Illustration Friday ~ Baby

This is a spread from an altered board book entitled "Mothers' Love." It seemed to fit today's topic and it's a good thing I had something already made....it has been a week or more where the artist in me has taken a back seat to the mother I am. In fact, it's so far in the back as to be in another car altogether. I get frustrated when so much time passes and I cannot even get 10 minutes in my studio. But then I remember that I am a mother first and foremost and that snaps me back to reality.

© Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Worry

Kitty didn't let a few WORRY lines spoil her fun. On the contrary, she was the life of the party!

© Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Wide

By the time Sissy was twenty-one, she had traveled the globe far and WIDE. However, she was still searching for the perfect martini.

© Nancy Lefko

'Cross Town Move

For those of you who prefer shopping at Etsy rather than Ebay, I have moved the Girlfriends and the Cocktail Queen. They happily reside in my Etsy shop now and I hear tell they love visitors.

© Nancy Lefko

(PS The collage featured has just SOLD, but there are still some fun gals over at Etsy.)

Coneflowers

I just finished this drawing of purple coneflowers (from a photo of last year's garden.) It was done with Prismacolor pencil on drawing paper.


© Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Electricity

My first thought, when I saw the IF topic for today, was of my high voltage couples and the ELECTRICITY they generate. If we could harness that energy, we'd really be cookin'.

© Nancy Lefko

Ebay Update

Don't ask me where I found the time, because this week has been a blur of activity. But somehow I made it into my studio, a few minutes at a time, and was able to make some collage work to list on Ebay. I hope it brings a smile to your face.






© Nancy Lefko

Thanks, Lisa

My heartfelt thanks go out to Lisa of Flying Colors for including me in her Etsy treasury. I am quite touched that my "Femme Fatale" was chosen and do so appreciate the recognition.

© Nancy Lefko

Custom Piece

It has been my distinct pleasure to create this custom collage for my "blog friend" Candace. It is my practice to involve the customer on as many levels as possible in the creation of their custom piece. Candace and I shared many an email back and forth in the process of creating this collage. I am flattered beyond words that an artist as talented as Candace wants one of my creations for her home. (Visit her blog and you will see what I mean about her amazing artistic flair.) It has been a delightful experience and I look forward to the opportunity to create more custom work in the future. Many thanks, Candace.

© Nancy Lefko

Pico Award

My genuine thanks to Linda of Sketched Out for the lovely Pico Award and her kind comments as well. Linda is always encouraging and supportive of my work. A visit to Linda's blog is a guaranteed smile and more often than not, an all out belly laugh. The artwork is fabulous and her posts are so humorous and right on.

Here are the rules of the Pico Award:

1) Pick 5 blogs that you feel are deserving of this award based on their creativity, design, interesting material and their contribution to the blogging community.

2) Include the name and link of the award giver, so their blogs can be visited.

3) Include the name and link of the people you award, so their blogs can be visited also.

4) Show the link Arte y Pico, the originator of the award.

5) Publish these rules.

I agree with Linda, that it is very hard to choose just five artists whose work inspires and delights me on a daily basis. But, as my husband will tell you, I AM a rule-follower, so here goes.

Debbie Egizio has a truly inspiring blog filled with her own scrumptious art and also wonderful accessories for the home and the girl. Gorgeous eye candy here.

Elizabeth Parsons is an extraordinarily talented watercolorist (among other media) whose blog is such a treat to visit. She supplements her watercolor posts with beautiful photography. I am a little more than jealous of this gal's talent.

Leanne of La La La Illustration creates the most lovely whimsical art. Her work has an innocence, sweetness and joy, and is done with a crispness and attention to detail that is magical.

Diana Evans...now what can I say about Diana? Except...WOW...she is one of the most talented and prolific artists I have found. Every day there is a new treat to behold. And Diana doesn't stop at art...no, she wows us with scrumptious goodies for the palette. Thank you Diana, for being such an ardent supporter of my collage art.

John York has filled my comments page with wonderful encouragement since my very first posts. I hope you know John, that praise coming from a talent such as yourself means the world to me.

Truly the blogging community, not just five folks, has brightened my every day. It has been my PLEASURE to get to know each and every one of you.

Illustration Friday ~ Seed

With any luck, the SEEDS we plant this spring will flower not only in our gardens, but in our souls as well.

© Nancy Lefko

Back in the Studio

It has taken me a week to carve out a few minutes of time in my studio. Between doing the mountains of vacation laundry and taking care of a sick child this week, the studio has been out of reach. However, today I managed a few minutes to finish a project that had been started before we left for Disney. Here she is...straight from the Hollywood Studios of the '30's. (You can imagine how I loved the theme of THAT particular Disney park!)

She will be listed on eBay tonight.

© Nancy Lefko