It"s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

 Tis the Season!

Always fun to add a few loved ones to an illustration when publishing one's own Christmas cards.

Fondness for Flowers

Kitchen Bouquets

I have to confess, I have a fondness for flowers. 

They brighten up the day, room, or garden.

I had worked on a special project below for a friend to create an illustration for her sister's birthday which became an inspiration for the variation you see above.

I liked the bottle with the daisies that I decided to use it or rework it in the top illustration. Rework was a term the was used where I worked at American Greetings years ago where we would create new images out of older pieces of art. It would cut costs yet gave the ability to freshen up a line of cards. When artists started to work digitally, the magic of being able to move, change scale, layout, and color opened new doors in creating illustrations. 

Happy Halloween!

Boo Pumpkin

Happy Halloween Everyone!

September Bouquet...Saying Goodbye to Summer

September Bouquet

Saying Goodbye to Summer 

I am a fan of Summer with its warm weather, long sunlit days, and the flowers that fill my garden. September has come all too quickly and is speeding into October. So finally I am posting the one last illustration that I did at the end of this summer. 

 

Here is a virtual look at my illustration that you can find on Fine Art America. 

 

You can also find this illustration on other products in Fine Art America as well.

 

 

Capturing Flowers at Summer's End

 Mixed Flowers on Black

I have been slow to post new work this month, but here is one of my newest illustrations as I continue to hang on to what is left of summer. 

The older I get, the more I appreciate flowers and the simple joy they bring. I never tire of illustrating them.

These flowers also bring a bit of flower drama to a coffee mug.

 You can find this illustration as well as others on my Fine Art America link.

Summer Reflections

Tranquility - Flowers in Vase

With so many art shows getting cancelled, you would think I would be producing more, but it has been hard to get motivated. Thank goodness Summer still inspires. 

These have been hard times.

Besides finding my prints on Fine Art America, you can also find my illustrations on facial masks.

Also you can find it as a wonderful summer tote!

Click here on this link to check it out:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/tranquility-flowers-in-vase-valerie-drake-lesiak.html?product=weekender-totebag

D is for Dinosaur

D is for Dinosaur and Disaster

Finally got around to illustrating another letter D.

I think my grandson had a lot to do with it and his love of dinosaurs.

Threw in a couple of dragonflies to connect with the letter D.

Hope to see if this is a hit with the kids.

Y is for Yorkie

Y is for Yorkie

Here is the newest addition to my illustrated letter art collection called Alphabet Soup.

The letter Y is not as easy to illustrate as other letters in the alphabet, but this one was a fun one to do, especially for all you dog lovers out there! 

Updating Older Artwork

T is for Table, Tabby and Tea Kettle

Every once in a while, I look at one of the digital pieces of art that I created with a critical eye and see room for improvements. In the past painters would repaint a composition several times, but with digital illustrations you do not have to start at the beginning. 

As you can see in the original, it was more of a simple design with only the table and table clothe connecting to the letter T.

I though to spice it up a bit with more interest as well as make the cat a tabby and add more objects that connect with the letter T such as tulips and tea kettle. When designing at American Greetings, it was not uncommon to go back into designs and change them. We use to refer to the changes as reworks. 

It seems the art of the rework is still a habit.  

O is for Ocelot

O is for Ocelot

Started to look at the letter O again, and thought it was time for a new design. Ocelot came to mind, not to mention Oriole. This quarantine is keeping me busy...lol! 

Wonder Begins Wisdom

Wonder Begins Wisdom

Inspired by a quote from Socrates, this is my latest illustration I created to escape my quarantine blues.

It is also available as a quarantine mask on Fine Art America as you can see below.

And on a cheerier note it is available for prints and as well as other products as well. Check out this pillow!

Again check it out by clicking on this link

https://valerie-drake-lesiak.pixels.com/featured/wonder-begins-wisdom-valerie-drake-lesiak.html

Hope my illustrations brighten your day. 

X Marks the Spot

X Marks the Spot

Just finished a new letter X to add to the collection called Alphabet Soup.

Flower Fun: Red Bird with Flowers in Vase

Red Bird with Flowers in Vase

Creating new designs like this newest one above is a wonderful remedy to gray skies and snow on a spring day. 

Here it is as a pillow!

And a carry all pouch!

Check them all out and more by clicking on this link:

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/red-bird-with-flowers-in-vase-valerie-drake-lesiak.html

Home is Where You Blossom

Home is Where You Blossom

While stuck indoors during the pandemic, I am taking my time to create. update, and add variety of color options. 

Here below is another version from years ago.

I like this one, but I thought to do another color option for customers and see which one has more appeal. If you like leave a comment as to which one you like better.

S is for Swan: New Look

S is for Swan

When I would sit in my both at art festivals, I become my worse critic. I start to pick candidates for updates and revisions.

I started to look at my original below thinking it could be better, juicier, tweaked to look better. I use to do this as a designer when I lived in greeting card world. It is an old habit. 

Better? I hope so! 

Check out the new look on pillows and tote bags!

Check them out on by clicking on this link:

https://valerie-drake-lesiak.pixels.com/featured/s-is-for-swan-valerie-drake-lesiak.html

Have a Beautiful Day!

Butterfly Blessing

Butterfly Blessing

With all this March madness, I am looking forward to spring's beauty to blossom forth!

So while confined to the house, I have gone back to illustrating more. Here is the latest. 

Check it out on Fine Art America

Peekaboo Bunny and Bird

Peekaboo Bunny and Bird

While on quarantine due to the coronavirus, I have more opportunity to design. 

Here is my newest illustration to uplift us into Spring. Sending out love and prayers to all as we work to get through this. 

I have also design it for a throw pillow.

Check it out by clicking here: 

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/peekaboo-bunny-and-bird-valerie-drake-lesiak.html?product=throw-pillow

Hang in there my friends.

H for Henry the Horse Goes Capital

H for Henry the Horse

The beauty of designing and creating digitally, makes it easier to change or update an illustration. Originally Henry was a lower case h.

 I noticed at shows that potential shoppers seem more drawn to letters designed as a capital letter rather than lower case.

So with a flick of the tail Henry went from lower case to upper case. I also added some more design elements interest in the foreground. 

I am hoping this turns out to be a capital idea.

Think he makes a great pillow too!

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/h-is-for-henry-the-horse-valerie-drake-lesiak.html?product=throw-pillow

Forsythia Spring Bouquet

Forsythia Spring Bouquet

By February I really start to tire of winter and all its grays. I miss the colors of spring. So here is a new illustration to capture some of the colors and flowers that make spring so welcoming.

I also dedicate this to my mother whose birthday is tomorrow. She loved spring as well.

Happy Birthday Mom!  

V is for Vase of Various Flowers (update)

V is for Vase of Various Flowers

It is not uncommon to review and update a piece when it comes to digital art. I think that is why before painting digitally many artists would do several paintings of a subject before they were satisfied.

Here is the original:

I decided to redesign the main flowers and add a few more leaves while  simplifying the background suggested foliage. 

That is the beauty of working in a digital medium unlike watercolor that is cast in cement. You can keep on playing.

M is for Mouse, Map, and Motorcycle

M is for Mouse, Map, and Motorcycle

Here is the latest for all those who love the letter M and are on the move!

Have a fun day!