Valerie Larson Art & Design

Come to the Fall Arts & Crafts Show in Occoquan this weekend (10am-5pm both days)! There’ll be 250+ makers & creators, food vendors, Beer & Wine Garden, Imagination Alley, live music - fun for the whole family! 🎃 Art a la Carte Gallery artists will have several booths, and I’ll be doing a watercolor demo at the gallery on Saturday, 1-3pm, featuring fiery fall foliage (say that 5 times fast 🤣)! 🍁🍂 Hope to see you there!!

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

Fun TBT to the College of William & Mary in the 1980s and late nights working on the Flat Hat newspaper! I did cartoons and graphics on demand as spaces needed to be filled, and there was no internet to look for inspiration! 😅 Those were crazy Thursday nights and great memories working into the wee hours of the morning, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I did these sketches of some of the hard-working staffers on one of those Thursday nights. Who would’ve thought we’d move past corded phones and typewriters and that I could find millions of images online, editing my paintings and illustrations in digital apps? We’ve come a long way, baby! 😄

P.S. If any Flat Hatters want a print it’s on my website (under the “Figures and Portraits” and “Black and White” tabs)! 🎨

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

How fitting that I just finished this watercolor painting during the dog days of summer! 🐕 🏖️ Thanks to my dear friend Tricia for the inspiring photo of this breathtaking sunset in Panama City, Florida… I had fun trying to capture the many cool and fiery colors in the clouds! 🥰

“Earth, Water, Fire” measures 10” x 10” and is mounted on wood and ready to hang. The original painting will be available for purchase at Art A La Carte Gallery in Occoquan. The image is also available on my website for prints, large or small, and all types of merchandise! 🌞

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

I know we’re all still feeling summer vibes, but I have to think ahead to Christmas! 😅🎄 This is how many openings I have left for Christmas portraits… one in October, one in November, and one in December (preferably local pick-up)! Please reach out soon if you’re thinking about a pet or special request portrait (memorable vacation spot, favorite landscape, wedding venue, etc.). Otherwise I’m happy to schedule next year and already have some portraits on the 2025 calendar. It’s never too early to secure a spot on the schedule (no commitment, you can always cancel later)! 🥰

To see more of my artwork, go to my website: 🎨
www.vlartdesign.com

Check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! ☺️
www.artalacartegallery.com

It’s sunny right now, but it’s raining cats and dogs in Old Town Manassas! 🐕 🐈‍⬛ 💕 Three of my pet portraits were chosen to be featured on lamppost banners and have been up since May! 🤩👏🏻 “Reeko” is in front of Foster’s Grille and “Arlo” is across the street in front of the Harris Pavilion, both on West Street, and “Eva” is around the corner on Center Street (with a veterinarian sign right behind the banner - how appropriate!). So don’t forget to look up when you’re visiting… there’s lots of great artwork in Old Town, including 70 wonderful lamppost banners. They’ll stay up until November when the winter banners are installed! ☺️

“Reeko”, “Arlo” and “Eva” are available for prints and merchandise under the “Animals” tab on my website. Or check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! 😁

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

Going on today at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan until 6pm! 👹 Come join our scavenger hunt and win tickets for the raffle - lots of great artwork has been donated! I’ve added “Dracula” on a black-painted wood board as well as some other fun prints. Hope to see you today! 💀

Had a great time painting and chatting with visitors yesterday at our Beach Week event at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan! 🏖️ I also got a young artist to try out some new techniques. 👏🏻 I love the dramatic colors in my beachy sunset painting - thanks to my dear friend Tricia for the inspiring photo! 🥰 I made a lot of progress on it and will share the final artwork soon! 🎨

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

Today is the last day of Beach Week at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan! 🏖️ Join us 11am-5pm for face painting, snacks and drinks, fun raffle prizes, and art demos! I’ll be there 2-4pm working on a beachy watercolor painting… come chat with me and have fun experimenting with watercolor pencils! 😄⛱️

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

Come join us for some beachy fun all week at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia, today through Sunday, July 28! 😎 We’ll have mocktails and music, raffle giveaways every day (see the list of local vendors who have generously donated discounts and gift cards!), face painting on Saturday, and cool art demos all weekend. I’ll be doing a watercolor demo on Sunday 2-4pm… come try out some fun watercolor techniques! 🤩 Browse work by our 29 artists, including lots of water-themed beauties. Photo 3 is my latest painting, “Evening Glow”, 4” x 6”, for sale at the gallery (or message me here). Hope to see you there!! 🏖️🌞💕

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

Be the hottest one on the beach (or wherever you go this summer)!! 😎🏖️🍹 These breezy tote bags feature my latest paintings and are available at Calico Jack’s (Old Town Manassas, Virginia) and Art a la Carte Gallery (Occoquan, Virginia). You can also order from my website (totally new look - check it out!), along with note cards, magnets, puzzles, t-shirts, and more. All artwork under the “Shop Art” tab is available for fine art prints and merchandise - the last pic shows all of your options. Let me know if you have any questions… happy summer!! 🌞

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

This is the card I include with every pet portrait… I’m proud to donate to local shelters and rescues for their life-changing work! ♥️ My 2022 donation went to Prince William Animal Advocates, our local Manassas, Virginia shelter. My 2023 donation went to Friends of Homeless Animals, a rescue in Aldie, Virginia. I’m in awe of the love, compassion, and hope these organizations give to countless animals. Please donate or adopt a pet if you’re able! 🐕🐈‍⬛💕

