Leila's Illustrations

It's been years, I actually even thought I had closed this blog (oups!). I have reduced my illustration projects and focused more in the past few years on UI/UX design. And so, I feel it important to point out on all my social accounts that I have finally launched my portfolio website: www.leilacharafeddine.com Have a look and stay on the lookout 'cause I will be updating more projects there :)

Daffodil - نرجس This flower is from the Narcissus species. In greek mythology, Narcissus was a very handsome hunter. He fell in love with his own beauty while looking into the river's reflection. There are many endings to the myth but they all have the same idea all that's left of him are narcissus flowers. 👀 How does this myth relate to Lebanon? Well it doesn't haha. The flower however is abundant in southern Europe, North Africa and the Western Mediterranean. Its colors bright up the greenery in different spots since it is never alone. It grows as a wild or cultivated plant, though seems like some of Narcissus species have now become extinct 😕. Fun fact: Did you know the little bell shaped part of the flower is called Corona? It comes in different sizes: some are little bowl-shaped and others look like huge spot lights! • 🌱 I did a research last year on the different flowers we see in Lebanon during Spring and sketched them to do a personal project with them. Didn't have time to work on making them look cool and digital back then. But now that we are all in quarantine, it's the perfect time! • ➡️ Swipe to see the sketch of the flower from my research last year. • #flowerresearch #flowers #spring2020 #flowerlovers #flowergram #flowerpower #illustration #digitaldrawings #digitalart #sketchingnature #sketching #drawing #pollen #goldenflower #naturelovers #localflowers #narcissus #daffodil #digitalillustration #stayathome #womenwhoillustrate #covidartclub #greekmythology (at Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_J3IP8ptXZ/?igshid=1jp5dq0xloq1

Poppies - دحنون I have to be honest, i had never heard the name in Lebanese arabic and i have a feeling many others also didn't! I was taught that this is a "coquelicot" at a young age and never thought about another name for it. "Dahnun" seems to be widely used in the Southern area of Lebanon. The flower though is widely spread all throughout Lebanon and makes up a huge childhood springy memory for many of us. ⚘🌼 🤓 Disclaimer: The arabic I refer to in my illustrations is very "Lebanese", if you google translate the name you might get something else. I find the Lebanese arabic namings to give those flowers a different context, one that is more personal. • 🌱 I did a research last year on the different flowers we see in Lebanon during Spring and sketched them to do a personal project with them. Didn't have time to work on making them look cool and digital back then. But now that we are all in quarantine, it's the perfect time! • ➡️ Swipe to see the sketch of the flower from my research last year • #digitalillustrations #illustrations #drawingplants #spring2020 #flowerseries #digitalart #flowerlovers #workfromhome #illustrations #coquelicot #cartoon #childrenillustrator #flowerstudy #flowerstagram #illustratorsofinstagram #womenwhoillustrate #covidartclub #lebanon (at Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-1EHX9J6Px/?igshid=19oi7e9w6t8d9

قرنفل - Carnation - Mom tells me this flower was used to decorate mountain weddings and very common for gentlemen to put it in their suit's pocket back in the 70s. I still see it in the mountain houses' gardens now and then, it must have lost its popularity lately... • 🌱 I did a research last year on the different flowers we see in Lebanon during Spring and sketched a whole bunch to do a nice personal project with them all. Didn't have time to work on making them look cool and digital back then. But now that we are all in quarantine, it's the perfect time! • ➡️ Swipe to see the sketch of the flower from my research last year • #illustration #digitalillustration #flowers #lebaneseflowers #nature #womensmonth #spring #spring2020 #illustracion #carnations #قرنفل #mothersday #digitalpainting #childrensbookillustration #illustrator #stayhome #drawathome #restezchezvous #womenofillustration #drawingchallenge #خليك_بالبيت (at Mount Lebanon Governorate) https://www.instagram.com/p/B91zSw0p_-w/?igshid=1ugkgauncdtb4

