While wandering by means of the CatCon occasion a few months in the past, I used to be instantly drawn to a sales space filled with actually enjoyable cat artwork. The sales space belonged to Leeza Hernandez, the proprietor and artist behind Leezaworks.
Leeza at the moment works as a full-time journal artwork director, kids’s ebook illustrator and licensing artist — all whereas promoting her cat artwork in her Etsy store.
Three rescue cats rule her home — Jaspurr, Princess Pippa and Cole, Jr., all of whom present a continuing supply of inspiration for her artwork. “Between the three of them, there’s always a gesture or scene that fuels an idea for a new piece,” she says.
Credit: Leeza Hernandez
Cats normally encourage her, too. “It’s pure cattitude,” she says. “They’re beautiful animals to draw — capturing the flick of a tail, a hint of a scowl, the twist, fold or stretch of the body. Felines fascinate me to no end. If there’s a cat in the room, I’m the one sitting on the floor “pss-pss-pss-ing and scribbling studies in my sketchbook.”
Leeza hopes that her cat artwork brings happiness and inspiration to others, too. “One of my greatest joys in doing what I do is when someone reacts with a smile, a gasp, a chuckle or a nod and tells me how much my art reminds me of their cat(s),” she says.
One of her constant characters is a black cat known as Nigel, which she changed into an opulent doll. Nigel has fairly a following of his personal. Leeza typically receives messages from clients with footage of Nigel as much as no good or having enjoyable. “One couple takes their Nigel on vacation overseas,” she says. “A family’s daughter insisted Nigel have his own featured spot on their annual holiday card, and another family threw Nigel a welcome-home party with a cake.”
So what’s subsequent for Leeza? Her rapid objectives embrace illustrating a brand new ebook, introducing a brand new character to her plush line and increasing the Nigel & Friends franchise with new merchandise, including much more new prints to her Etsy store and touring to extra cat conventions.
“I’ve also been involved with various rescue organizations to help cats in need,” she says. “So more of that, too!”
Learn extra about Leeza on Instagram @Leezaworks, and go to her store at etsy.com/store/leezaworks.
