Valerie is a Manhattan-based artist who paints out of her apartment on the Upper West Side. So as you can imagine, when Covid hit, she faced a major dilemma. Stay in the apartment with her kids home in tight quarters or pick up and move (temporarily) to the North Carolina coast? I think you can guess which one she picked and this new location + season became the backdrop of her transformation from hobbyist to professional artist. Her artwork draws inspiration from a myriad of sources, including her childhood memories, the beauty of nature, and the world of fashion. Her use of bright and vivid colors reflects her joyful spirit and the happiness she hopes for her collectors when they walk past her art. Valerie also used to work in merchandising at Macy’s in New York and picked up many helpful marketing insights during her time there that help her in her art business today. You definitely don’t want to miss the tidbits she shares here. Finally, she is the queen of picking out the best dresses and shoes to go with her collection release photos! The pink ones with the bows are my favorite. Head over to her Instagram account to check them out. When style + bold color pairings + determination meet, you get Valerie Leuchs. Check out Valerie’s work below: @valerieleuchs valerieleuchs.com/shop