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Ok. So this one has kept me up half the night because I wanted to finish it (and post it), but I kept having issues and creative debates with myself. Yes, I do that.

First of all, it’s pretty obvious that I’m on the letter “L” and I’ve chosen Leather & Lace. It’s likely that the term came to mind because of one of the best songs of the 80s (Don Henley and Stevie Nicks for anyone who’s been deprived).

I thought… “what a cool idea to try and incorporate leather and lace into an illustration”. Wrong! Haha. The leather wasn’t too hard, but trying to find ways to depict lace in Illustrator was tough.

I am happy with the girl (what do you think of her turquoise jewelry?) – but I fear my attempts to create something that resembled lace fell short. I had to go with something that looks a little more like a doily. 🙂

Anyway, since I don’t have much to say about leather and lace, I thought that metaphorical might be the way to go (which was something I should have done for the illustration perhaps).

When I think of leather and lace I think of masculine and feminine, or even something as simple (and non-gender specific) as hard and soft. Haha! Or gentle and tough.

I think that leather and lace might describe the human spirit. We have this gentle side that loves and cares for others – unconditionally under certain circumstance – and then we have this tough side that we put on for protection. Or to impress, depending on the situation.

I think it’s a bit like yin and yang – or personality types – you want the opposites to balance out because too much of one and not enough of the other can cause problems. Too hard, and you shut people out. Too soft and you risk becoming a doormat.

That’s my two cents anyway. I wish I’d thought of something a little more profound, but it’s 3:30 a.m. and I need to hunker down! (that’s my tough side talking).

So… I guess that’s about all for now. Thanks for reading or looking – I hope you enjoyed!

Until later,

-Janet