Newsletter
6th October, 2025
From the Studio…
Welcome to the October edition of In the Studio. I’m writing to you a little earlier than last month as I’m about to head to Mexico! This month I introduce a new product in my shop - a digital download, as well as exploring an artwork, some seasonal noticing and a reminder to start thinking about end of year gifts. There’s more grids too… As always, please feel free to pass this newsletter on to anyone you know who may enjoy it.
And now let’s step into the studio…
New product on the website - Digital Download Advent Calendar Tags
I have just added a new product to my online shop - a Digital Download of my design for Advent Calendar tags! I created this artwork earlier this year after listening to Beth Kempton’s lovely podcast Calm Christmas (yes, it’s so good I listen to it even when it’s not Christmas). She suggested making your own Advent Calendar and I immediately thought of my grid paintings. I went about creating a new design in festive shades of scarlet and khaki featuring the numbers from 1 to 24 and a range of Australian flowers including Flannel Flowers, Blueberry Ash, Waratahs, Gum blossoms, Paper Daisies, Kangaroo Paws and, of course, Christmas Bush! It is a lovely way to showcase some of our amazing Australian flora and get into the Christmas spirit.
I am letting you know about this product now, in case you would like to make it before December, for yourself or as a special gift. The tags can be printed and used as tags or cards to create a very special Advent Calendar. You could glue them onto card and string them up to create a banner or use them to label small wrapped gifts displayed on a tree, branch or even a tray. See the photos on the web page for some ideas of how to display the Advent Calendar.
What would you use as Advent gifts? When I was a kid, my mother made a beautiful cross-stitch Advent Calendar which featured elves climbing a Christmas tree. The numbers were stitched on each side of the tree along with a tiny corresponding ring. Each year, she would attach tiny parcels to these rings - three Tic-tacs (one for each child) wrapped in clingwrap, then in red tissue paper, then tied on with red thread… That makes me feel new appreciation for the level of work that went into setting it up. I am thinking of wrapping a selection of quotes, postcards, poems, flavoured tea-bags, Christmas decorations and lollies. I’d love to hear your ideas too!
And at $20 AUD this is a very affordable purchase from ellahollandcreative…
Spring continues in Sydney - the air full of the scent of flowers, plants recklessly sending out shoots and magpies getting all territorial. I haven’t been dive-bombed, but others I know have. (At this time of the year, cyclists are known to decorate their helmets with jaunty spikes made of coloured zip ties to ward off incoming swoops). I have started swimming in the harbour again - the water is joltingly refreshing and the sunsets are breath-taking. The Jacaranda trees are getting ready to bloom too…
Seasonal Noticing
During a Covid Lockdown, I discovered Artist and Author Sarah Jane Axleby’s wonderful Instagram account Room Portrait Club. Most weeks, she posts a photo prompt for artists to interpret however they would like. She choses a selection of entries to repost and share. Responses come in all kinds of media from all around the world. I love to take part when I can. This is a recent effort for Week 202 featuring a room from @marinmontagut shot by photographer @dean.hearne. I was lucky enough to be chosen by SJ to have my work reposted with this entry. I used a fine nib pen to map out the outlines then one of my all time favourite mediums - graphic markers. I love the effects you can get with graphic markers. They remind me of drawing with textas as a kid, but there is something painterly about them too. They come with two tips - a narrow, rounded one and my preferred thicker, chisel tip. You can work in a fast, splashy way which is very joyful and fun!
Artwork in Focus - My version of @RoomPortraitClub Week 202
If you are starting to think about special end of year gifts, why not check out my Limited Edition prints? These are available in a range of sizes from A4 to A0 so they fit standard frames. If you like the graphic marker effects, there are three prints available of artworks I made which incorporated this medium.
I am travelling soon but Digital Downloads and Limited Edition prints are still available with systems setup to ensure that orders are filled in a timely manner. Original Artworks will not be available until I return in mid November.
I hope you enjoyed this edition of From the Studio. Please follow along with my travels on Instagram @ellahollandcreative.
Until next time,
XX Ella