Elsabé Ebersöhn

I’ve always been drawn to storytelling through images. Drawing felt like a natural way to process the world around me, from nature and animals to everyday moments. Creating art has always been a way for me to slow down, observe, and translate what I see and feel onto paper.

My love of art started at a very young age, and creativity has always been part of my life. While I didn’t always have a clear picture of what being an “artist” would look like as a career, I always knew that drawing, making, and creating would play a central role in my life.

Start small and stay consistent. You don’t need the best supplies, a big studio, or hours of uninterrupted time. A sketchbook, a few basic materials, and regular practice will take you much further than waiting for perfect conditions. Also, opportunity does not show up knocking at your door – you have to show up for your practice and create your own opportunities. Some will fail and lead to nothing, but you will learn what works for you and what does not – most of the opportunities that turn into something are those that arise through connection with real people. Look for a creative, supportive community and help each other grow. Be interested in others and uplifting – there is enough sun to shine on everyone and cheering for each other is the best way to grow. You will find others also cheering YOU along the way.

Focus on progress, not perfection. Showing up regularly and allowing yourself to experiment and make mistakes is how real growth happens.

Social media has allowed me to share my process, teach, and connect with a wider creative community. It has helped me show that creativity can fit into everyday life and has opened opportunities to collaborate, teach, and reach people far beyond my local area.

Nature is my biggest source of inspiration — from hiking trails and open landscapes to animals and quiet everyday moments. I’m also inspired by ordinary life and the idea that creativity can happen anywhere, not just in a studio.

My favourite Daler-Rowney product is Aquafine Watercolours. They are incredibly versatile and can be used on their own or combined easily with other mediums. I love the compact travel tins for painting on the go, as well as the full studio sets when I have space to work with a wider colour range. A good set of watercolours is something my art kits are never without.

I would love to explore more large-scale mixed media work. I usually work small and portable, so pushing my scale would be an exciting way to explore mark-making and layering in a new way. I have played with oils a bit, but rarely have the time or setup-space required by the slow-drying medium. It is something that I know I will make time for in a different season of my life – my boys are a huge focus during their school years and being flexible and portable with my art is now part of my reality. Later in life that might change a bit and allow for more studio-time to fill the day. I enjoy the different seasons life brings and the various art mediums and techniques I get to explore throughout each of them.

For my personal art I would love to work on projects that combine storytelling and education, especially children’s books or creative initiatives that encourage imagination, curiosity, and creativity. For teaching I would love being part of a larger community and share my knowledge of art and mediums with a wider range of people. If finances allowed for outreaches without time and financial burdens, reaching others who do not always have the opportunity to do art or know how to do art and show them how it can enrich their lives. If there is ever a funded campaign to teach at an old age home or schools where kids have limited exposure to art supplies that would be an amazing opportunity to be part of such a project. During university we had to do a community project (anything you can think of where you donated your timey) and I chose to teach art at an orphanage once a week for a term and it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever been part of.

Illustrating children’s books has been especially meaningful, as those stories become part of a child’s world. Knowing that an illustration can inspire imagination or a love of reading makes those projects incredibly rewarding. The book I have enjoyed most, that will be released in 2026 is about a fairy who is different (she has down syndrome) and how she is excepted and finds joy in being herself. This book was inspired by a mother who told the author about her daughter who wished there were fairies that looks like her (she has down syndrome). Illustrating stories with a back-story that makes a difference is extra rewarding.

My favourite experiences have been those where I could connect directly with people — talking about process, materials, and creativity. That shared sense of curiosity is always the most rewarding part. Connection, people, inspiring and being inspired. All of these are lasting experiences that I cherish throughout my career and they happen constantly – sometimes during small and unexpected moments.

No two days look the same. My days usually include a mix of drawing, teaching, preparing workshops, creating content, and fitting creativity into everyday life — often sketching while travelling, waiting at sports fields, or sitting in a coffee shop. Some days are filled with the “admin” side of the business that we wish we could ignore, but without that part art is just a hobby. Art is a great hobby to have and I do create art “just for me” and “just for the love and joy” of the process – but if it is your business as well, you have to tackle the hard parts of the job (quoting, contracts, deadlines, client revisions, editing content, emails, meetings etc) otherwise you will not be able to be financially viable as an artist.