Sketchbook Tuesday - Spring?

The other evening I noticed that the peepers are back. And finally, our daffodils are starting to bloom. Our daffodils are up and blooming at least a week later than last year. Maybe they were a little afraid to come up after this winter we've been through. And now I am captivated with watching Lily, feeling much like she looks, safe and snug and in no hurry to venture out until I am sure the time is just right.

Painting #19 - Edge of Day

Edge of Day

oil on canvas

8 x 10 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

For purchase information click here

Number 19 of my 100 painting project. I suppose you can guess where I would like to be about now. Sigh.

Every Day Matters

Not long after I did this quick sketch yesterday I read the Everyday Matters drawing challenge for this week, #266, to draw someone or something that you cherish. Even though it has been some time since I have done an Everyday Matters drawing challenge, and even longer since I posted one here, I felt that this challenge was especially important. You see, it was just a few days ago that I learned of the tragic loss of Patti Gregory, wife of Danny Gregory and mom to Jack. Danny Gregory, artist and writer, and inspiration for the Everyday Matters online drawing group, has touched so many lives. Our Everyday Matters group feels like an extended family, connected through cyber-space by our dedication to creativity. We are all deeply saddened by this loss in our community.

When I stumbled upon the Everyday Matters drawing group I knew I had found something special. And it was just what I needed at the time. I gained inspiration to practice my rusty drawing skills and with tons of encouragement from the group the confidence to continue with drawing. After reading Danny's books I knew I had no excuse not to take my art back into my life. So it seems fitting to acknowledge that every day does matter with a reminder of what it is I cherish. Drawing, making art, is important to me. Practicing those drawing skills is essential for my continued growth as an artist. Danny Gregory's influence, along with the Everyday Matters groups' encouragement, is a huge reason I got back onto this artist path. And my daughter, just like life and in art, as Danny Gregory's quote on my side bar says, is always changing, moving ahead, never in the same place for more than a moment, and our time together, is precious to me beyond measure.

Now, go make a drawing of someone or something that you cherish.

Sketchbook Tuesday - A new season

 I finished my winter sketchbook just in time for the Spring Equinox, and I really liked the completeness of that timing. I had plans for making a new sketchbook for spring, again using a recycled book for the cover, but when I added my embellishments to the cover and placed my text block inside the result did not make me happy. Not in the same way that my winter journal did.

 So I took it apart and started again, this time making the cover myself, following the directions in this book. The inside of this sketchbook I put together much the same way as my winter book, with a signature in the front and back for calendars and notes (this time using copy paper) and a pocket on the inside back cover. I used Canson Edition paper again for the main body of the book block, only this time choosing antique white, which is a little brighter and whiter than the vanilla color in my winter journal.

The fabric that I used for the cover is something I had in my fabric stash that felt cheerful for spring. And now, my new spring sketch journal does make me happy.

The sketches above are from photos that I took while on a short hike this past Saturday, the first real spring-like day we have had this year. The top sketch is with graphite, washes of neocolor II crayons, and colored pencil. The second is just graphite and neocolor II washes. And, as I noted on the second sketch, I have been under the weather these past few days with some sort of cold-like bug. In my foggy-headed-ness I have been playing around with this blog's header, trying to incorporate some of the elements that I had with the design of this new template. So you see what I have come up with. What do you think?

Painting #18 - That Which Is

That Which Is

oil on canvas

6 x 9 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

For purchase information click here

 Happy Equinox! I hope everyone is enjoying this first day of spring. We are seeing our first spring-like weather here this weekend with bright sunshine and temperatures all the way up to 65F! The windows are opened, the robins are back, and my daffodils are hesitantly poking up from the ground. But who can blame them for being just a little reluctant to come up this year?

This painting is from a view of a small waterway beside the Whalehead Club in Duck, NC. We have visited there the past two summers while vacationing at the Outer Banks. It's a wonderful park setting, away from the McBeach houses found there in the northern beaches. We enjoyed spending afternoons there sketching and photographing. And that was the inspiration for painting #18 of my 100 painting project.

Painting #17 - Morning Song

Morning Song

oil on canvas

10 x 8 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

For purchase information click here

I am enjoying painting these seascapes. This is inspired by one of those early mornings at the beach when the horizon dissolves into the mist, and is painting #17 in my 100 painting project.

Sketchbook Tuesday - Freshly baked

Well. With all the cleaning and de-cluttering going on around here I thought I'd try on one of the new Blogger templates for size. The birds just seemed so appropriate. I tried out various ways of using my old header but settled on no header at all for a cleaner look. What do you think? I also added the page tabs but that bit is still under construction. I do like the idea of having static pages as a place to store information, just haven't quite worked out what yet. However, I would like to give things a fresher, simpler look around here.

