Meet Svetlana Lechkina: Transforming Wildlife & Nature into Vibrant Quilled Masterpieces

 

 

Lana shares: 

 

"I was born in the 1970s in a small, very industrial Russian town called Togliatti, which was built for Lada car production. I've never received any formal art education, although I did finish a classical seven-year musical school - and yes, I can still play the piano and read music!"

 

 

 

"I've always enjoyed visiting museums and galleries (St. Petersburg has absolutely the best art scene in the world; the Winter Palace was a revelation when I traveled there for the first time at sixteen). I could never paint or draw to save my life, but somehow when I play with paper and glue, I can make beautiful things. For me, art is all about elegance, beauty, and aesthetically pleasing visions. Confession: I don't understand abstract art at all!"

"The very first time I saw quilling was about twenty years ago when I lived in England - back before YouTube even existed. I came across a book called Beautiful Quilling and it caught my eye. I tried a few small projects and enjoyed them, but then life happened - kids and moving to the United States. I picked up quilling again about fifteen years ago to keep my sanity, and somehow it grew from a hobby into my small art business." 

 

 

 

  

 

"I think the most appealing aspect of quilling for me is the intricacy of it. Paper is such a versatile material; it can turn into a myriad of shapes and designs. Imagination is your only limit."  

"I love working with gilded paper, which I usually purchase from Quilled Creations (especially after JJ Quilling disappeared from the market). I have pretty much every kind of quilling paper available today. Yes, I am a paper hoarder and not afraid to admit it! I buy pre-cut strips, as the X-Acto knife and I are not the best of friends. I also buy Aleene's Original Tacky Glue by the gallon because I run quilling workshops and summer camps - and kids love messing with glue!" 

 

 

 

"Background papers are a whole separate obsession - there's simply no such thing as enough paper! I have about a hundred scrapbooking paper pads (maybe more; I lost count long ago). On top of that, I discovered watercolor prints. If I can't find what I have in mind, I go outside and take plenty of photos. Every time we travel, I take pictures of the sky, sea, sand, trees, grass, and anything unusual to create custom backgrounds."  

 

 

 Life on the Festival Circuit

 

"I sell my work as a traveling artist, attending nine or ten juried art shows each year across different states. I recently kicked off the fall season at the Virginia Beach Neptune Festival, then An Occasion for the Arts in Williamsburg, Virginia, and this past weekend was Virginia Beach's Boardwalk Art Show MOCA. Next up is the Stockley Gardens Fall Festival in Norfolk, Virginia."

 

 

"I'll also be teaching quilling workshops at a local gallery leading up to Christmas. I have a website, Just Quill It, though most of my custom commission orders currently come directly through Facebook.

 

 

"It's always an honor to receive awards when participating in shows or exhibitions. This year I've won five so far, and last year's tally was nine. It feels wonderful to be recognized as both an artist and a quiller. 

 

I'm an active member of the North American Quilling Guild (NAQG) and I look forward each year to attending the annual conference. It's hosted in a different state every year, and it's great to spend time with people who are just as crazy about this art form as I am."

 

 

"Well, I think that sums it up! That's my life: wake up, have coffee, send the kids off to school, quill until pick-up time, make dinner, and then quill some more at night!"