A Happy Book Company summer in my Garden of Eden - part 2

Tessa Cobb
3 days ago
3 min read

Reflections on summer 2024

I wrote this post back in October and totally forgot to publish it. Perhaps it will bring some summer sunshine to a grey winter day. Let’s see shall we.

As the season began to turn I was prompted to reflect on the summer and what a creative time it has been. Here is 8 to 14 of my creative summer highlights.

8. #3 materials drawing challenge

Drawing for me this summer was about slowing down and learning to see. So whilst I took part in this 50 day challenge, I decided to make it my own by drawing less but seeing more.

I often used just one material, or repeatedly used the same set of materials, to not distract myself from what I was actually looking at. This was SO GOOD for my practice. I’m often distracted by colour and fun materials so it was great to just focus on the basics of drawing instead.

I feel like my drawing has come a long way since the end of the MA and I really am starting to see more.

9. Reading books

For years I’ve been calling myself a person who doesn’t read. This is slightly shameful for a university publishing tutor. With a slow summer on my hands I let myself turn this around and enjoy that great pleasure of simply sitting and devouring a book.

10. Cleaning out cupboards

Creating peace and harmony in the Happy Book Company home. Just felt good. Worth a mention. No photos required.

11. Campervanning

We bought a campervan. It is beautiful and wonderful in every way. It’s a “CCO” project (Continuous Creative Optimisation) in which we keep improving it bit by bit.

I think I’ve been having too much fun in it so far to have time to do any drawing in it yet. All in good time.

And on our trips I've been super inspired for settings, characters, and stories for new Happy Book Lady books.

13. FUNd Club

I LOVE running FUNd Club. It’s where I gather creatives together to talk about getting funding from the Arts Council (specifically ‘DYCP’ or Develop Your Creative Practice Funding). The vibe is positive, optimistic, proud, energised, visionary, and daring.

My FUNd Club philosophy is all about making a win-win out of making an application. It’s such a big investment of time and resources for such a lottery, so I figured why not make the whole application process work for you whether you get the money or not?

Through FUNd Club I’ve met and connected with some awesome local creatives in Bath and a bunch of fabulous illustrators online. Really looking forward to expanding this in 2025...watch this space.

14. My first Art Fair

I had SUCH a great day at Bath Contemporary Art Fair in early September. I’d signed up on a whim after walking round the market one sunny summer morning and really loving the vibe.

It was such a great deadline for me to get some artwork ready to sell, making giclee fine art prints of my favourite images and having some sketchbook zines printed and ready to go. It was a lot of work but totally worth it - I had my best day ever of sales.

And made loads of new arty friends. I’ll be back for May and September 2025.