I thought: if I stop and do my drawing now, future Ella will thank me, AND you’ll enhoy yourself, because look how beautiful it is! Well done (again) past me!)

Day 33

I’m calling this 2/7 of the #threematerialsdrawingchallenge even though I accidentally used 4 materials (5 of you count the “magic” pen)! Oops! When I started I thought: I won’t count the magic pen, concluding I had 3 materials, but clearly I was in Sunday Brain mode! Ahh well. I’m posting anyway! I sat on the kitchen doorstep to do this, and enjoyed a slightly different view of the garden.

I thought the magic pen would be more fun than it was! I might try and distress the tip for another day; I found it a bit neat.

And that’s the last week, up until Sunday. I got super confused about the days as I did this post; I knew I would once we moved out of July, when I could just check the date to know what day it was. So note to self for the future: write the days on your post as you go!

I’ve started a draft for this week, and will post on Monday next week, I hope.

I’ve just, as of today, finished a sketchbook, so I’ll film a sketchbook look-though video for paid subscribers when I get the chance.

Onwards! If you’re joining in with your own 100 day challenge, let me know in the comments. Join me here by tagging me on any posts or Notes or over on Instagram using the hashtag #gatherfiltermake100. You can join anytime, just start with 1/100 and carry on from there!

If you enjoyed this, please do give it a like and share it with a friend, and help me appease the algorithm Gods!

Until next time!

Ella xx

As you might have seen, I kicked off a project to draw every day for 100 days on July 1st. You can read all about it here, and get my hot tips on how to manage a daily drawing challenge like this here (I’ve done three daily drawing challenges since 2020).

I think the last two weeks have probably been fairly typical for a big project like this, where the reality of committing to a big project like this has hit home, and if I’m honest with you, it’s been really difficult (at times) to keep going.

BUT…

I did keep going, and I have to say, looking back at this post, I’m really glad I did! It’s renewed my determination to press on with the next few days, weeks and beyond. Another thing that’s keeping me going is thinking of our upcoming holiday, where I know I’ll really enjoy leaning into it and finally have a chance to make some more sustained drawings and paintings.

Having been in and out of frutration these last few weeks, I know that part of the reason I am doing this is for the difficult days - to prove to myself that it’s worth pushing on on busy days: to pull my sketchbook out and do something. So even though, at the time, I was frustrated as I did yet another drawing of Nick; in retrospect, I can see that it’s all about building the habit - and that is what I want to do. If…when… it becomes a daily habit (and I wasn’t half aware that I would be posting multiple nearly identical drawings of Nick), I know that making quick drawings like this would be part of it. And another part of me knows it’s a really lovely memory bank, and something I’ll enjoy looking back on; a way to capture days that otherwise get lost in a sea of the everyday.

The thing that added another dimension to the whole thing was the Kings Cross Illustration Fair - I’ve written about it in part in this post, if you’re interested - which happened in the middle weekend, so you’ll see the whole (just over) two weeks are dominated by either prepping for it, or, last week, recovering from it!

I won’t say any more here; I’ll tell the story, as I did last post, with short captions for each day. I will say that writing this post today makes me regret not posting a daily Note with some thoughts every day; It would make writing this post easier, for a start, but also, I wish I had a record of what I was thinking day to day, because of course, I’m writing reflections today with the benefit of hindsight - although I will try to be honest!

Let me know how your gatherfiltermake100 challenge is going! It’s not too late to join! The best time to join in was July 1st, the second best time is now! (I’ve nicked this from one of my favourite wise people )! And remember, I made a special chat thread for my subscribers joining in - do say hello over there too!

OK, on with the show!

Day 11

I was very much in the throes of the World Cup excitement this week! I get very into each international tournament - and have potent memories of watching England go out of each tournament, and feeling heartbroken each time! This was the match against Norway. Me and my Norwegian friend Sidsel Lindhagen1 were sending each other friendly messages on IG, and my love for the bromance between Bellingham and Haaland was born! I get such heightened nerves during each match - regularly reporting to Nick what my heartrate is!! So I drew as I watched to help calm my nerves a bit. If you haven’t seen Toby Rampton’s2 wonderful drawings of footballers - take a look right now! I had them in mind as I did these rather poor drawings! Although, as ever, by the end, I felt I was capturing the body language somewhat!

Day 12

I remember feeling very frustrsted with this one. I had headed off with my sketchbook mid-afternoon on Sunday, and I knew halfway through that I had bitten off more than I could chew. I had chosen my A4 sketchbook (too big!), was trying to paint a family who were moving around a lot, and the sun was moving rapidly through the sky, leaving me blinded by the sun multiple times. I kept having to get up and move my whole set up into the shade of the tree, and eventually had to stop when the shade disappeared into the path, and I had lost my composition completely. Note to self - big sketchbook for when I have time!

