Video diary FEB
Making the final push on my latest book
Hi! I'm Ella Beech, a children's book author and illustrator living in Cambridge UK. In 2019, after over 20 years working in Children’s Publishing as a Designer and Art Director I realised I wanted to follow my lifelong dream to become an artist and illustrator. I quit my job, enrolled on the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Cambridge School of Art, and immersed myself in a brand new creative practice. Since then I have graduated, and illustrated three books, with The Folio Society, Wide Eyed Editions and Thames and Hudson. I also teach on the MA now part-time as an associate lecturer.
I like to think of this Substack as my virtual studio where I have opened my doors and invited you in to have a wander. There are plenty of things to take a look at with my free subscription - I write regular posts chatting about creative process and the meandering journey I have been on since leaving work. And for people who want to dive a bit deeper, I offer a paid subscription, where you immediately get access to my back catalogue of paid posts, regular updates and behind-the-scenes videos from my studio. You also get exclusive access to my monthly lives: Art Play Dates and Picture Book Club. Plus, access to my private community, chats and loads more. You also help support me in making not only this content on Substack, but you help support my transition into becoming a fully-fledged illustrator.
Hello! This is a funny one, because it started off last Saturday as: oh, I’ll just record my final day while I make the final changes on my new book! Simple! Ahh, poor innocent Ella!
5 days later, a whole weekend in the studio, working one day until 1am, and it finally got completed today (Weds). I didn’t intend for this to end up as an epic 5 day journey to getting the book complete, but it did, and luckily for you (or unluckily - this video is one hour and 20 minutes long!!) I recorded it all for you!
I have just compiled all the clips and here it is, for your viewing pleasure!
I’m now off for a mini-mini break to Portugal. We’re staying in Aviero, and flying into Porto, so if you have any tips for places to visit and things to do, please let me know in the comments. I’m joining my husband who was invited to a seminar there, and I head off tomorrow at 7am to join him (he travelled there today), and we get back on Saturday late, so it’s really only one full day there, but I am seeing it as adventure! I have packed some art materials and sketchbooks, and my plan is to sketch all day and eat a lot while Nick (my husband) is in his seminar.
I am going to leave it short and simple for now, but I may go back in and edit on the flight, of I have any useful thoughts. For now, my head is empty, and I am glad to be uploading this.
I guess I will say - as ever, I always want to record content I think gives a peek into life as an illustrator. I always keep in mind videos I like to watch right now, and especially, the videos I wanted to watch when I was illustration curious, and wondering, could I do that? So, if you are in the space right now, I hope this might be that peek!
Ella xx
This creative space that I call Gather • Filter • Make helps support me in so many ways. It means I have space to continue making personal work and personal creative development, It supports my work as a published illustrator (I can’t live on the advance payments alone) and helps fuel this Substack, so if you want to see more, I would love it if you would consider becoming a paid subscriber.
This post is for subscribers only. You can join for £4.50 per month - that’s like a fancy coffee these days, and as well as Picture Book Club, you get access to my back catalogue of paid posts, regular updates and behind-the-scenes videos from my studio. You also get exclusive access to my monthly lives: Art Play Dates and Picture Book Club. Plus, access to my private community, chats and loads more. You also help support me in making not only this content on Substack, but you help support my transition into becoming a fully-fledged illustrator.