‘No Time for Fancy’: Because Who Has Time for That Anyway?
Why did I create the art series 'No time for fancy'?
Each piece of this series is my meditation—a way to quiet my mind, release the chaos onto paper, and find calm. It was created in a world that rushes by, designed to provoke pause and encourage connection to the present moment. Every stroke invites to explore how opposites intertwine and how meaning emerges when we truly dare to see.
This collection is meant to inspire others to let go of the need for perfection and embrace the imperfect beauty around them. It’s for those who feel overwhelmed mentally or physically, inviting them to pause, shift their perspective, and find joy in simplicity. Whether it’s through solving the mysteries hidden in these lines or simply appreciating their unrefined honesty, No Time for Fancy encourages you to reconnect with what truly matters.
Why not Scribbles?
Ever feel like the simplest ideas hold the most meaning? That’s where this collection began. At first, I wanted to call it “Scribbles,” reflecting the carefree doodles on paper. But as I wrote the stories behind each piece, I realized No Time for Fancy truly captured its soul. This phrase became the key to understanding the entire collection—and it just clicked.
What inspired me
Every time I tried to draw on a blank sheet, it ended up looking like a toddler's masterpiece—a wild array of scribbles that I secretly enjoyed filling the page with.
Then, when my daughter was a year old, she confidently drew lines on paper that looked intentional, and her lines inspired me to create a whole series based on similar doodles. Using black ink, a nib, a ruling pen (or sometimes a stick), I set creative limits and developed a style that hides phrases in these lines, creating little mysteries. It’s like looking at a stereogram—tilt your head, squint, and maybe it clicks… or maybe it’s just lines. And that’s the fun of it!
We’re all chasing perfection, aren’t we? Life rushes by in a blur, and there’s never enough time to make everything flawless. Instead, you dream something up, create it quickly, check the result, and move forward. Refine it later if needed.
For me, time is a rare luxury. Between raising my kids and carving out moments for creativity, I’ve learned to embrace the messy, unpolished process. There’s no room for overthinking—just grab the tools, dive in, and see what unfolds. That’s exactly how this collection was born: raw, honest, and unapologetically real.
You can get prints of 8.5x11 in size here 👉 PRINTS👈
Or the original canvases painting is available here 👉 ORIGINALS 👈
Thoughts? Feel free to reach me out hi@marypavlova.com.
Can’t wait to chat with you!