Day 13

So Monday came about, and I realised I hadn’t prepared for the Illustrator’s Fair at all. I knew I wanted to make something new for the fair, and had got it into my head that it would be fun to make a concertina book collecting together the paintings I’ve made over the years of Staffordshire Figurines. Of course, once I started looking and collecting them into some sort of order and in a way I thought would work in a concertina panel, I realised I had some gaps. So I decided to do an impromtu Substack Live painting Staffordshire Figurines. I’ve done this a few times before a fair, and then I sell them at the fair as original paintings. I keep the prices low, and they usually sell really well. They come out differently each fair, and I enjoy that - like a picture of how I’m feeling and working at that time. I didn’t post the replay (would you like me to?), but you can see previous ones here and here.

Anyway, I decided that, although strictly speaking I was painting from photos, I was painting in the spirit of my project, and that I would count them as part of the project. So here they are as day 13. Those who watched live, and have watched me paint these particular cherubs before will know all about the nemesis figure - can you guess which one it is below? Clue: it is the one that represents Summer (I love painting these particulat cherub figurines, from one of my vintage pottery books, which represent the seasons).

Day 14

The Staffordshire figurine painting continued as I worked to fill more gaps in my design. Here I realised I needed some more cherubs for my (six panelled) Concertinas, and I wanted some figurines on white backgrounds - they needed to feel a bit busier, be of a figure with a creature of some sort, and be portrait (not landscape). I found some pictures of figurines of Neptune and Venus, and they felt perfect! I’m including a pic I took of two sides of my Concertinas with the paintings in place - I made two Concertinas in total (with four sides). Is this all a bit complicated? Hope you can make sense of it! Anyway, you can see (and buy them if you want!) via this post.

Day 15

A day where I was putting the files together, and trying to get them to print in time to get them printed and collected by Friday. I remember I was exhausted by the end of the day, and reluctantly grabbed my sketchbook to draw Nick - again! But as mentioned above, these are the important days!

Day 16

These are from Art Club - I’ll be posting the replay shortly. I really enjoyed painting both of these (despite the way the wolf came out!). I enjoyed my week of Staffordshire Figurines! And by complete coincidence, after painting these from photos I found trawling the internet, I found the real-life figurine of Red Ridinghood at the market on the Sunday, and just had to buy it - it was fate! And I’d had a lovely conversation with a fellow Staffordshire enthusiast at the Illustration Fair about where we buy them, when to buy them, and when it feels right - how not to overpay etc etc… It really did feel like fate!

Day 17

Another busy day! Getting everything prepared for the fair the next day - and so, I drew Nick again! I think this was the day I brought my sketchbook up to bed and I sketched Nick with as much energy as I could muster before falling into bed, exhausted!

Days 18 & 19

I forgot two days! First time it’s ever happened to me on a project like this! Although, I would say, I didn’t 100% forget - I remembered at inopportunely moments, when my sketchbook wasn’t to hand (the way you remember all your important jobs - and have profound thoughts - in the shower, then promptly forget about them!). But (excuses! Excuses!) it was the weekend of the fair, and I was so, so busy!

On Saturday, the day of the fair, I was either driving to the fair, running a busy stall, or driving back. The only moment I could have picked up my sketchbook, I was collapsed on the sofa with exhaustion! I really enjoyed the fair - as I always do - and it went really well, but boy, it’s exhausting!

And on Sunday I was recovering, shopping for the week, etc, then Nick and I drove to Heathrow to collect Dylan, who’d been on a cultural exchange trip to S. Korea. We didn’t get back until 1am. What an exhausting weekend!!

All in all, I can see why I missed these days, and most importantly, as I knew from previous daily drawing projects, the main thing is to not let this derail me, and to get back on the horse. Onwards!

Day 20

The football might be over, but I fed my obsession with podcasts and TV shows - I even listened to the audiobook of Gareth Southgate’s Dear England having watched the TV show earlier in the week. This was a quick sketch of Nick while we watched The Rest is Football. I was still very tired from the weekend, and all I felt I could manage was a quick sketch of Nick. I like that I did the quick sketch of Nick when he fell asleep, and made a little note - and is a good reminder to take more notes as I continue.

Day 21

Haha - still very tired, and switching to a new model now Dylan was back from S. Korea! I remember feeling very tired, and frustrated that my daily drawings would all be tired family sketches.

Day 22

Having reached a point where I was frustrated with the pencil - and pen - sketches of the fam, I decided to at least use some water! So this was done with the ArtGraph water soluable graphite tin. I was worried about making an unflattering depiction of Dylan’s girlfriend (sorry Eloise!) and very tired - again! And I made Dylan’s head way too big (although he was quite pleased with his jaw line!). But this was the beginning of me trying to shake myself out of the rut I had fallen into of tired sketches at the end of the day.

Day 23

I really wanted to get out and about on this day, and I remember feeling slightly torn between not wanting to do more pencil drawings/wanting to paint, and wanting to practice people, because I’m sketching them for the book I’m working on at the moment. So I headed out, and ended up doing a bit of both. I decided I would warm up with some people sketching, and end with a painting. It’s funny to look back - it feels like you’re filling a page, and you end up with some funny scrappy drawings. But I’m determined to make the drawings useful for me, even if they’re not very social media friendly; and I can see the ones that felt right (aka, more fluent) on the day, even if they look rather scrappy here!

