Thursday, May 31, 2012

Time to Register for Magic

Every day we get closer and closer to the magic that is Art Is...You: The East Coast Art Retreat in Stamford, CT, the BEST art retreat you'll ever have the opportunity to attend. TRULY, it will change you in, oh, so many wonderful ways!

I'll be offering a Saturday workshop this year. If you like to play with color and get messy with paints, papers, inks, water-soluble crayons, markers, oil pastels...join me for MIXED MEDIA MANTRAS on October 6th and we'll have oodles of artful fun!


No matter your interest, there is a workshop offered at "Art Is...You" that is perfect for you. And if you are a west-coast dweller, then the Petaluma, CA retreat is practically in your own backyard. Check out the list of amazing artists and the fabulous classes offered...and I hope to see you in Stamford...after a long and luxurious summer :)

© Nancy Lefko

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Etsy Shop Update

Original artwork created for my Surtex board (and hopefully future licensing opportunities) is now available in my Etsy shop.

As always, I appreciate your support and taking the time to visit.


© Nancy Lefko

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Surtex 2012

After months of anticipating my attendance at Surtex in New York City, it has come and gone just like that. I was fortunate to meet with my agent, Julie Ager of Artistic Designs Group, for the first time face to face. It was delightful to have time to chat with Julie and her mother and business partner, Mary Ann.

Traveling with my best friend, Marianne, made the trip so much more fun. It was quite awhile since we'd been in NYC together; back in our twenties it was a regular meeting place as I lived on Long Island and she in New Jersey. It was fabulous to experience Surtex and a beautiful day in the city together.

We drove down to New Jersey from her present home in Upstate New York and took the ferry across the Hudson River directly to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.



Walking the floor at Surtex was an amazing and inspiring experience. The wealth of talent is incredible with one booth more beautiful than the next! We also strolled through the National Stationery Show which shares the floor with Surtex. We ALMOST made it to the last few rows of that show, but our feet/legs/back decided we'd seen enough. (Let me tell you folks, that place is HUGE!)

Back at the Surtex side of the convention center for another visit with Julie & Mary Ann and then it was time to head back to New Jersey. Before boarding the ferry we took a stroll over to the USS Intrepid for a few quick photos. Quite the impressive sight!



Another glorious ferry ride across the Hudson, on what was a spectacular sunny day, gave us a last look at the New York City skyline. We traveled on into New Jersey to spend the rest of the day and the following morning with Marianne's family whom I hadn't seen in far too long.

Although my time at the show was too brief and the whirlwind journey to New Jersey, New York and back, went too quickly, it was the absolute best!


© Nancy Lefko

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Monday, May 14, 2012

Have You Registered Yet?


Every day we get closer and closer to the magic that is Art Is...You: The East Coast Art Retreat in Stamford, CT. I, like many others, wish that summer would go on and on, however, I know how fast it shoots by. Hard to believe, but October will be upon us before we know it.

So that's why it's a MUST that you register for the BEST EVER art retreat...now :)

I'll be offering two workshops this year. If you like to play with color and get messy with paints, papers, inks, water-soluble crayons, markers, oil pastels...join me for MIXED MEDIA MANTRAS on Saturday, October 6th and we'll have oodles of artful fun!

Sunday, October 7th will find me teaching WHEN TEXTURE TALKS where we'll tell a story through the beauty of texture. Vintage items and ephemera, tea-stained cheesecloth, buttons, hardware, string or whatever your heart desires, will add to the rich background created with acrylic paints, molding paste, inks and papers.


No matter your interest, there is a workshop offered at "Art Is...You" that is perfect for you. Check out the list of amazing artists and the fabulous classes offered...and I hope to see you there...after a long and luxurious summer :)

© Nancy Lefko

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Lost in a World of Art Journaling

Tuesday was the second session of three in my "Mixed Media Art Journals" class at the Sharon Arts Center School of Art & Craft.

Four lovely ladies and I have gathered to explore the world of journaling and I find that at the end of the three weeks I am so sorry that our time together has come to a close.

I stay in touch with my art journaling students and hope to have an impromptu "journal fest" at my house sometime soon. I have found that I always learn something new from my students whenever I teach; we all have something to share. I look forward to many more opportunities to share in the future.


© Nancy Lefko

Monday, May 7, 2012

Frida Kahlo Challenge


Taking a break from my usual style, I've created this "coloring book" Frida for the challenge over at Gritty Jane's Facebook page.

Fun stuff and a nice departure :)

© Nancy Lefko

Friday, May 4, 2012

Illustration Friday ~ HITCHED


Promises made, vows exchanged...all part of getting HITCHED.

To see the myriad of takes on the prompt, hop on over to Illustration Friday and check out all of the marvelous artwork there is to see.

© Nancy Lefko

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

From Across the Pond

What a thrill to receive a package from my friend Leanne Ellis. The moment I saw this pendant in her Etsy shop I knew it had to be mine. (I already own one of Leanne's magical creations!) Along with the pendant Leanne sent this sweet little heart that will hang in my studio.

If you have not yet visited Leanne's blog, please do so. She has a wonderful portfolio of artwork that you are sure to adore and beautiful pieces, such as this pendant, in her Etsy shop.

Don't you just LOVE a good mail day?