REMEMBERING GRANDMA

 GRANDMA'S TEA CUPS

Having fun going down memory lane with playing with an illustration I created inspired by the many tea cups my grandmother had, not to mention her love for flowers and nature.

DESIGN REFRESH

 THE LETTER X AS FEATURED IN A WINDMILL

When I first started this blog many years ago, I started playing with illustration letters of the alphabet as whimsical illustrations. I began with the letter Z and worked my way to the letter A for the fun of it. As years passed I created a collection of illustrated letters of the alphabet that I call Alphabet Soup.

Below is the first letter X I created.

As I have been enduring the gray days of winter, it came to mind to go back to this old illustration and brighten 

it up. 

It will be interesting to see if people will respond to it when I do shows and sell it on line. 

But that is the fun of creating digitally as one can always go back and change and play with their illustrations.

SUMMER FLOWERS...CELEBRATING SUMMER!

 SUMMER FLOWERS IN DECORATIVE WATERING CAN

    Summer is speeding by.

Still celebrating summer by playing with creating a new version of mixed flowers in a decorative watering can.

Have a Beautiful Day!

PLAYING AND CREATING

 WONDER BEGINS WISDOM II

The nice thing about working digitally is you do not have to start from scratch when wanting to do a new or updated version of a design you created. It allows for play.

Below is the original that I created.

As you can see, you can change flowers, colors, scale, and more to see what you like better...or like both versions.

For the Love of Autumn

 Hello Autumn!

Pumpkin and Flowers

Here is a recent illustration I created for the love of autumn.

Enjoy the beauty of the season!

Check it out on my Fine Art America Page by clicking on the image below:

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!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

HAPPY 2023!

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

N is for Nightingale

 N is for Nightingale

As shows approach, I start to review older designs to change things that start to bother me. In the older one below, I thought to create more of a feeling of night as the sun sets revealing the moon. The bird also seemed to large in scale. Since the nest also ties into the letter N, I thought to make it larger. 

That is what is nice about working digital. You can keep playing and make changes to what you create. 

C is for Cat on a Cup with a Canary

C is for Cat in a Cup with a Canary

Periodically I look at older pieces that I have created and get inspired to create a new version as you see above.

Below is the older version with a cat in a cup.

I liked this as well, but it is old habits to go back and create a new versions live on. Besides, I like cats and birds.

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.

 

 

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. 

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

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

J is for Jar of Jonquils

J is for Jar of Jonquils

In puzzling about the letter J, I decided this time to take a different approach.

Rather than using the shape and subject to create a letter J, the J is rather apparent in this design. That being said, there are many things in this design that begin with the letter J. 

You may see more, but here is my list: jar, jug, jonquils, jasmine tea as well as linear subtle jasmine pattern in the background, juniper, jack rabbit on the jug with a border made out of J's, and of course the use of Jade green. 

Review and Update

Reflections of a Promise

Yes, I am at it again. While creating a new piece which I will post tomorrow, I pulled up the original as you see below.

Again, this one has not sold.

Maybe it was all that brown. Certainly as I viewed it with the gray skies of a February winter, the brown left me cold. Spring color is what it needed, and that is what I gave it!

That and a little love!

W is for Wolves

W is for Wolves

As an illustrator who presents work at art festivals, I find listening to comments and feedback are both heart warming and inspirational. Many like my illustrated letters either for themselves, or for their children or grandchildren, or as a gift to someone else. What does become apparent is what's missing in what I offer. While I can not please everyone, the urge to create another variation of a letter is fed by the wonderful people I meet while they view my work. 

In reviewing my offering with the letter W, it became apparent more variation was needed.

W is for Wool

W is for Watering Cans

So while I was up late one night looking at the moon, the wolf inspiration hit. It will be interesting to see how people will respond. Meanwhile it will be back to the drawing board to think up of yet another letter illustration for a series I call Alphabet Soup. 

For more information check me out at www.picture-book-studio.com  

V is for Vine and Veranda

V is for Vine and Veranda

I have to admit, although I love the letter V, it is not that easy to come up with ideas for it. The word Vulture just does not do it for me. So as I thought of the wonders of summer and its lazy days on the porch, I came up with V is for Vine as well as Veranda. If you note, there are suggestions of violet and verbena in the color scheme. Okay, I know, I am pushing it.

 

Always Do Your Homework!

Always Do Your Homework!

 

I have to say I do love animals! This if for all pet lovers out there!

 

 

Second Glance

Count Your Blessings

I have been reviewing some of my artwork as of late and at times feel the need or inspired to go back and make some changes. Maybe it is color or sometimes there is just something missing for me. 

In this case, I change the wording, along with the color, pattern in the cup, and adding a few things such as the bird and ladybug. Oh and of course added a few extra flowers! Adding live interest comes from my years of living in greeting card world. Live interest such as the bird and ladybug seem to warm up the illustration for me. 

Maybe this is just like looking at a room and having the desire to freshen it up a bit by changing the wall color and rearranging the furniture. Anyway, as I worked on it, it made me think to count my own blessings and to be thankful. 

 

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.