I’m a maker. Music. Art. Jewelry.
My name is Leslie Armstrong and I create one-of-a-kind mixed-media fine art jewelry. My playful yet sophisticated approach yields an unexpected combination of fun and fancy designs. I add ink drawings and frames to elevate special designs as conversation pieces - creating wearable art. You can read the rest of my story below.
My story.
Leslie Armstrong is an award-winning photographer, jewelry designer, and pen & ink artist, but has always considered herself a musician. Leslie began her artistic journey at the age of 5 picking up a guitar and never looking back. She played various wind and string instruments throughout her childhood and attended Millikin University on a music scholarship. While at Millikin, she fell in love with the combo of art and technology in the new field of computer graphics. Leslie graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis on computer graphics, commercial art, and photography.
Leslie worked in Chicago at a video post-production house and then as a graphic designer for a fortune 500 manufacturing company. In 2004 Leslie left the corporate world to begin a career in the tech department of Community Consolidated School District 46 in Grayslake. Leslie created the media relations position and has served as the webmaster and photographer for the district. Somewhere along the way, Leslie stumbled upon the beginnings of the Grayslake Arts Alliance and quickly joined up. Leslie has served as the Communications Chair and webmaster of the GAA, as well as on the Executive Board and now as a Trustee.
Leslie has had artwork published in magazines and has exhibited in many local shows, including winning an honorable mention in the Professional Women Photographers' 37th Annual Exhibition in New York. Leslie's photographs can be seen in several local municipality and chamber publications and on websites. In 2020, Leslie began creating jewelry - combining a childhood love of lapidary with wire & crystal beads. Leslie is exhibiting Pendant and Ink pieces at local area art shows, which pairs wire weaving and gemstones with pen and ink drawings - artwork you can hang on a wall or remove the pendant for wear - Pendant and Inks are truly “wearable art.”
While Leslie spends most of her waking hours in Grayslake she lives in Fox Lake, Illinois - actually on Fox Lake, which is a goldmine of photographic beauty and artistic inspiration. In addition to working at the school district, Leslie has a design business and sells jewelry, bookmarks, pin-back buttons, as well as photographs online at www.leslieamediagroup.com. You can find her online almost 24/7 on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and BlueSky at @leslieamediagroup.
I’d love to hear from you…
but in writing.
While I make lots of really pretty things, what I don’t do very well is hear. Years of standing between trumpet players and drummers and in front of amplifiers have left me with hearing issues. If I can’t see you, I can’t hear you, so phones are a no-go for me.
Feel free to fill out this form, contact me by email, or message me on social media. I’m here for you - even if I can’t hear you.