If you appreciate the work of local artists, have we got a collection for you at Gateway Gallery Auction!

Nancy Lehman has been painting for more than 25 years, although she admits she really hasn’t made a name for herself in the Franklin County art community.

“I just do it as a hobby,” Lehman said. “I’ve sold some stuff and donated a lot of things.”

She’s dabbled in oils, watercolors and acrylics and is basically self-taught.

“My aunt was following Bob Ross and my mom said, “I wish you’d see Janet’s paintings.,'” Lehman recalled. “So I looked at them and thought I could do that!”

And so her life as an artist began.

“I started watching Bob Ross videos and began with oils and watercolors and now I’m in love with acrylics because they are so much more forgiving,” Lehman said.

She connected with Ruth Durbin, a well-known self-taught artist in Fayetteville and took some painting classes. As her circle grew, she found other artists to paint with regularly and she was a member of the Art Alliance at Wilson College for a while.

She is downsizing her collection because she simply doesn’t have room as she downsizes her home life.

“I had 75 pictures hanging in our home. I found some in the basement I had forgotten I’d done,” she said.

Many of her works will be on sale Monday, Feb. 19, at Gateway Gallery Auction. Auction begins at 10 a.m.  Lehman’s paintings will be sold after 1:30 p.m. There is an open house preview Sunday, Feb. 18, from 1-3 p.m. for those who’d like to preview the collection.

Meanwhile, Nancy hasn’t given up her art, even though she’s parting with some of her creations.

“I just finished two [paintings] in the last two weeks,” she said.