And speaking of fresh and clean, a little while ago I was given this lovely Sunshine Award for "Creativity and Positivity in Blogging" by fellow blogger Pam Johnson Brickell of South Carolina Low Country Nature Journaling and Art. 

A beautiful splash of sunshine from the Low Country is just what is needed to brighten up the place. Of course the hard part of accepting such a wonderful award is choosing who to pass it along to. And choosing folks that I haven't already recently passed awards along to. There are, however, lots of creative bloggers in my blog list over on the side bar. So I am simply asking you to please take a moment and look them over. I am often updating that list too, as I discover blogs that I enjoy. It's a very long list so if you plan on looking at them all you may need to grab a cup of coffee and settle in.

The sketch above is of today's loaf of artisan bread. We've been having fresh bread almost daily since I got this book.

Painting #16 - Breaking Through

Breaking Through
oil on canvas
8 x 10 inches
©Ann Thompson Nemcosky
For purchase information click here

A new day at the beach always feels so open for possibility. Maybe because of the space and the light that grows bigger with each passing moment.

I have been busy these past few days cleaning and organizing my work space, with the professor's help, of course. Some of you may remember this view of my little work corner.
What you can't see here are the piles of stuff that were under each table. Or the other side of the room that had shelving units stacked with toys. Or the other computer desk behind mine. It was a very crowded and cluttered room.
So we packed away the precious toys that are no longer played with by 11 year old Kiddo. Many more were dropped at the thrift store. We purchased a real desk (with drawers, yay!) for my computer and did away with the door supported by shelves that was my desk. We de-cluttered. And de-cluttered some more.

The professor's desk is on the opposite wall in this view. The two closets on that wall are cleaned out, re-organized, one for Kiddo's remaining toys, craft kits, and stuff, the other for my crafty things. No more crawling around under a table in order to find something. We found a floor in the center of this room!
Ahhhhh. . . .

Sketchbook Tuesday - snow and cookies

Here's a couple of drawings from my sketchbook that I did last week. We had a surprise snow storm last Tuesday that brought everything to a halt around here. While on a drive to town last Wednesday I snapped photos out the car window. (No, I wasn't driving.) I seemed to have this rule about only doing sketches from life in my handmade sketchbook. But when I realized that this is my sketchbook, after all, and that it can also be a opportunity to try out techniques and materials, I felt much better about using a photo like I did for this sketch above. This is a scene from our neighborhood during the early evening when the light was low, in watercolor, graphite and colored pencil.

However, cookies must be drawn from life, because then you get to eat your subject when the drawing is completed. This cookie was drawn with walnut brown colored pencil, also in my handmade sketchbook.

Painting #15 - Spring Snow

Spring Snow
oil on canvas
6 x 6 inches
©Ann Thompson Nemcosky
For purchase information click here

Number 15 of my 100 painting project. This painting was done from a photo that I took of our forsythia last spring, on April 7, when we had a spring snowfall. That is not so unusual up here in our mountains, we have even been known to have snow as late as May. Since we have already had record breaking snow fall amounts this year, I am really hoping we don't see snow again this April. Although it did show off the forsythia nicely.

Painting #14 - Simple Abundance

When the Summer Went
oil on canvas
6 x 6 inches
©Ann Thompson Nemcosky
For purchase information click here

Here is painting #14 of my 100 painting project, a view from last autumn beside Simm's Pond off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I loved the dance of soft, warm colors in this scene.

I am still enjoying and enthused by my 100 painting project. You may have guessed that my posting of these paintings is behind my actual completion of them. Mostly this is because the oil paint needs time to dry. However, I am far enough along in this project that I realize 100 paintings just may be possible to complete in a year's time. I also believe that it is a good number of paintings to reach for with this goal. 50 paintings would probably not be enough to find out how my approach might evolve, as each one I complete becomes a more personal statement. I am also finding a feeling of contentment with this project. It is simple, direct, and keeps me focused. And we know how easily I can get scattered.

As you learn to trust the wisdom of your heart
and make creative choices based on what you know is right for you,
process becomes progress.

-Sarah Ban Breathnach- Simple Abundance

Sketchbook Tuesday - Closure

One of my sketches from last week, done of our dogs as they often are, lounging nearby while I work. Just some lines scribbled on the page, trying to get the peaceful devotion in their shapes. Scribbled lines attempting some sense of closure in order to become shapes.
And here is my finished crochet bag! (sorry for the poor photo, we haven't had much light here lately)I am so pleased that I not only learned to change colors but also crochet in the round! Thanks Jennifer! All I need do now is sew in a lining, which I have all ready to go. And I want to fashion some sort of closure for the top. Maybe a button with a loop?

March Print of the Month

An image chosen to coax back the sun. This month's featured art in print is from a colored pencil piece titled Dawn. Because March is the month we call the sun to come back to us. And we really need a little sunshine.

Note cards and fine art prints of this piece are available through Imagekind.