Here are a few more illustrations from the calendar 2020! 😍 Hurry up and get yours, i will be donating 10% of all of the purchased ones till April to the reforestation of Lebanon! One month left! 🌱🌲 . The calendar is still available at those amazing local places @darbistroandbooks, @thesageparlour, @b.hivelb, @shanshalchocolate, @gibranslebanon, @virginmegastorelb (airport), @carrefourlebanon, @everythink.me @etsy store for those of you living outside of Lebanon! (Link in bio) . 📲 And ofcourse you can DM me if you need a quantity. #illustrations #calendarillustrations #calendar #calendar2020 #illustration #drawing #doodles #Sketches #creativity #localartist #supportartists #2020 #ilustracion #dibujos #childrensbooksillustrations #artwork #lebanon #lebaneseartists #lebanesedesigners #illustratoroninstagram #artistsoninstagram #stationeryaddict #stationary (at Beirut, Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9bYJs4pwNK/?igshid=1lk3jhrl8sa1m

March's illustration from my calendar 2020! 😍 Combining, Mother's Day & Spring!🌺🌼 . Let the pollen begiiinn... 🌷🐝🤦🏻‍♀️ #spring #lebanon #mothersday #march #march2020 #pollenallergy #womensday #womensmonth #illustration #digitalart #drawing #illustratorsoninstagram #calendar2020 #mother #women #motherdaughter #motheranddaughter #childrensbooksillustrations #love (at Beirut, Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9T3kS4p9HN/?igshid=1s953xirw11z0

In loving memory of my great-grandfather 1914-2004. Jeddo Bou-Isam ❤ . #illustrations #illustratoroninstagram #digitalartwork #digitalillustration #ilustracion #grandfather #valentinesday #childhoodmemories #traditionalhouse #lebanon #childrenillustrations #family (at Btekhnay) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8f5RlFJa9t/?igshid=9q8rtn29vddg

February's illustration from my calendar 2020! 😍 Can you guess the paintings the couple are checking out? 🖼 . ➡️ Swipe for the timelapse video incase you haven't already! Find out in the highlights where you can find the calendar or DM me so i can tell you about the nearest store! . #illustration #digitalartwork #digitalart #digitaldrawing #digitalillustrations #calendar2020 #valentines #valentinesday #loveart #timelapse #sketching #museum (at Beirut, Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ED2RmJ_rK/?igshid=1ivx0cdvn3rv4

Noticed that #toonme and #toonmechallenge are a trending hashtag amongst illustrators! Yalla took a break and tadaa! #illustrations #lebaneseillustrator #illustratoroninstagram #illustrationartists #digitaldrawing #challenge2020 #quicksketch #digitalillustration (at Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7s170UpCTU/?igshid=1zvnvmc19poz

Mia the Chihuahua! . خربان و ولعان البلد و هي بغير عالم 😅❤. #dogillustration #puppiesofinstagram #puppy #chihuahua #chihuahuasofinstagram #puppyeyes #digitalillustrations #illustrations #dogslife #childrensbook #childrensbookillustration #drawing #idealworld #perrosdeinstagram (at Beirut, Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7ff3KkJ1w6/?igshid=tlirh3j7rz03

January 2020 🤩 🌟 Looking for a nice calendar that will bright up your day everytime you get to your office? Check out the desk Calendar 2020! The illustrations are family and happy-people oriented that suit all ages. Find out more about the behind the scenes and the journey to making this calendar in my highlights "Calendar 2020" 🌟 10% of the calendar goes to the reforestation of Lebanon 🌳🍃 👇 Lovin' it? Purchase it here: @thesageparlour @darbistroandbooks @b.hivelb @shanshalchocolate @gibranslebanon @everythink.me (Abc Verdun & ABC Ashrafieh) ✈ Etsy store in Bio! . . #illustration #lebanon #calendar2020 #calendar #deskcalendar #digitalart #january #january2020 #lebanesedesigner #lebaneseartist #familyfun #familyart #childrenillustrations #childrensbooksillustrations #gift #independentartist #reforestation #fatherandson #puppies #winterillustration #artistsofinstagram (at Beirut, Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7GIEHHJ5-5/?igshid=i9xrwunnvint