For the painting, I had an idea of what I wanted to do - I wanted to capture some of the riverside landscape, play around with how to capture trees and foliage with a light touch (ongoing!), play around with foreground/background. I also remember at the time feeling quite frustrated with the random selection of materials I had brought back with me, although in retrospect, it can be a good exercise to work with what you have. The Ready, Steady, Cook of sketchbook working! I really enjoyed taking this time out and slowing down a bit. And I had a lovely chat with a little girl (aged 6, as I was informed!), in AMAZING shoes covered in diamonds, jewels and sparkles, in a green tutu, and amazing energy who approached me towards the end, to see what I was doing. I’m glad to report I got her approval!

Note: I was trying out this new leaning chair I had seen some people using recently, and promptly bought. I got mine from Decathlon. I can report that I loved how portable it was, and how easy it was to set up, but it did start to give me pins and needles in the parts of my thighs that were being pressed by the straps. But I think I will definitely be taking it out again. I’ll report back!

Day 24

A day where I was running low on time, but not wanting to do a pencil drawing, I decided to paint my son and his gf - apologising profusely for the unflatteringness!! Not sure how much better this is than a pencil sketch, but perhaps time will tell…

Day 25

I will admit to feeling pretty frustrated with how little I had managed over the last few weeks. Although I had given myself permission to “count” my Staffordshire paintings, I think a part of me didn’t feel they truly counted, and as I have mentioned multiple times above, I was finding the quick sketches unsatisfying. Coupled with a nagging anxiety that I don’t have time for longer paintings, I was beginning to worry for the first time that maybe this 100 day project was just too ambitious at this time in my life!

But I had seen the #3materialschallenge is running again this year3, and although I’ve not taken part in a meaningful way before, I’d seen it’s just for a week this year, which feels more manageable. I’d also been mulling over what Naomi had said about the rules - particularly the timing: make your image in 30 mins, and it inspired me to have a go! I’m almost positive I didn’t make this in 30 mins - probably closer to an hour (although I don’t think I looked at my watch at all!). And at the time, I remember finding it very difficult to stick to just three materials, but in the end, it was the inspiration I needed. Thank you, Katherine, Charlotte and Naomi! If you want to know more about the challengs, Charlotte has written a Substack about it here.

Note: I’ve actually jumped the gun on this - the challenge doesn’t start until August 1st. Oops!

The three materials used: two ink pens filled with watercolour inks. One a peachy colour I mixed myself, and one called Norway Blue. And one Caran D’ache double-ended red/blue pencil!

Day 26

I wanted to practice working with three materials again for this one. I actually cheated a bit and added an orange Neo Art pastel at the end, as I wanted to add a bit extra oomph, although looking back, I think it was unnecessary! Lucky it’s not officially the #3materialschallenge yet! Ha! This was done using three different pans from my Holbein Cake Colours palette (I got it shipped from Japan, I can’t find it from a quick search, as I type, sorry! It’s got two layers of paints in a red tin.)

And that takes us up to today - Monday. Phew! That was a long one - another lesson: to post weekly from now on! I didn’t mean to write so much, but it was really useful to look back, I feel like I’ve taken away loads from doing all this reflection in this post.

As I said at the beginning, it’s been a funny few weeks, but I feel I’m getting back on track; I think it’s a mixture of things. I’m getting my energy back after the fair; I think it helped to move away from the tired end-of-day sketches - although I still think there’s a place for them, I know it’s also useful not to get too stuck in a rut, and to listen to myself and to have a sense of what I want to explore during this project. And it’s helped to work with some limitations - as I have with the three materials challenge in the last few days. And so! On I go - wish me luck! And I’m sending luck to those of you still going - let me know in the comments if you are!

If you enjoyed this, please do give it a like and share it with a friend, and help me appease the algorithm Gods!

Until next time!

Ella xx

This year I took part with my brilliant and talented friends Emma Farrarons and Ruby Wright - I always come away feeling so lucky to be part of such a warm, supportive and creative community!

It feels very moving to see how much love there is out there for the creative arts when everyone comes together like this - a hall full of people with love in their hearts for illustration. So joyful!

Here I am standing with my table on Saturday! It’s very fulfilling to bring together my work and present it on one table like this, and I enjoy giving it a home-spun feel with hand-made signage! I wish all of you could come along, but I know Kings Cross could be quite a trek for some of you, so read on below for ways you can have a virtual browse!

NEW CONCERTINA BOOKS!

I love to collect and paint Staffordshire and Derbyshire* ceramic figurines, and after a few years of painting them regularly at Art Club and in the studio, I decided it was high time I made something with them. I thought a concertina book felt apt, and would be a good way for them to be displayed in the same way you might display real-life figurines on your mantlepiece! I've collected my paintings into two concertina designs;

HELLO?!

The first I have called "Hello?!" inspired by the "cover" image of Venus holding a shell to her ear!

SIDE 1

SIDE 2

BOSH!

Thos second I’ve called "Bosh!" inspired by the bruisers on the front "cover" illustration!

SIDE 1

SIDE 2

Each concertina comes with a belly-band I decorated/titled myself using Posca pens. Because each one is made by hand, each design will vary ever so slightly.

