Blog

New Sketchbook Retreat - Portugal 2025

Earlier in the year, I taught an art retreat at Sofia in Monsaraz, and had an absolutely magical time. Both myself and participants loved the venue, the spectacular scenery and the wonderful food and wine. The whole experience was incredible. So I am very very excited to say that I will be going back next year!

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Emma Block
New Book - Keeping a Creative Sketchbook

I am so so excited to be able to share what I’ve been working on for the last two years! I have a brand-new book coming out in April and it’s called Keeping a Creative Sketchbook. It pretty much does what it says on the tin, and it’s all about keeping a sketchbook and how that can fuel your creativity.

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Art Retreat in Valencia

I’ve been back from my art retreat for just over a week and I’m still on a high from what an incredible experience it was, still busily working in my sketchbook recording my memories and making the most of all the inspiration. It’s hard to even know where to start. At the end of April I taught a week long art retreat with UpTrek just outside Valencia Spain with a wonderful group of women and we all had a magical time.

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2022 Round up

I’ve done a little recap of the year because I wanted to take a moment to look back on the projects I’ve completed. I often find that when I’m working on a project I can’t share it because it’s top-secret, and then by the time the work comes out I’m onto something else, so often I forget to even share the work that I’ve done! So it’s nice to look back and reflect on a year full of book covers, greetings cards, editorial illustration, books and online courses. 

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Slow Travel with a Toddler

I’ve just got back from a holiday to Mallorca and it was truly blissful. It was our first holiday since having a baby and we brought my parents along as reinforcements. I kept my expectations low as I’d heard ‘it’s not a holiday, it’s parenting in a different location’ a million times, but to be honest it was lovely. I think the key was taking it very slowly (and having a 4 to 1 adult to toddler ratio).

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Balancing Motherhood and Creativity

At the very end of 2020 I had my first baby, Herbie. As a self employed illustrator with book deadlines I’ve had to juggle caring for my son and working since he was very little. A few people on Instagram have asked me how I manage it and I though I’d share my experiences and how I tried to prepare myself and my business. I’ve also asked a few fellow freelance mums who I really admire about their experience.

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New book -Watercolour Life

I am so, so excited to announce my new book, Watercolour Life! I worked on this book in and out of lockdown, throughout my pregnancy and during Herbie’s early days; it is a true labour of love. It brings together everything people loved about The Joy of Watercolour and teaches you lots of new skills and techniques with 40 beautiful projects to paint

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