I is for Iris

 I is for Iris

I is for Iris is a new illustration and addition to my illustrated alphabet letter collection I call Alphabet Soup.

The letter I seems always to be a challenge. 

Here are some others I have illustrated in the past:

I is for Ice Cream

I is for Indian

I is for Ironing Board

Here's hoping that the new addition, I for Iris, has some selling appeal.

FLOWER FUN!

 

Teacup with Flowers

Chasing the winter grays away with this newest illustration.

Check out this illustration on several products on as shown below by clicking on:

Fine Art America

Enjoy!

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!  

Country Sunflower

Country Sunflower

Summer is definitely here! 

Here is my newest illustration inspired by the summer. 

Pillow link: Sunflower Pillow

Review and Update

Ranunculus in Blue and White Vase

There are many times I look at something I did from years ago and decide to redo it. Such is the case as the new and improved one above as compared to the original below.

I wanted to make it look more dynamic and add some pop. Glad I decided to redo it. It is an artist's prerogative. 

  

Flower Love

The Good News

The sun is out after a late spring snow. Fortunately the snow did not stick. The spring flowers are working their way out to the promise of warmer weather today.

The older I get the more I love flowers. They are the sunshine for the soul. 

I thought to revisit an early concept of flowers popping out of an envelope. This time I while designing this illustration I gave it the color pop of spring's glory. 

I miss the days of when people actually sent letters and cards bearing good news. Today, where most mail is junk and bills, those bright spots of cheer that old fashion correspondence brought are truly missed. 

Below you can find this illustration not only in framable prints, but on other items as well on my Fine Art America site.

The pillow and more items are available on https://fineartamerica.com/products/good-news-valerie-drake-lesiak-throw-pillow.html

Or click on any of the product pictures above to take you to the site.

For the Love of Flowers

Summer Bouquet

Finally it is feeling like spring!

The old I get, the more I love flowers and look forward to them growing in my garden as well as filling the empty vases that have been barren all winter. 

Of course I can always fill my walls with flowers as well! 

Hope this one will brighten someone's wall as well as my own. 

You can purchase a print here at Fine Art America.

 

A Second Look

Tulips on a Spring Day

One of the many things I do while watching the flows of people at art festivals, is to watch how they react to my illustrations. Which ones make them smile, which ones do they buy. 

A while back, when greeted by the first tulips of spring, I illustrated 3 pink tulips in a pot. I was so happy just to see the first signs of spring.

But for one reason or another, these sad little tulips did not have much appeal. So it was added to my list of so called do overs.  

Now that I look at the first version, maybe it just was not finished. Maybe they just looked too lonely. It will be interesting to watch and see how people will react to the new version this year. One of the biggest payoffs is seeing people light up with a smile as they walk through my tent, and best of all is making one of my pieces of art their own. 

Flowers for the Winter Solstice

Flowers From My Garden

FLOWERS IN TEAPOT

This was done based on several sketches I did at the Cleveland Fine Art by the Hand this past November when the traffic got slow. Cleveland skies get quite overcast this time of year and I though illustrating a floral was a nice change of pace.

 

R is for Rose

R is for Rose

Okay, this is the fourth letter R that I have designed! But 2 of them are, well not feminine at all, and one is definitely for kids, so I felt I would take another stab at it.

So if you like roses, or your name is Rose, this letter R is right up your alley.

Of course, I like to add a few ladybugs for luck!

 

Flower Drama and Celebration!

Flower Drama and Celebration

With so many gray skies and fields of white this winter, I needed to escape from illustrating letters. I have been recovering from 2 surgeries and when I got a get well pot of flowers, I knew what I needed to illustrate. Here is a floral arrangement with punch!

 

The Letter V for Vase of Verious Flowers

The Letter V for Vase of Various Flowers

Here is a new addition to my Alphabet Soup of Illustrated Letters

with a new Version of the Letter V. 

I kind of thought that the letter V would make a Very Vibrant Visual of a Vase.

Of course one will need Various Vibrant Flowers to fill it!

Warm Weather Brings Visions of Summer

Sunflower Surprise!

The warm weather we have been having today has brought visions of summer and sunflowers!

Looking for Spring

Looking for Spring

The "polar vortex" has kept my yard pretty much covered in snow this winter. Usually there is a spring tease somewhere in February, but alas, this has not happened. The only relief from the winter doldrums is that the days are getting longer and we have had a few days of blue skies to accompany the sunshine. 

Here is a little something to brighten up the last dregs of winter. I am keeping and eye out for my robin buddies.

Tea for Two

Tea for 2

I am done with winter. 

I started this design in the middle of gray skies and snow. I kept wrestling with the color. Guess I needed to see some green. 

Today the sun was out and the snow was melting and I was finally able to finish this design.

Yes, it is supposed to get cold again and I am sure there will be plenty more gray skies, but my thoughts are in Spring and warmer weather.

Make a Wish

Make a Wish

Well, I was going to design a daffodil, but I wound up with a dandelion.

I think I need a wish for Spring to be on its way.

 

I've Got a Letter!

I've Got a Letter!

While coming up with another idea, I thought of how long it has been since I got a letter.  Email, Twitter, Facebook, and texting has sort of made letters a thing of the past. Not that they don't happen, but they are rare. They were always the bright spots among the bills and advertisements. Occasionally there is a greeting card for a birthday or holiday with a written message, but their numbers are in the decline as well. So getting a real handwritten note from a friend is a special event. 

So this is dedicated to all those who still like to pick up a pen and write. It is an art that is still appreciated.

Sunday Thoughts

Count Your Blessings

This was my start on the other letter C idea which evolved into something else. 

This was going nowhere until today. 

I had a hard time getting to church this morning. I made it which is blessing in itself. I often underestimate the power of going to church. It is like taking vitamins for the spirit. We often overlook the many blessings that are poured into our lives. Large and small they come even in some of our darkest times. Some our subtle till you look back and see their magnificence. The blessing we seem to forget the most is God's unending love for us. It is a blessing we should remember at the beginning and end of each day.

So in my thoughts of blessings, my C for cup evolved into a cup that runs over with heavenly blessings to count and remember. And to remember this:

G O D   L O V E S   Y O U !

Seeing Tulips!

Yippee! Spring is Here!

From the bleakness of a long Cleveland winter I am thrilled to finally see my tulips make their appearance. So of course, I had to do an illustration of tulips to celebrate their long awaited arrival.

tulips posters

Ranunculus Inspiration

Ranunculus on Blue

After playing with pansies, I felt like I wanted to do more flowers. Ranunculus with it many petals caught my interest. Although stylized here, they make a bold statement. So here is a pop of color to brighten any gray day.