NEW ARTWORK!

I’ve curated a collection of original artwork pieces that I’m most proud and fond of and have added to my shop. All inspired by my current obsession: Staffordshire Figurines. Drawing and painting from them inspires me so much; I find stories and characters in each piece I paint, and I hope that they inspire the same in you!

NEW PRINTS!

I’ve added some brand new print designs to my shop! Again, inspired by my current obsession with Staffordshire Figurines! My prints are all printed on beautiful, softly textured Hahnemuhle Matt Fibre Paper, 200gsm with archival inks. Available A5 - A2.

Shop them all below in my NEW ARRIVALS page in my shop. And do have a browse at everything else, I have plenty more there. Inspired by my love of painting on location I have over 10 zines of my observational sketches and archival prints, a growing collection of cards, and you can also buy signed copies of my books there.

And before you click, you might want to read on below for one more exciting thing… (well, I think it’s exciting!)

NEW SHOP DROP

VIRTUAL ILLUSTRATION FAIR - SUMMER SALE!

I love to make a bunch of quick paintings for each fair, working intuitively, guided by my love of colour, texture and mark-making, and then sell them at the fair for LOW LOW prices. It feels fun to create pieces of original artwork for an event like this, meet and chat with people and then they can walk away with a piece of original art.

I don't usually sell them online, but this year I thought it would be fun to have my own online Virtual Illustrators Fair. So feel free to browse through these pieces below, and I’ve also added some prints. Everything is priced as low as I can go, so I can clear space to create and sell new artwork for the next fair and here in my online shop. Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions: ellabeechbooks@gmail.com. Spec and details are below.

Here’s a sneak peek of some of the things I’m selling. As you can see, there are some bargains there - I love a bargain, and I’m happy to be able to pass them onto you!

SHOP SUMMER SALE

Don’t forget: paid subscribers get 15% off my online shop. Click here to reveal the discount.

I hope you enjoy your virtual browse, and feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions: ellabeechbooks@gmail.com

Until next time,

Ella xx

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So below is my reflections from making my latest book, and five things I’ve picked out that I feel helped me finish with a little bit of sanity in tact! Ok, here we go!

Five things I’ve learned from my latest book.

Creative rambles from the desk of Ella Beech

I’ve always been somewhat of an overthinker, but recently, my brain has gone into overdrive. The reason? I’ve been working on the first book I have both written AND illustrated, and these last few weeks I’ve been getting closer and closer to what you might call: the end bit; the part when I have to declare myself finished and hand it in to the publisher as my “final files”.

This is the bit for me when my inner critic goes wild. All I can see is the parts I wish I had done differently, the parts I want to change, where my brush failed me, the composition didn’t work as well as I thought it did in the sketches. The trouble is, I do need a critical eye for this stage - it’s when I am metaphorically dotting the ‘i’s, crossing the ‘t’s… It’s useful, needed. I’m looking for consistency, making sure the words and pictures serve each other, ensuring I’ve not left any literal eyes undotted. But…

That useful critical eye has a tendency to go into overdrive. I start to (metaphorically) zoom in too much. Criticising each paint stroke that feels off. I start to overanalyse everything: is this palette right? Does the energy feel right? Why did I do this? That? I feel, if I’m honest, disappointed with myself; best laid plans and all that.

It becomes bodily; my stomach tenses up, my shoulders hunch, my eyebrows crease, and before you know it, I have tipped into a heightened state of anxiety. But…

I have been working with myself this time, this book; trying to catch myself when I pass too far into this state, and I think it’s been working. Although I have had those days of course; weeks sometimes; I’ve also had times, more than that - time-periods - when I’ve felt that I’ve held myself together. I’ve been able to step away from the brink of overthinking, and stay in the helpful analysis zone. Does any of this make sense?

I always try and take stock after a book, and each time I get to know myself and how I work better. On a practical note, I learn ways to control my medium better; little tweaks that upgrade how I’m working ever so slightly. I also learn ways to support myself better, to use more healthy thought patterns, and generally feel better as I’m working.

So here is a list. It could be much longer, but I decided to stick to five, to keep it (somewhat!) tight. It’s a mixture of things I consciously put in place before I started, things I learned along the way, and things I have realised as I reflect on this last year or so.

I’ve made the first three free for all subscribers, and the last two are behind the paywall. I hope you understand; I want there to be plenty of free content here, but I also want to provide extra content for my paid subscribers. If you upgrade, you’ll be joining my wonderful community of artists, writers and creatives - I’d love to have you. We talk about these sorts of things quite often at Studio Club, if you like this sort of thing.

1. This is where I am right now, and that is good enough for now.
   I think part of my stress about the end stage of a book, and actually, as I make artwork in general, is that everything feels so final. All my visions and aspirations I started with get real. This is it, this is what I’ve made. It’s holding a mirror up to where I am right now, and I don’t always like it.
   
