Illustration Friday ~ The Blues

What a perfect topic for this week's Illustration Friday, for I feel as if I've been singin' the blues all week ! Apparently, this little gal has the the tonic for her blues. I may just settle into a comfy chair tonight and follow her advice...make mine a Cosmopolitan, please.

© Nancy Lefko

Batty Sisters

Life has been WAY too hectic around here !! I think I've had about 10 minutes in my studio all week. The days are consumed before I know it and all I've done is run from one place to another. I know things will calm down once soccer season is over...but the question is, will I last that long ? That is why I have reached into the vault to pull out a collage I made a few months back. The girls seem to fit the Halloween theme, although they were not made for the holiday. They also seem to fit my state of mind lately...BATS !!!

© Nancy Lefko

Life of the Party

I worked on this collage this past week and it's a wonder it was ever finished. It seemed that every time I sat down to work on it, someone needed something or a fight broke out between the boys. Sometimes I think they have radar and know the precise moment I settle down in my studio. Well, for better or worse, here she is...listed on Ebay last night.

© Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Juggle

My submission for this week's topic, Juggle, is a salute to the queens of juggling ~ MOTHERS !! Is there anyone around who knows how to juggle better than a mom? She can give the Barnum and Bailey acrobats a run for their money. I know that half of MY day revolves around juggling one thing to accommodate another. When I saw the topic, it was a no-brainer. Moms win, hands down !!

© Nancy Lefko

Halloween in the Studio

Apparently I am in quite the Halloween groove...I am enjoying this autumn color scheme and hope my recent collages draw some interest. It felt like a while since I had worked on anything. I was away last weekend visiting a friend (a girls' weekend...kind of my version of a girls' night out :) Even after just two days away, I returned home feeling so disorganized and as if I'd fallen behind on everything simply because I had spent the weekend away. After three days I am finally feeling back to normal (or at least our version of normal.) We don't have any big plans for the weekend...maybe a little apple picking...but hopefully I'll get some more productive time in my studio...I'll let you know.

© Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Wedding

She's all set for the wedding...where's the groom ?

© Nancy Lefko

On A Roll...

I'm having fun with Halloween colors and images I feel are well-suited to a 'spooky' theme. This collage is made on a recycled library book cover (...I frequent the discard rack at our local library.) Just my way of creative recycling. She'll be on Ebay tonight, along with other collages that do not seem to be attracting any attention. I am hoping things will pick up there around the holidays. My motto is, "Just Keep Creating !!"

©Nancy Lefko

Getting Ready

After visiting some wonderful blogs over the weekend, I realized that many artists are getting ready for Halloween. I usually procrastinate and am racing to get Halloween art finished in time to make it worth my while to sell. Acting on the inspiration, I carved out some time in my studio this weekend to begin. This 5x7 collage is the first of my Halloween pieces and I hope to list it on Ebay tonight. I realized while working on it, that I really enjoyed the rich colors that the Halloween theme prompts me to use. Maybe I will try that color scheme in a non-seasonal piece. You never know.

©Nancy Lefko

Hot off the Press

Here she is! I did make some changes and additions as I knew I would. I am pleased with the result and hope she sparks some interest when I list her on Ebay later this evening. Thanks for looking and let me know what you think :)

©Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Momentum

My submission for Illustration Friday is this little Jack Frost Fairy. He'll be picking up MOMENTUM as he speeds down that snowy hill. This piece was created last winter...you'd think I would have more time in the studio since the boys headed back to school...but on the contrary, their schedules have kept me running around so much I have not had much time to create. Maybe by next IF I'll have something new. (Excuses, excuses :)

©Nancy Lefko

Work in Progress

I've been playing around again in the studio...I think I like experimenting with paint on canvas before I begin to collage. It gives me an opportunity to create textures and variations in color that a smaller space does not allow. It is setting up to be a rather crazy week between the boys' schedules and my own, but hopefully soon I'll get a chance to finish this work in progress. By then it may look nothing like this image...changes often occur as time goes on.

©Nancy Lefko

Heavenly Challenge

One of my goals this Fall is to challenge myself artistically. To try something...anything...new. Amazingly, I got right to it, at least in a small way. I wanted to reach beyond my 4x4 world, so I bought 8x10 canvas panels, new paint colors and stamps, and set to work (or is it really play?) I decided to start with paint and then add paper, rather than the reverse. This is a small change, I know, but it changed the whole process for me and hey, it was fun! Having a space more than twice as large to work on was also fun, but a challenge in itself as there was more space to fill. I hope to have this piece listed on Ebay tonight...we'll see if it draws any attention. (Interestingly enough, when I list pieces larger than my standard 4x4, they do not draw much interest. Don't know why that is?) Anyway, if you feel so inclined, I would love to know what you think of my first step 'out of the box.'

©Nancy Lefko