Meet Elise Lee

We recently connected with Elise Lee and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Elise, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I think my resilience comes from my faith and my love for being in the moment. Prayer and trusting in the Lord help me stay grounded and approach life with optimism. I also draw energy from working at live events—I’m surrounded by beautiful spaces, decorations, and people, and I love watching and interacting with them as I work. Traveling to different states for events adds another layer of inspiration—seeing new cities and settings is always amazing. Even when there’s some pressure, I’m usually more amazed than stressed, and that sense of wonder keeps me focused and energized.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m an illustrator and painter specializing in live-event illustration and commissioned artwork for families and homes. I love that each project allows me to connect with people—whether I’m capturing the energy and atmosphere of a live event or creating a personalized portrait or painting for a client. I work in both abstract and realistic styles, keeping my artistic signature present in every piece while tailoring each work to the client’s vision. I also collaborate with companies through fashion illustration and editorial projects, and I paint on a variety of materials, including leather and glass, which allows me to personalize art on leather goods and other unique surfaces. Home is such a unique place for everyone, and so are their events and celebrations—each tells a personal story that I’m honored to translate into art. As my live-event illustration work continues to grow in popularity, I’m excited to bring it to more events and clients, while continuing to offer commissioned pieces that bring art into people’s homes in a meaningful and personal way.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I’d say the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are curiosity, consistency, and connection. Curiosity keeps me exploring—trying new materials, techniques, and ways to express emotion through color and form. It’s what led me to paint on leather, glass, and other unique surfaces, and to continue evolving my style over time. Consistency has also been important, even though as a mom I can’t always practice as regularly as I’d like. I’ve learned that even small, steady steps in your work can make a big difference over time. And connection has always been at the heart of what I do. Whether it’s capturing a moment at a live event or creating a painting for someone’s home, it’s that sense of connection with people that makes art truly meaningful to me.

For anyone early in their journey, I’d say: stay curious, keep creating whenever you can, and nurture genuine connections. Life may not always follow a neat schedule, but every experience and interaction can feed your growth and creativity in unexpected ways.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The book that has been deeply influential in my life is the Bible. As a Christian, I often turn to its words for courage, clarity, and perspective—especially when things feel challenging. It reminds me to approach life and my work with patience, gratitude, and intention.

I also draw inspiration from fashion magazines, illustration sketchbooks, and observing the world around me. The colors, textures, and forms I notice in everyday life often spark ideas for live-event illustrations or commissioned pieces. Combining these creative influences with the lessons I draw from my faith helps me stay grounded while continually expanding my perspective as an artist.

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