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

Illustration Friday ~ Alphabets

When I saw the theme for this week's Illustration Friday, I thought, how perfect for "back to school." It reminded me of this collage I had made entitled "School Days." This little lady is ready for school, but with a little fun and games mixed in for good measure. You know what they say about all work and no play...

©Nancy Lefko

So Long Summer...

How can it be that the summer has come and gone? The boys start back to school on Wednesday...it feels as if their summer vacation just began. It goes by faster every year (I know that's because I'm getting older, I just don't like to admit that part.) It is indeed the sights, sounds and smells of the ocean that I miss so much when summer draws to a close. It's sad for me to think that it will be close to a year before we head to the ocean again. Growing up an "island girl," the ocean was always there. Now it is only in the summer that we venture to the coast of Maine to feed our souls. So, here we go...another year of school ahead...I hope it's a good one!

©Nancy Lefko

Illustration Friday ~ Visitors

These young ladies are among the many visitors that frequent New York, New York..."a town so nice, they named it twice." They are making their way about town; have been to Central Park and the Empire State Building and I'm sure they will see quite a few more sights. Oh, to join them on their visit to the Big Apple.

©Nancy Lefko

New York Gal

I just said goodbye to a dear friend after a wonderful visit at my home with her and her boys. We are friends from WAY BACK...let's see...we've been friends for 36 years! We grew up together in New York and were practically a part of each other's family. Although our current families get together but once a year, our boys have made a close connection and look forward to the get-togethers as much as the moms. I made this collage before their arrival last weekend and it reminds me of the old days as a New Yorker. You can take the gal out of New York, but you can never take the New York out of the gal. Thanks, Chris, for all the memories and all the good times yet to come. I hope each person who reads this is as blessed as I am...to have had a lifelong friendship.

Illustration Friday~Captain

Meet CAPTAIN Courageous...he's ready for any adventure. He welcomes challenge with a smile and is ready for excitement.

Plain Jane Day

Did you ever have one of those days? One of those days when you begin to doubt that you really have any talent at all! Or that the talent you DO have dims in comparison to other artists? Well, today is my day. It began benignly enough, surfing around at artists' blogs and websites. It was great discovering new artists and seeing their beautiful work. But somewhere along the line I started to compare myself and my work to these talented folks and their beautiful work. That's about the time I started to hear that little voice in my head that says, "all YOU really do is cut and paste." I hate that little voice. But sometimes, I guess, I need that voice to push me in new directions and force me to try new techniques I have never had the courage to try. But I still hate how I feel when I hear those words in my head. Have you ever had a Plain Jane Day?

Cocktail Fairy

Yesterday I seemed to have cocktails on my mind as I created two such fairies. But today all I have on my mind is water...seeing as we woke up this morning to find that our well pump is fried. Just as I was celebrating the fact that I have an art sink and running water in my studio...there goes the water. This may indeed be "a martini-requiring afternoon."

What's On Your Desk ?

I have always wanted to be the type of artist whose brushes and pencils are housed in vintage pottery...maybe even in the McCoy vases that I collect. But truth be told, my studio has not yet been elevated to that level. My McCoy vases are not quite that utilitarian. Instead I use old mugs for my essentials. Mugs that have lost their place of honor in the cupboard, but still bring back memories of where it all began. I like to imagine that one day my studio will be glorious enough to employ a more chic ceramic for my brushes. But for now...hey, I've got running water and an art sink, so how can I complain?