A last minute gift?🎄 Here's a budget friendly Christmas bundle until the 23rd of December! 1 Calendar + 1 Pin of your choice For 36,000LL The package will be warpped cutely (like the one in the image above hihi) and there will be extra goodies inside too! 2 Lebanese stickers and 1 Christmas postcard! DM me for your orders before the 23rd of December! 📧 Note: This bundle is for people in Lebanon, I can meet you somewhere in Beirut or send it with someone you know incase you live far away. If you live outside of Lebanon, check out my etsy shop link in my bio, there is another bundle there for you!!🤩 #lebanon #calendar2020 #creativegift #secretsanta #lebaneseproducts #lebanesedesigners #supportlocal #supportlebanon #supportsmallbusiness #illustratorsoninstagram #beirut #christmasbundle #budgetfriendly #pins #pingame #childrensbookillustration (at Beirut, Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6TIJ4wJ1mJ/?igshid=3kytwzy8qh5e

I always felt like this story had an Autumn/Fall feel...🍃🍂 Little Red Riding Hood's story is called "Leila and the wolf" in Arabic. Imagine how many times I must have heard it as a child! #littleredridinghood #leilaandthewolf #folktalestories #folktales #illustration #digitalart #arabicstory #digitalillustration #ليلى_و_الذئب #autumnseason #autumn2019 #fall2019 #october2019 (at Lebanon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3lwdVzp_Gf/?igshid=1pwvk65kqr92t

Looking for sustainable items that are good for you and the environment? Here's my doodled list of products that you can buy to substitute everyday "single-use" or plastic items! . Tap on the image on my instagram page @leilach2491 to see examples of where you can find some of them 😍 & also maybe tag the ones you know about!👇

Here’s my little list of easy and simple lifestyle changes to your daily life that wont require much effort and will actually save you money! ♻️ . What are things that you do and don’t require buying anything additional to what you already have? 🤓 + && Anyone knows where I can get rid of old non functioning tablets, phones, chargers, batteries… in Lebanon?🤷‍♀️ . Note 1: Landfills that find big bags of only paper or plastic do end up recycling them! Make it easy for them to find that specific bag by putting all those items together! Recycling barrels are becoming more available, if your area doesn’t have one yet, why not get it touch with @liveloverecycle or @ganatchlb? . Note 2: Plastic bottle caps are collected by individuals, universities and schools and given to @arcenciel.aec to fund wheelchairs! . Stay tuned for the next post i will be doodling the little things that are affordable and you can buy to substitute products you already usually buy! Think of sustainability!

"Caring for the earth is no longer a hippie thing, it's a survival thing" - By unknown 🌍 . There has been a global climate strike happening all this week around the world! Unfortunately there are still lots of people that think it's not cool to think about the environment and that they are "rebellious"&"Jgouliyeh" by not caring 'cause they don't want to be associated with the "new age hippies" or "overdramatic non-litterers". Or worse, those ones that think “ma we2fet 3layeh” (translate: I am not the only one). Sadly, many are young adults that went to "top schools”, had the “best education” and are considered “high society”.. yet they haven’t learned a thing about how their little impact affects the earth our ancestors gifted us and our future decedents will adopt after we are gone. . 🌐 Don't go throwing blames on the country, the government, the politicians,.. Yes, they are horrible but every little change starts by like-minded individuals that act on what they believe is the right thing and that could be you, your family and your friends… (side-samsameh-note, next time you want to nag about the “situation in the country” maybe you should take your ass to the voting booth and do something about it) . 🙋‍♀️ I will be posting a follow up post of my personal small, easy and affordable list of things I do/buy and don’t require much additional effort in my daily life! I think it could be interesting for you to do/buy too! .

A whole day in Tripoli full of food, discovering the souks and the beautiful architecture! Definitely weren't able to see everything in one day so another trip is a must! I also took a couple of my pins with me to photoshoot them around the area, ill be posting more soon! #Tripoli #lebanon #traveltolebanon #tourisminlebanon #lebanese #lebanesepins #tripolisouks #livelovelebanon #trainstation #threearches #ottoman #livelovetripoli #mamluk #lebanesearchitecture #طرابلس (at Tripoli Train Station Terminal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1OGuIun-vp/?igshid=3qwyx9t9lutz