Finding Holiday Inspiration in Alexandria, Virginia

My last blog post was over a year ago. Time really does fly. But this holiday season reminded me why I love paying attention to small, local moments—because inspiration often shows up when you least expect it.

Like other commercial artists, I created many designs leading up to the holidays. The ones I loved most weren’t planned. They were sparked by chance, curiosity, and a little scrolling.

Discovering a Local Holiday Parade I Never Knew Existed

One afternoon, while scrolling YouTube, a video caught my eye: a couple spending the holidays in Alexandria, Virginia. They filmed their visit through Old Town, capturing festive storefronts, historical buildings —and something I had never heard of before.

The Scottish Christmas Walk Parade.

After years of living in Northern Virginia, I couldn’t believe I had missed it. The parade celebrates Scottish heritage and includes community groups, bagpipers, and dogs.

Lots of dogs.

Scottie Dogs Steal the Show

As the video continued, I saw dozens of Scottish Terriers marching proudly down the street alongside their owners. Some wore tiny sweaters.

I was instantly charmed.

Those Scottie dogs completely captured my heart, and right then I knew: this was going to be my holiday card.

Drawing Outside My Comfort Zone

There was just one problem—I don’t draw dogs.

At least, not confidently. I’m more of a food artist. I love drawing food. Furry creatures? Out of my comfort zone.

I spent hours studying terriers: their compact bodies, short legs, distinctive heads, and expressive posture. I sketched, erased, and tried again. It took a lot of trial and error, and there’s definitely room for improvement, but eventually I managed to sketch a group of Scottie dogs marching in the parade with their owners.

As challenging as it was, drawing something unfamiliar pushed me creatively in a way that felt refreshing.

Inspired by Alexandria’s Architecture

To complete the illustration, I turned to one of my favorite things about Alexandria: the architecture.

I could wander Old Town all day admiring the painted brick buildings, charming window styles, and subtle color palettes. Those details became the backdrop for the illustration, grounding the playful dogs in a place that feels unmistakably Alexandria, Virginia.

It was my way of honoring the beauty of the area we live in—and the local traditions that make it special.

Letting Go of Perfect Timing

I sketched and sketched, hoping to finish the illustration sooner.  But December slipped by quickly. By the time it was December 27, my cards needed to be printed and mailed out.

But if you’ve known me long enough, you know I usually send New Year’s cards anyway.

This project reminded me that creative inspiration doesn’t always arrive neatly or on schedule. Sometimes it comes from a local holiday parade you didn’t know existed, a group of dogs you’ve never drawn before, or a familiar town seen with fresh eyes.

And sometimes, that’s more than enough. I enjoyed bringing this illustration to life. And I look forward to seeing these festive dogs again next year.