The Good Ship Illustration – Episode Summary

Podcast: The Good Ship Illustration
Episode: #WalkToSee is baaack! The hashtag responsible for over 120,000 drawings (join in!)
Date: October 10, 2025
Hosts: Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, Tania Willis

Overview

This episode celebrates the return and refreshing of the popular #WalkToSee Instagram hashtag, encouraging illustrators to draw from life and connect as a creative community. The hosts share stories behind the hashtag's origins, discuss the challenges of drawing in different sketchbook sizes, and chat about creative routines and seasonal inspiration.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Origins and Evolution of #WalkToSee

• Helen reflects on creating #WalkToSee in 2018 to celebrate life drawing in all environments—not just urban scenes—and to encourage sketchbook sharing on Instagram.
  • "Seven years’ worth of drawings on Instagram. 120,000 contributions so far. Isn't that amazing?" – Helen (00:41)
• The hashtag expanded from a focus on walks to become a broader celebration of all sketchbook drawings, domestic or otherwise.

2. Issues with Instagram’s Hashtag Sorting & Relaunch Strategy

• Instagram changes made it hard to share recent contributions, as the platform no longer shows posts in date order.
  • "So for a little while, I just stopped sharing completely." – Helen (02:21)
• The solution: monthly themed prompts with unique hashtags (e.g., #WalkToSeeWeather for October), allowing recent work to be easily shared and showcased.

3. October Prompt – "Walk to See Weather"

• This month's theme encourages participants to interpret "weather" however they like: urban, rural, or even just rain down a window at home.
  • “Draw the rain falling down your window, whatever, whatever, however you interpret it.” – Helen (03:25)
• Participation is flexible—draw once, every day, or anywhere in between.

4. Sketchbook Format—Big vs. Small

• Helen shares her struggle readjusting from large to small sketchbooks, noting her comfort with big “A3 that folds out to A2” sizes. She finds it challenging to scale down her observations and drawings in a café or public place.
  • "Turns out I am so out of practice in a little sketchbook...somehow that skill has gone." – Helen (04:07)
• The group discusses how shrinking the canvas affects what and how they draw, and how using different materials can help break out of creative ruts.

5. Materials and Tools for Drawing on the Go

• Helen's breakthrough: switching from pens and pencils to paint sticks and Sharpies for filling backgrounds and creating dynamic sketches in smaller formats.
  • “My breakthrough last week was when I decided to take paint sticks and Sharpies because the Sharpies will draw over the paint sticks.” – Helen (06:19)
• They discuss the importance of experimenting to find the best portable art kit—thin liners, water brushes, even toilet roll for quick-drying.

6. Overcoming Inhibition About Drawing in Public

• Hosts swap tips for drawing in public without self-consciousness:
  • “I don’t really mind. There are times, I think, when I think I really want to get on with this and I could do without anybody speaking to me. But then I have my rude body language that defends me.” – Helen (10:15)
  • “I’ll put my earphones in even if there’s nothing playing because then people think you’re in your own world.” – Helen (10:31)
• Katie jokes about making a high-vis jacket saying "go away," highlighting the real but surmountable anxiety many feel about sketching publicly.

7. Authenticity in Sketchbook Drawing

• The hosts discuss "policing" the hashtag to encourage drawings from life rather than over-rendered images from photographs.
  • “When I’m sharing all my stories, I am a bit… a Walk to See police. I am.” – Helen (12:34)
  • “You need to see that panic in a drawing where the weather’s moving.” – Katie (12:42)
  • The value of imperfection—those “panicked” or hurried marks show true engagement with life.

8. Creative Routines and Autumn Inspiration

• The group shares what they're looking forward to creatively this autumn, emphasizing play and low-stakes art-making.
  • “It’s always nice to do something that feels sneaky and nothing to do with your other creative work.” – Helen (14:57)
• Helen enjoys “lino cutting” sessions with her daughter, appreciating the process for the conversation and togetherness as much as the result.
• Katie’s season revolves around apples: juicing, crumbles, and soon, making cider with a wooden barrel and apple press.

9. The Value of Creative Community and Studio Life

• Tania talks about moving into a new studio space with a vibrant mix of artists and creatives, appreciating spontaneous interactions about materials and techniques.
  • “It’s a really interesting mix of people. So I can go and ask Catherine next door, is this the best way to film the color course?” – Tania (18:45)
• They contrast this with the more isolating, corporate environments and underscore the benefits of creative camaraderie.

10. Memorable, Relatable Moments

• Helen’s confession about her “secret fat charcoal” and love for ‘bad materials’ stands out:
  • “I do not want Windsor and Newton selling me something. I want a biro free from the hotel.” – Helen (08:09)
• Katie recounts a quote about slowing down and “dilly dallying” as an intentional, pleasurable way to interact with the world.
  • “There was a man needed an envelope... he wanted to go to the shop and buy one envelope, because, ‘I will tell a lady her baby looks nice and I will stroke a dog and I will go into the shop.’” – Katie (17:11)
• Tania shares accidentally drinking her husband's special edition whisky after a night with friends—a casual moment of domestic comedy.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

On the spirit of #WalkToSee:

• “Seven years’ worth of drawings on Instagram. 120,000 contributions so far. Isn't that amazing?” – Helen (00:41)

On drawing in public:

• “I don’t really mind… I have my rude body language that defends me.” – Helen (10:15)
• “I’ll put my earphones in even if there’s nothing playing…” – Helen (10:31)

On embracing imperfection:

• “You need to see that panic in a drawing where the weather’s moving.” – Katie (12:42)
• “Panic in a drawing really does something, doesn't it?...Anything that makes you feel a bit uncomfortable stops you overthinking.” – Helen (12:53)

On freeing yourself from precious materials:

• “I do not want Windsor and Newton selling me something. I want a biro free from the hotel.” – Helen (08:09)

On creativity as play:

• “It’s always nice to do something that feels sneaky and nothing to do with your other creative work.” – Helen (14:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:34 – The birth and evolution of #WalkToSee
• 02:20 – Instagram hashtag issues and the monthly prompt reboot
• 03:15 – This month’s theme: #WalkToSeeWeather
• 04:07 – Struggling with small sketchbooks
• 06:19 – Material breakthroughs: paint sticks and Sharpies
• 10:03 – Tips for drawing confidently in public
• 12:03 – Authenticity in sketchbook sharing
• 14:25 – Creative plans for autumn and the appeal of playful projects
• 15:39 – Lino cutting and parent-teen creativity
• 17:11 – The joy of slow, intentional living (dilly dallying)
• 18:43 – Studio community experiences
• 19:38 – Katie’s apple pressing adventures
• 21:13 – Tania’s accidental whisky mishap

Conclusion

With open invitations to join this month's #WalkToSeeWeather challenge and encouragement to embrace imperfection, the episode is a warm, lively exploration of the everyday lives of illustrators. The Good Ship Illustration anchors its listeners in both community and creativity, reminding them that everyone struggles sometimes—and that’s all part of the process.

"If you’ve been looking for a reason to get to do some drawing, this is it." – Katie (14:32)