   Ira Glass talks about the taste gap and I think this is part of it. He basically says, you get into the game (writing, drawing, etc… because you have such great taste, but, at the beginning, while you’re still learning, your skills don’t match your aspirations, creating a gap. So you have to put the hours in to close the gap. When I first heard about the it, I hated it. I didn’t like the idea that I wasn’t there yet. It felt a bit…humiliating, I think. I had to work through that a lot as I started drawing again after a 15-year gap of very limited drawing1. Then when I first started making books, I had to learn that lesson all over again! Now that I’m a few books in, and I can see and feel how much I’ve learned, I can see the truth in it. Also, I think the more work I’ve made, the more I can see that it’s not about a linear end moment, when everything will feel right. It’s, as they say, a journey!

   But of course, I can still feel the gap, and when i’ve had those moments for this book I’ve been working hard to let myself be me now. Not in the future, but me right now. When I start to get a sore tummy (I relate so much to Charlie Brown on that front!) I say this to myself: This is where I am right now, and that is good enough - for now. Accepting myself and where I am now helps me keep going, keep drawing, painting, and actually get it finished. And that’s the important bit really! As Julia Cameron says in the brilliant Artists Way: You take care of the quantity, and God will care of the quantity. (She says “God” can be whatever creative higher power you want to believe in) Just put the hours in, let yourself be who you are, and let the work emerge!

2. Make lists.
   Any list is good. Ones with big tasks are good: paint spread 1 etc… But this time I’ve been leaning into the micro lists; detailed lists with all the granular steps involved. After writing the above, it’s funny to immediately realise this is another thing I’ve resisted! It’s one of those pieces of advice you hear regularly: To break a task into small steps, but somehow I’ve never actually tried it.
   
   But this time at the end of the project, when I had a million, granular, tiny tasks to do, I decided to give it a go. So instead of: Paint spread 1, I would write:
   
   - prepare the paper

   - check consistency

   - print the sketch

   - clear desk etc

   - paint spread 1

   - scan artwork

   - clean up in Photoshop.
   

   Having all the steps written down before and after the main task (eg. paint spread 1) felt friendlier, less intimidating somehow. And when there are a million things to do, ticking one task off a list, no matter how small, really does give you the illusion of progress.

   
   Procrastination, I’ve learned, happens when a task feels too big, and so breaking it into little steps makes it much harder to put off. Prepare the paper? Yes, I can do that! Print out my sketch? Sure! Anyway, if you have stubbornly resisted this like me in the past, I recommend you give this a go!

3. Getting perspective/overview.
   This was a difficult one to give a title. This is about finding ways to look at your work with a wider lens. When you’re in a project, it can get difficult to see it properly. When we were on the MA, I remember talking about ways to see your work more objectively. One of the tutors suggested looking at it in the mirror and I remember finding it so helpful - It was a good lesson on how subjective making art can be. I rarely do that these days, but I do sometimes flip things in Photoshop, and realise they’re quite wonky!
   
   Anyway, these are things I do throughout the project to try and get perspective:

   
   - scan and drop into an InDesign document at each stage (thumbnails, sketches, etc). I find it so helpful to see the image cropped, with text dropped in etc. I know I’m lucky I have these skills from my past life as a designer, but if you can find a way to at least crop your artwork to see it framed, it’s so helpful.

   - I keep looking through the book chronologically as I work. In my case, scrolling up and down the InDesign document.

   - reading through from beginning to end as each image is updated

   - printing out and making up regular dummies

   - I paid to get a proper set of colour layouts printed when I had finished my first full colour draft so I could make a paper dummy - so helpful!

   - showing friends and talking through with them

   
   I’m sure there are other things I’ve forgotten! Doing this regularly while working through a book - which involves days and days of diligent, slow work - really did help remind me to keep looking at it from different angles. It helped me stop being so critical of tiny details, stop obsessing over things I wish I’d done differently, and to remember I am illustrating a story, not just trying to make pretty pictures!

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As you might have seen, I kicked off a project to draw every day for 100 days on July 1st. You can read all about it here, and get my hot tips on how to manage a daily drawing challenge like this here (I’ve done three daily drawing challenges since 2020).

For the first projects I did, I posted daily on Instagram, so hold me accountable, and I have to say, it was brilliant to keep me going. Somehow, knowing I had committed to post every day held me accountable, even though I knew on some level, nobody would notice if I didn’t post for one day.

This time, I decided I would post over on IG or here on Notes as and when I felt like it, but my big commitment is to do round-up posts. I originally thought I would do weekly, but as day 10 fell on a Saturday, I thought a 10-day round-up would be perfect.

So here we go! I nearly used the subheading: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, and then I thought it was probably a bit mean to myself! So, what can I say about the first 10 days? I have felt quite a bit of what I can best describe as stage fright. A feeling that people were watching and judging! So I’ve had to try and take a deep breath each day and remember I’m doing this for me! I’ve tried to play around with different materials and locations. I’ve done a few Gah! I have’t done my daily drawing! Better whip the sketchbook out, panics!

I felt super rusty at the beginning, which felt odd, as I draw nearly every day for my day job, and it’s not like I’ve not worked in my sketchbook recently. I even got shortlisted for a sketchbook prize last week for a sketch I did only a few weeks ago! So, as I say, I put it down to a bit of stage fright, and tiredness after handing in a book last Monday.

What has kept me going is knowing that I will go on a journey during this project - that I will discover new things, maybe have some breakthroughs and I know I will start to enjoy myself. There’s also a determination to turn observational sketching into a daily habit for me, not just something I do (sometimes) on the weekend and on holidays. I want it to become normal again, something I casually whip out at quiet moments, even if some days all I do is a quick pencil drawing of the cat! And I know this will help with that!

So, without further ado, here are the first 10 days! I am accompanying with a combination of quick thoughts I noted on the day, or my thoughts as I look back now.

Let me know how your gatherfiltermake100 challenge is going! It’s not too late to join! The best time to join in was July 1st, the second best time is now! (I’ve nicked this from one of my favourite wise people )! Quite a few people are joining in! is doing daily comics! has been doing amazing daily characters! Studio Club regulars and have been joining in - and lots more of you. Please say Hi in the comments! And remember, I made a special chat thread for my subscribers joining in - do say hello over there too!

Day 1

Kicking things off with 20 mins of drawings with a pen in the riverbank this morning. Having a go at catching some joggers, rowers, and idlers!

Day 2

It was a busy day today, exactly the day to feel tempted to skip. So I grabbed my box of bright crayons and pastels and did blind drawings to warm up, then some timed drawings, the last one for 15 mins, with the intention to fill a page.

Ended up drawing my feet as I leaned back to draw on our garden bench. Not sure where my little toes got to! I’d like to write more notes as I draw. It’s a nice addition to write how I’m feeling as I go.

Day 3

I enjoyed drawing Dylan intently on his phone (getting in some #walktoseepeopleonphones sketching in for Helen Stephens July #walktosee!) and after getting a bit tight and neat on the first sketch of Dyl, I managed to loosen up and enjoy myself, which was satisfying! Also wanted to get back out to draw some moving figures - always a challenge, as they whizz past so fast! Finally, the first of many of my husband Nick! 💛 Feeling a bit rusty, getting a bit of stage fright after (wonderfully and joyfully!) quite a few folks joining in, and sometimes getting glimpses of fluency.

Day 4

All I could fit in today was a quick sketch of Nick looking at the advance copy of my new book. I think that was a smile rather than a grimace! 😂

Day 5

A day in London, so I did my best to capture people on the train and tube. Always tricky to find people who don’t notice you drawing them. I got a few people in gaps between seats, a sleeping woman in the tube window reflection. Also got some good characters looking at their phones in Kings Cross as we waited for the train ✍️. Had a delicious Mr Whippy with a flake as I waited - smug!

Day 6

This was the first day I’ve got the paints out, and it was lovely to spend some time getting lost in colour. This is my fave Holbein watercolour palette with Caran D’ache NeoArt and Neocolour details. Painting by the river in Cambridge, Midsummer Common. And another page of people sketches, this time browsing stalls at the market - mostly people’s backs - shame!

Day 7

I wanted to get the paints out again. I love All Saint’s Passage and gardens in Cambridge - that tree is particularly characterful, and I’ve drawn it many times. This time I went for limited colour and decided to get some people in with my fat clutch pencil. Having a play and allowing the drawing to emerge.

Day 8

One of those days when I was doing deeply concentrated work in the studio all day, and at 6pm did these quick sketches so I didn’t break my streak. Sonny (our cat) licking my supper bowl, and Nick having a browse on his phone while I drew him - don’t move!

Day 9

A slightly out of format sketch - but it still counts!! This was made during my first July Art Club session. It’s been broiling again, and I felt this Staffordshire figurine - my favourite! - felt apt! I feel as grumpy as these haymakers in this heat! And a bunch of flowers I picked from our garden shortly before we started. I love paintings of flowers by other people, but always find them a hug challege myself. But actually, I rather enjoyed painting these yesterdat!

Day 10

Sitting on a box and painting Tor and Rusty on the floor of her new place while we waited for the builder to come. So hot!! Tor’s ears were genuinely this colour - as, I’m sure, were mine!

And that’s it!

If you enjoyed this, please do give it a like and share it with a friend, and help me appease the algorithm Gods! And please do comment below if you’re joining in!

Until next time!

Ella xx

I’m excited for a fun, creative month with you all! Below are all the dates for your calendar!

Some exciting news to hopefully brighten your summer! In case you haven’t already seen, I’ve launched a daily drawing challenge I’m calling gatherfiltermake100. The challenge is to draw every day for 100 days. You can join in for free, and if you want, I’ll be doing some deep-dive bonus content posts for paid subscribers. Read all about it here and here.

Check out my calendar post for details about each meet-up.

Ella xx

Upcoming Dates – July 2026

For those of you in a rush, here are all the dates with no blurb:

Every weekday, 9.30–10.30am (UK time) unless crossed out below. Please check the calendar page for any dates that change.

• w/c July 6th: mon, tues, wed, thurs, fri

• w/c July 13th: mon, tues, wed, thurs, fri

• w/c July 20th: mon, tues, wed, thurs, fri

• w/c July 27th: mon, tues, wed, thurs, fri

Please note: I’m trying Thursday as the new regular Art Club day for a bit, to see how it works!

• Thursday 9th July, live on Zoom, 12.30–1.30pm - TBC

• Thursday 16th July, live on Zoom, 12.30–1.30pm - Still-life/Staffordshire figurines/own choice

• Thursday 23rd July, live on Zoom, 8-9pm

Book: Gozzle. Written by Julia Donaldson and Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie (postponed from last month)

Looking forward to a fun July!

Ella xx

All the links are below, for paid subscribers

To celebrate the start of gatherfiltermake100, I’m offering 50% off paid subscriptions - just use the button below to get the discount. It’s only open to new subscribers, I’m afraid, but if you’ve been with me for a while, you’re most likely on a good rate. I’ve put my prices up recently to help with running costs. Also, to note, if you’re reading this on an Apple device, they add a hefty percentage if you upgrade directly from them, so if you open Substack on your phone or desktop (not the app) you can join without the additional cost. Let me know if you have any probs with this. And if you want to upgrade, but don’t have the funds, let me know and I can sort you out with a free sub.

Get 50% off forever

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Hello! I’m so pleased so many of you want to join in with gatherfiltermake100!

I’ve done 100dayproject before; in fact, I’ve done three different challenges like this, where I committed to draw daily like this. The first was a 100dayproject I did during the last summer of the MA (link), the second was a 50dayproject I did after graduation, as I had a sense I would feel quite lost without the structure of the MA. The third was a 100dayproject again, but I wanted to focus on drawing people, so I called it #100daydrawpeople. I learned so much from each one, and as this seems to have gained some momentum, with a number of you joining, I thought I would write a little bit about them, and finish with some tips to help you on days you feel resistant, you don’t have time, or are losing momentum - this is for me too!

When I started my first 100dayproject during the MA, it started quite spontaneously - I needed to do something over the summer - we had been warned on last day of term before the summer break how easy it is to stop working, and how hard it makes it to get back into the flow when you return. They advised us to do something, anything, to keep us going over the summer. When I was at work, before I even knew I was going to do the MA, a friend of mine was doing a 100dayproject and I decided to join in. I don’t think I did more than about 20 days, but it put the idea in the back of my mind. So when it came to that summer, I remembered the 100dayproject, and it seemed to fit perfectly.

I remember starting with a sense of: I don’t know what’s going on. Looking back just now for this post, and reading what I wrote for each post, what struck me is how negative I was about a lot of my drawings. Although I know that I can still have a very loud inner critic, it was interesting to notice I am probably a lot kinder to myself now - although watch this space! I’m sure I will do the same on this project!

I wanted to write a little bit about how it feels to start; I remember every time I’ve done a daily drawing project, a feeling of: but where do I start?! I guess you could call it decision fatigue - too many choices, too many ambitions, too many ideas! And so at first, for me anyway, it always starts a little bit oddly, for want of a better word; but somewhere around day 20 (I know that seems like a while away, but it comes along quicky, I promise!) I begin to get into the groove. Maybe you stir up enough ideas to get going quickly, maybe it’s just being more in the flow (i’ll come back to flow - such a lovely part of it!), maybe it’s momentum, who knows the exact science of it - but I’m glad to be starting armed with that knowledge - and it’s the first thing I wanted to share with you. Think of it like practising keepy-uppys (ha! I’ve never written that before - I’m not even going to Google it for spelling! That thing where you have to keep a ball in the air with your feet. At first, of course you’re going to keep dropping it. But if you practice every day, you’ll start learning how to keep it in the air longer. A strange analogy that popped into my head, as I can’t keepy-uppy (is it a verb!?) for my life! But anyway, you get the gist, I hope!

The second thing I wanted to write about was my skills development. I don’t mean to brag! But you can literally see it over the course of each project. I credit my first 100-dayproject with helping me find my voice1 on the MA. It was the next term that I made my breakthrough, and found the process I use to make my work that I still use to this day - with some further development, of course.

You can see my first 100dayproject over on Instagram. I used the hashtag #Ellamorella100days - labelled each day, so you can literally see (I think) my progress from beginning to end. One of the things that I did on that first project was to practice working in layers because I thought I was going to screenprint my next book - which I didn’t end up doing - but it gave me an objective each day, and in retrospect, making a decision about how I was going to work definitely took away some of the decision fatigue. So that is another big recommendadtion for a project like this. Give yourself an objective. Do you want to practice working in colour? Practice perspective, tone, composition, flowers, nature, people. An objective like this is so helpful for that initial what shall I draw? that can get in the way of actually making work.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I also did a 50dayproject after graduation. That was an interesting one, because I got onto some sort of algorithm wave, and started getting loads of likes and follows during the course of the project. It was exciting, but also a bit destabilising, and I remember being a bit freaked out. The pressure! Also, my feeling was, although I love drawing and painting from observation, I had in my mind my overall aim: to be a children’s book illustrator, and I didn’t want to become known only for the sketchbook work. So although I could have gone on to turn it into a 100dayproject, and probably would have more followers on Instagram right now, it didn’t feel right, so I stopped. I decided to do a project I called #meanderingmay (I tagged my posts #ellamayrella - see what I did there!?) which was designed as a way for me to play, explore, and be the artist I wanted to be, not ruled by the algorithm! It was a strange one, but I really needed a chance to just make some things I wanted to make for a bit, get lost down rabbit holes, be messy, and make mistakes for a bit. In fact, looking back, is that where my Staffordshire figurines obsession started? But despite my ambivalence about the algorithm wave, I created some of my favourite observation sketches in that 50dayproject, and if you have any of my zines, you’ll see lots of my work from this project - and the 100dayproject - in them.

some of my favourite paintings from the project, and some of my bestselling prints!

