Happy 2020!

Happy New Year!

To all of you I wish a Wonderful and a Happy New Year!

Note: I am taking a break from blogging for a couple of months with the hopes to return in the Spring.

Getting Ready for Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot alike Christmas!

It seems Christmas is coming all to fast.

I have already seen Christmas lights go up in the neighborhood. The time to get things done evaporates...but here is what is so precious about this time of the season...grandchildren!

So of course this proud grandma celebrates them with gratitude as I have finished my Christmas card illustration. 

So here is my wish for all of you that read this:

may you be surrounded with love this season and find blessings in this new year! 

Lakeside in the Fall

Lakeside in the Fall

I threw out my right arm and it has been hard to get motivated to do another illustration. But Autumn is always inspirational. Finally I started to play again. Here is my latest illustration. 

An Attitude of Gratitude

Begin Each Day with a Grateful Heart

I came upon this sentiment and thought to illustrate it. I don't know who said it, but I do know when I practice it I feel better. 

Revisiting and Updating: Bright Side

Bright Side

Here is a new version of an illustration that I have revised more than once.

As you can see, the beauty of working digital allows for change. Hopefully the third time is the charm.

Revisiting and Tweaking an Illustration

C is for Cat & Cockatoo

Still go back from time to time to revisit and tweak an illustration I created. 

I went back to change the background to a more pronounced check, tweak proportions, and a touch more green, and add more contrast.  

The beauty of working digitally is I can always go back to change it up.

A Mermaid Moment

A Mermaid Moment

I decided to do an illustration for all mermaid lovers.

I did a sketch months ago, but I finally got around to finishing this illustration. 

I grew up with a tub like this. It was wonderful just to sit in, soak, and daydream.  And yes, even once in a while daydream about what it would be like to be a mermaid.

And yes, if you go to click on this word: 

Mermaid Shower Curtain

You will find it on my Fine Art America Site.

Check out other options here:

 https://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-mermaid-moment-valerie-drake-lesiak.html

Love Blooms Here

Love Blooms Here

I am filled with the beauty of spring!

Here is my newest illustration.

Need a throw pillow for that sunroom?

Check out my art clicking on the link below:

Fine Art America

Summer Flowers in Coffee Pot

Summer Flowers in Coffee Pot

It has been a slow spring. I must confess I miss the warmer weather. We have had lots of gray skies here in northern Ohio, so I took an older illustration and gave it a new twist.

I had been reviewing some of my older illustrations as I do from time to time and thought to give the one below a new look for the up coming spring and summer shows.

Coffee Pot Surprise

Coffee Pot Surprise is still available on my Fine Art America site, but now there is a new color look available in this design.

Many of my illustrations are also available as pillows, tote bags and more. Just click on this link:

Fine Art America

K is for Kangaroo and Kookaburra

K is for Kangaroo and Kookaburra

K is not easy, but here is a new one!

It is also available as a cute T-shirt on Fine Art America!

F is for Frog

F is for Frog

F is for Frog is the newest addition to my illustrated letter collection I call Alphabet Soup.

Not only is F for Frog, but Fish, Firefly, and Flowers. 

Come Let Us Have Tea!

Come Let Us Have Tea

As I started to work on this idea, I came down with a cough and cold. Of course  I have been drinking a lot of herbal tea while working to complete this. 

For all you tea drinkers you can find my illustration on a 

T-shirt on my Fine Art America page.

C is for Collie

C is for Collie

C is for Collie and a Border Collie at that!

Having some fun in designing dogs for dog lovers into letters!

This cutie is also available as a pillow!

Click on the pillow to take you to the Fine Art America site!

Live! Love! and Laugh!

Live! Love! and Laugh!

Here is my newest illustration to brighten up the gray days of winter. Taking a break from letters of the alphabet, I looked for a sentiment, oh how greeting card designer of me, or quote that was uplifting that I could use in a sketch that I was working on. Then during a snow storm, words and art came together and I finished it.

You can find this and other words of wisdom in a collection I called Tea Cup Wisdom on Fine Art America.

Q is for Quail and Queen Anne's Lace

Q is for Quail and Queen Anne's Lace

Here is the newest illustration for the letter Q to start the new year! 

Q is not easy to come up with ideas, but finally after several sketches, using a quail finally started to work. 

I think using Queen Anne's Lace helped to make the Q shape a reality.