Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Color project for June

Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo NC
colored pencil in Moleskine sketchbook
©2008 Ann Thompson Nemcosky


For the month of June I have been given the gift of time. Something that is a rare commodity and always in great demand in my day-to-day activities. It comes in the form of a few hours three mornings a week while my dear hubby will be taking kiddo to her tennis lessons. Come July he's back in the classroom and I'll be on duty again from there on out. The rest of my days will chiefly be occupied with homeschool lessons (yes, we school year round - believe me, it's loads easier) and all the other stuff moms need to do. But for the next four weeks, those morning hours will be mine.

And that's what gave me an idea to do a special project, something I have wanted to do yet didn't have the time to accomplish - paint. I haven't really attempted to put paint to canvas in over nine years. Besides, I have many ideas in the works for new projects in colored pencil. I wavered over the sense of this project, to indulge myself with painting, when I could very easily fill that space of time with so many worthwhile activities. My kitchen cabinets are screaming to be scrubbed and our attic is a nightmare of clutter. Or I could continue with my colored pencil drawing projects, getting oh so much accomplished. Then I saw this post about color from Katherine Tyrell on her blog, Making a Mark.

Well, that did it. I have committed myself to a month of working in paint. I spent the day setting up a temporary "studio" in our garage, the only available space in our little mountain cottage suitable for making a mess. Since the weather is warm, working there will not be a problem, and I added a couple of clip-on lights to brighten it up. I already had a good supply of paints and brushes and a quick trip to the art supply store filled any holes I had in supplies.

Katherine Tyrell's extensive outline for her color project is very inspiring and something I will be following very closely as I dive into my paints. And my goals for this project? I would like to see if I can come away from my own personal painting workshop with a better sense of how to use color more interpretatively than representationally. When I do return to my colored pencil drawing I would like to be comfortable with a more expressive rather than a literal use of color.

I do still plan to continue with drawing in all my various sketchbooks. Whether I will share any of my paintings here remains to be seen. It all depends on how things go. Stay tuned. . .

12 comments:

Kasie @ ~The Art of Life~ said...

Yay for art time!
I love the garden path. The color and light are just perfect. :)

Laurel Neustadter said...

Beautiful sketch, Ann. I also am focusing on painting in June. My goal is to do 20 small oil paintings of simple objects. Like you, I don't know yet if I will post them. Good luck!

Sandy said...

Lucky You! I know the time will yield amazing work, like this one. Keep us Posted!

Luba said...

Glad that you will be getting some extra time and can't wait to see what you discover with your color project. Your paintings are already so nice. Have fun!

FRANKYE said...

I know that those morning hours will produce something beautiful. I'm not certain what your paint medium is...must have missed that detail...but I hope we will get to see some of your "output." I will be in the NC mountains on June 19th through the 28th and can't wait to have the windows open at night. Thank you for the beauty you add to our lives.

lyn said...

Best of luck with your time to paint! Thanks for the comment on my blog. My folding sketchbook and working small has helped me fit some painting time in!

Anonymous said...

Hello Ann, I discover your blog and wish to tell you that I love your artwork.

As far as I am concerned, the learning of watercolor technique helped me to better use color with oil paint, or even pencils ...

Good luck with your "paint" !

Anonymous said...

look forward to seeing your paintings. Hope you will share.

lyn said...

Thanks for commenting (the sink this time) on my blog. Are you taking the time to paint? Good luck!

Ann said...

Thanks everyone :)
Laurel - we should compare results at the end of June!

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

This is a wonderful job....love it

Timaree said...

I love this painting/drawing. I wonder just what is around the bend in this beautiful spot.

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin