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Hello!
Last week I joined
’s (virtual) Summer writing retreat - an hour of co-working twice a day, 9am and 5pm - and it was so brilliant! I made a ton of personal work - more than I have in a long time - and what was extra satisfying about it was that I could really feel - and see - the progress I made across the week.
At the beginning I felt like I was grappling around for inspiration, and by the end, loads of things I had been thinking about, trying out, learning from, etc, all began to come together.
I made these two pieces on the last day. It might not seem all that different to my usual fare to you, but for me I had been playing around with how much line I wanted to use, how I was using the paints, mark-making etc, and I felt I got the balance of keeping it loose and free vs intentional working in a satisfying, and dare I say, successful way with these gals. I was pleased with their grumpy expressions too!
And this was all while I was working on my publishing work at the same time. In fact, starting early and (in a way) warming up like this, felt like I was ready and raring to go once I started my “official” commissioned work.
Working on my own personal work is something I have wanted to fit into my daily life for ages. Ever since I started making books and graduated from the MA really. The first year after graduating before I started the books I did have a year of play, and I feel I made a ton of extra progress post MA, in a way that was really important. It felt like I was bedding down all the stuff I had learned and having a chance to think it through by myself. But starting making books was such a learning curve, I didn’t feel I had the mental capacity to make other work at the same time. And also, after drawing or painting all day, I didn’t feel I had any creative energy left. But… Now I am three years into making books, I know how I work better, I have a sense of a book timeline and how I fit into it, and I’m thinking perhaps now is the time to expand out again. It’s funny writing this down, it feels like it’s helping clarify what’s gone on for me over the last few years. That learning curve I mentioned: it’s been such a steep one in lots of ways. I mean, it’s not the full picture, it’s been exciting, and hugely creatively fulfilling, but also deeply engaging; to the extent that I think I’ve rather retreated inwards. I’ve been in a place of - metaphorically - unpacking everything and laying it all out; nesting; fluffing my pillows so they’re comfy; learning to trust myself that I’ve got this and I can do it.
And I think I feel ready to balance my book work with some sustained personal work too. I have emphasised sustained there, because of course I have made personal work over the last three years, especially in my observational sketchbook, my weekly Art Club with you guys, and here, there and everywhere in between. But not (often) in a sustained way like I did last week.
And I just want to talk quickly about why I want to do it. I was going to say “one more reason”, but it’s bigger than that.
So, why? Well, because… Firstly, long time subscribers (thank you!!) will know that I strongly believe in the power of happy accidents, intuition, play, experimenting, and how important I think they are to my practice. And this is the first thing that comes to mind when I think why. It’s an outlet for me, I think, and making books sometimes - maybe often - needs precision, and I love that focused and concentrated deep work, but I think that time to splurge, let go and make mistakes is important too. So important that I do make sure I do it as often as I can and it’s a big reason I do Art Club and take my sketchbook with me whenever I have time. But (at the risk of repeating myself), I want to do it in a more sustained and continuous way.
And then the other big why. For the work - the future work.
I have this metaphor I created in some coaching I’ve been doing - I love a metaphor! And it describes this perfectly: So in my metaphor, there’s a ship. It’s one of those big pleasure cruisers I think. And this ship, and who I am, and what I’m doing on it, is my metaphor for my creative life. Let me explain…
One: Driving the ship
This is my metaphor for when I am making the book work. I am in the (just googled it) command deck, behind the wheel of the ship (it’s one of those old fashioned ones with spokes to help you steer), I’m driving and steering the ship, I can see the horizon, I have my destination plotted, and I know where I’m going. I feel (somewhat) in control and it feels satisfying, I can see my progress.
Two: Out on deck
This is after the book has published. I have left the command deck and I get to stroll the deck, I can choose a lounger and relax a bit, chat to the passengers, who (in this metaphor) are the people I might meet at a book launch, book event etc. It’s sociable, relaxed, a bit more informal (let’s gloss over some of the stresses I have felt before book events!!)
Three: shovelling the coal
Then you have the engine room. The engines need stoking, and someone has to do it! You are shovelling the coal into the engine furnaces (forgive my lack of nautical knowledge here!), and it’s bloody hard work. But - and here’s the kicker - it’s the most important work, because it’s the thing that is actually moving the boat along. Without it, we would just be sitting there in the water, no command deck, no strolling the deck. Metaphorically, this is the, for want of a better title, the “coming up with ideas” bit. And it’s the hard bit. As with the metaphor, you’re at the part where you can’t see surface, there’s no reward, it’s just (in my mind) working blindly in the hope that you will make something happen. And it’s the bit I find the hardest to do. It’s mainly practical reasons that stop me, emails to send, meals to cook. But also, a misplaced idea that I need to spend all my time working on the books, or else…!
But I am trying to learn, and this metaphor helps me to remember this: that this coal shovelling (as I think of it) is crucial to the whole thing. If I just keep up above deck, eventually the engines will cool, metaphorically, and in the real world, and the work could just stop. I mean, that’s a dramatic way of putting it, and I work as an illustrator too, so I can illustrate other people’s books, but I would love to do both - my own books and other people’s. And there are so many other things I want to do too. I want to make and sell cards, I want to sell original art, I want to make new zines, prints, the list goes on (write more posts like this for Substack!). And that all needs fueling.
And so…!
I am determined to get some co-working happening over here on my Substack. I’m still not 100% sure how or what I think will work best, so here is my proposal:
I want to try - and I emphasise the word try - doing some daily co-working every morning. I’m thinking 9.30 - 10.30 am (BST). My idea is that there’s a set window, but realistically, there are some mornings I won’t be able to make it, and sometimes that will be unexpected or unscheduled. So my suggestion is that we use an open Zoom link, and when I can make it - which I am hoping will be 90% of the time - we work as usual. If you join and I don’t let you in, it’s because it’s one of those mornings when I unexpectedly can’t make it. The third scenario is that I know I can’t make it, in which case I will give advance warning. I will do my best to post a weekly co-working schedule here, where I will say if I know I can’t make it, which will look something like below, as for this week.
Co-working schedule w/c 16th June:Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri
So, what do you think? Shall we give it a go?
Let’s see the rest of June as our trial run. If I only open the Zoom three times, I’ll walk away with my tail between my legs and admit I’m not organised enough for co-working - OR - I’ll rethink, and try a different way!
So, let’s start this week! I have a meeting first thing tomorrow, and we have Art Club on Tues, so I want to keep my morning a bit clearer, so we’ll start Weds, as per schedule above.
See you at Art Club I hope, and if not, on Weds!
Ella xx
P.S. A big thank you to
for kick starting me and for your brilliant co-working week last week! xxThe open co-working zoom link is below, for paid subscribers
To join me for co-working and lots more, just sign up using the link below! All subs help me to continue making illustrated books, and creating posts here on Substack. And as well as supporting me, you get benefits too. What?! Yes, you heard me! You get access to my big back catalogue of paid posts, and access to my monthly Zoom sessions: Art Club and Picture Book Club. And if you can’t attend live, all sessions are recorded and posted afterwards.