This is Lacey, a loving Belgian Malinois who fiercely guarded her human pack from intruders like friends and family! 😂 She’s pictured with her beloved tennis ball, which she could chase a thousand times and never tire of retrieving it. She happily “sang” (read “barked”) along to the birthday song or a Braves win. She barked at everyone and everything. All the time. So much barking! 😅 Lacey loved them with all that she had. Her family was devastated when she passed last year, so their friend Kelley commissioned me to paint this portrait with Mary Beth. Hopefully it brought some Christmas joy and is a sweet reminder of the many happy memories their family had growing up with her. ♥️ A very personal project for me since our family also loved Lacey dearly! 💕

1. Final artwork - 8” x 10” watercolor on Aquabord.

2-3. The actual watercolor on Aquabord mounted on birch wood. It can lean on a shelf, hang as is or be framed with a floater frame - it’s nice to have options! 😉

4. Photo showing what a 24” x 30” print could look like in a home setting. “Lacey” is available for prints and merchandise under the “Animals” tab on my website, and my high-resolution images can be printed quite large! 🤩

To see more of my custom pet portraits, click on the “Commissions” tab on my website: 🐕 🐈‍⬛ 💕
www.vlartdesign.com/commissions

Check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! ☺️
www.artalacartegallery.com

Nothing but pure joy on this sweet girl’s face! 🐕🩷

To see more of my custom pet portraits, click on the “Commissions” tab on my website: 🐕 🐈‍⬛ 💕
www.vlartdesign.com/commissions

Check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! ☺️
www.artalacartegallery.com

Come see me and my new moody illustrations today at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! I’ll be here until 5pm, working on a new painting and talking to customers… stop by if you have a chance! 😄

www.vlartdesign.com
www.artalacartegallery.com

This little chick is leaving the nest early and flying to a new home!! 🥰 Juli is a repeat customer and is smitten with her, and I’m so glad the painting brings her joy! 💕 “Peach Fuzz” is available for prints and merchandise under the “Animals” on my website! 🐥

To see more of my artwork, go to my website: 🎨
www.vlartdesign.com

Check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! ☺️
www.artalacartegallery.com

Sutton was a sweet little dachshund and a lady of leisure... her favorite activities were napping in the sun and getting treats (a girl after my own heart)! 😄💕 Her family misses her so much that Maeci and her sister commissioned a portrait for their mom as a Christmas gift… Sutton was her little shadow, and she misses her every day. Hopefully the portrait brings a measure of comfort. ♥️

1. Final artwork - 8” x 8” watercolor on Aquabord.

2-3. The actual watercolor on Aquabord. The 1/8”-thick Aquabord can be displayed on a phone stand or an easel, or matted and framed under glass and hung up… it’s nice to have options! 😊

To see more examples of my custom pet portraits, click on the “Commissions” tab on my website: 🐕 🐈‍⬛ 💕
www.vlartdesign.com/commissions

Check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! ☺️
www.artalacartegallery.com

Music:
https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/xhfpHqJRyY

Eyes that could melt the most hardened of souls… 🥰💕

Happy spring! 🌷 Nothing celebrates this season of new life better than a sweet little chick. 🥰 I loved capturing the sunlight on his fuzzy feathers… I can feel the cozy warmth of the sun! 🌞

“Peach Fuzz” is a 3” x 3” watercolor painting mounted on wood and comes with a wooden easel. It’s available at Art a la Carte Gallery and will be available on my website for prints and merchandise. This is the first in a series of small paintings I’ll be creating in the coming months - something fun and different! 😊💕

To see more of my work go to my website: 🐥💕
www.vlartdesign.com

Check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! ☺️
www.artalacartegallery.com

Wishing everyone a beautiful Easter and spring! 🐇🌸🐣

Nope, not getting married, just changing my artistic course this year! 😂 Along with my commissioned paintings I’m adding landscapes, still lifes, interiors, and any other subjects that inspire me. My work will be available at Art a la Carte Gallery (Occoquan, Virginia) and through my website. I’m also working on a new line of fun black and white “moody animal” illustrations which I’ll be sharing soon! 🤩

As much as I love doing pet portraits, I’m scaling back on them this year to make room for other creative projects. So if you’re interested in a portrait please reach out soon! I’m scheduling for July or later and will be starting Christmas commissions by October. There’s no obligation and you can change your mind at any time, but I can’t create extra time later on and would hate to see you miss out. Message me here or DM me if you have questions! 🥰

www.vlartdesign.com/commissions
www.artalacartegallery.com

Now THIS is how you enjoy sweets without the guilt!! 😋💕 The creamy, mile-high strawberry shortcake begged for a watercolor painting, a fun piece for my Valentine’s Day art demo at Art a la Carte Gallery! Favorite parts: draping the shadows and capturing the scrumptious sunlit strawberries! 🥰 Most challenging part: the angle and shape of the fork. Next time I’m doing a spoon! 😅

“Tower of Yum” is for sale at Art a la Carte Gallery, and it’s available on my website for prints and merchandise under the “Still Lifes and Interiors” tab on my website: 🍓 💕
www.vlartdesign.com/still-life-and-interiors

Check out my artwork in person at Art a la Carte Gallery in Occoquan, Virginia! ☺️
www.artalacartegallery.com

1. Final artwork - 8” x 10” watercolor on Aquabord.

2-3. The actual watercolor on Aquabord mounted on birch wood. It can hang as is or be framed with a floater frame - it’s nice to have options! 😉

4-6. Photos showing what 36” x 45”, 14” x 18”, and 24” x 30” prints could look like in a home setting - my high-resolution images can be printed quite large! 🤩