Hello there!
I’m Elaine Lee
About Me
Hi, I’m Elaine 💛
Artist, educator—and your creative bestie. (Also a plant enthusiast 🌱, passionate food plater 🍳, avid animal stalker 🐈🐩, and a Jesus lover 💕.)
My creative journey began the way many do—through crayons and childhood daydreams. In kindergarten, I drew a picture of Sailor Moon that got my teacher’s attention… and that tiny moment of encouragement lit a spark in me. From that day on, I knew I wanted to be an artist.
But like many of us, I was encouraged to take the “practical” route as I got older. I set aside my dream of illustrating and pursued a career in design.
I went on to study Fashion Design at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I fell in love with the expressive side of design—textures, colors, and storytelling through pattern. That path led me to NYC, where I interned with couture fashion houses and helped launch a designer pop-up shop in SoHo.
Somewhere in the midst of that fast-paced creative life, Jesus became very real to me. I encountered a deeper purpose for my life, and I wanted to give it to Him. So I took a leap of faith and attended a Christian Bible school that taught me how to enjoy God more intimately and serve others in our communities for the building up of His Church.
After that life-changing season, I returned to New York with no job, a suitcase of clothes, and a lot of uncertainty (but also, faith). That’s when my brother lent me some money to buy a pen and a Moleskine journal, and simply said:
“Why don’t you start drawing again?”
It had been yeeeaars since I’d drawn. I remember how awkward it felt—my fingers were shaky, my lines were clumsy, and nothing came out the way I imagined it. But I kept going, knowing it was just muscle memory that needed time to come back. I had loved drawing as a child, and I believed I could find that joy again if I stuck with it.
So I started sketching—just for fun—and sharing small pages on Instagram under the handle @leeniale (a backwards version of Elaine). I didn’t expect anything from it. But slowly, a community began to grow.
And something in me began to grow, too.
While serving the Lord and the youth in my local church, I started freelance illustrating & licensing for small stationery brands. Eventually, I began working full-time in the home textile industry—designing prints for beloved American retailers like Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, and HomeGoods.
But even in the busy hum of the design world, I found myself longing for something more personal—something playful and filled with heart. I carved out time in the early mornings and late evenings to draw, sharing sketchbook pages and creative experiments on Instagram.
(My very first Instagram post—August 2018!)
“Leeniale” was a playful, if slightly confusing, pseudonym—Elaine spelled backward. I was still figuring things out in 2018. (In 2023, I rebranded to @dearelaineco so people could actually find me!)
People started asking questions—
“What pastels are you using?”
“How did you mix your paint colors?”
“Can you show us how you painted this?”
At first, I wasn’t sure I had anything to teach. But I said yes anyway—first with simple YouTube videos, then my first class with Etchr Studio, and eventually through my own self-paced art classes and cozy in-person workshops in Georgetown, DC.
In 2022, I rebranded to @dearelaineco—a name that felt more like a love letter to the people I create for, and to the heart behind my work.
In 2023, I launched Drawfull, my sketchbook brand, funded by a successful Kickstarter campaign. I poured everything I wished I had in a sketchbook into one beautiful book: creamy, thick pages, no ghosting, no warping, and a linen cover you’ll want to carry everywhere.
It’s sold out multiple times—and it’s now beloved by artists around the world who feel the difference when tools are made with care.
Then in 2024, after years of balancing freelance illustration, full-time textile work, and a growing stationery side business… I was unexpectedly laid off from my design job. It was hard—but it was also the push I didn’t know I needed. A blessing in disguise. I stepped fully into teaching & my small business—and I haven’t looked back since.
Over the past 2 years, I’ve heard from thousands of students around the world who’ve picked up a pencil or brush again—often after a long creative dry spell.
Some are new moms craving quiet time.
Some are caring for sick family members.
Others are navigating depression, anxiety, or just feeling lost in the noise of daily life.
They tell me things like:
“Your class helped me feel the joy of creating again.”
“This was the first art I’ve made in years—and I loved every minute.”
“Thank you for giving me a place to learn to create with joy—not pressure.”
And every time I read messages like that, I remember exactly why I do this.
Art has been my safe place, my therapy, and a quiet way to serve others.
It’s an honor to help others find that same joy—through cozy, pressure-free art classes that invite creativity to be what it was always meant to be when we were kids: playful, freeing, and full of delight.
Whether I’m hosting local workshops in D.C., filming in my cozy studio, or teaching at an art retreat (like the Art & Faith Creative retreat in Lake Como ✨), I’m endlessly inspired by the spark in my students—who come from all professions, ages, and walks of life.
Today, I teach a growing collection of self-paced art classes designed to help you explore different mediums, rediscover your creativity, and develop a style that feels like you. From florals to urban scenes to quirky people and mixed media play—I design every class to feel like we’re on a relaxed art date together.
“Art doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.”
If you’re here, maybe you’re just getting back into art after years away.
Maybe you’re a total beginner who’s always wanted to try.
Or maybe you just want to make something with your hands and feel that spark again.
“You don’t need to be perfect. You don’t need fancy supplies. You just need a sketchbook, a willingness to play, and a little faith.”
So grab a cup of tea, open a blank page, and join me in making something that brings you joy.
I’d be so honored to create alongside you.
Love,
P.S. These days, I live just outside Washington, D.C. with my husband and our jungle of beloved houseplants. Life is quieter, but fuller—and I’m so thankful to be doing what I love, alongside the people (and plants!) I love most.
Let’s Create Together
🎨 Explore My Art Classes – Self-paced, beginner-friendly (and beyond!) lessons to spark your creativity and help you grow your style
📔 Try the Drawing Diary Sketchbook – Designed for gouache, pencils, and your most joyful ideas—no ghosting, no warping
🎬 Watch Free Tutorials on YouTube – Gentle, approachable videos you can follow anytime you need a little creative spark
💌 Get My Free Gouache Guide – A beginner-friendly intro to gouache watercolor—perfect for dipping your toes into this fun and versatile medium