Finally, I did a 100dayproject drawing people. This was before I started Peter Pan, and I knew I would be drawing lots of people in the book, and I wanted to feel more confident and fluent for it. So I kept this one simple - much less painting - which takes a lot longer - and just a focus on people. I drew my family a lot, which is lovely, because it’s created a lovely archive of past family life. It was great for general people observation, I got better at drawing people on the move, and by the end, just felt more confident in my figure drawing in general and it meant I began Peter Pan feeling ready to go. Although of course, there’s no magic pill that makes everything easy, there were many mountains to climb on that project, but that’s another post! You can see my drawings for that with the hashtag #ellamorella100daypeople over on IG.

So, on to the tips! I meant for this to be a short post, but turns out I have a lot to say about this!

1. Try different locations - by the end, I found that drawing outside made me happier, so outside drawings and paintings dominate, but looking back, I’m interested in the other ones too. I did my friend’s kitchen, cut flowers in jugs, even copied some pictures from my book collection - a bit like we do in Art Club. I think starting with a throw-at-the-wall outlook is a good way to start.

2. Play with materials - this works two ways I think.

   1. Over the course of the project, I found mixing things up super helpful; trying different materials each day kept things fresh, and gave me new challenges. As the project progressed, I found myself settling into a set of materials that I wanted to figure out, and that’s fine too - useful to practice with the same things for a bit too. But I remember towards the end of the first project I was feeling in a bit of a rut, and so changing my materials up a bit gave me some fresh momentum as my enthusiasm lagged a bit around day 70!

   2. Another thing I found useful for lagging momentum and enthusiasm was to go to an art shop and pick up a couple of new things. Even just a new pencil could refresh me for a bit. This was a fun and useful way to keep me going during lags

3. Lags - not so much a tip, but just a reminder: you will lag, flag, lose momentum. This list is some tips for you to keep going during those times, but I’m listing it here as well because I think saying to yourself: I will start flagging and want to stop, but I will carry on is a good antidote to use during these times. Remember, it’s natural for you to feel this, but if you keep going anyway, that’s how you keep going!

4. Quick wins - make a list of things you will do for days when you really just don’t want to do anything, or you simply don’t have time! Last time mine were:

   1. drawing in the dark - drawing in the dark means you have no control about how good or bad it is, and therefore there’s nothing to stop you doing it! I also found it fun! I love the reveal as you come back into the light

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Anyway, for today, I’m here to kick off a gatherfiltermake100 project. I originally did this as a #100dayproject over on Instagram; this is the official page, but I wanted this to be something for us to do here - with full homage paid to the original creators - with you, my lovely community of subscribers.

I’ve written a few times recently about missing my regular sketchbook habit, and yes, it does get difficult to do when I am in the middle of a project; but at the moment, I am always on a project - and very grateful to be - so there’s no point using that as an excuse. So I decided a few weeks ago I would commit to 100 days of drawing every day. Would you like to join me?

I know how helpful it is to do this sort of thing with other people; It’s brilliant for community, motivation, and most importantly (for me at least!) accountability. When I did it the first time, I posted what I did, no matter what, every day on Instagram. It really worked as accountability for me, and I don’t think I missed a day! (You can see it over here on my Instagram if you scroll down. Check out this post to read more about daily drawing projects I’ve done.

This is how I’m going to do it…

• I commit to draw or paint from observation for 100 days

• I’m giving myself permission to make quick low-key drawings

• I’m not going to miss a day, even if all I do is an egg!

• I’m going to post a weekly round-up post of everything I’ve made over the last 7 days here on my Substack

• I will post some on my Notes, but maybe not every day

• I may or may not post over on Instagram too - if I do, I’ll l use the hashtag #gatherfiltermake100 - and if you use that, I’ll be able to see your posts too

• I will make inevitable “bad” drawings and paintings I hate, but I will post these too. I won’t be curated!

I’m inviting you to join me! How will it work? It’s simple - make your own rules as above for mine (but yours can be completely yours!), and that’s it! If you join at the same time as me - we can count the days together, like each other’s posts, and I may even do a few live meet-ups or paid posts about it. It’s just a chance to obsess at the same time as me! I’m very aware that I’m kicking this off at nearly 5 pm on day 1, but hopefully it gives you enough of a chance to do something little to kick things off (speaking of which, I must dash for the match!)

So, for now, I just wanted to officially kick it off - I’m calling this gatherfiltermake100 and in the spirit of keeping it low-key, here are my #day1 sketches, drawing people walking along the riverbank in pen for 20 mins!

Right - I’m off to watch the footie!

Ella xx