Some Hours

Some Hours

oil on canvas

6 x 8 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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This is #45 of my 100 painting project. It is another view from Botany Bay at Edisto Island, SC., from our visit there last spring. As we were making our way along the boardwalk that leads through the marshes and out to the beach, I looked back and noticed this grouping of grand old trees. The way the morning light was softly falling among their leaves and branches happened to catch my attention. They looked so graceful and accepting of their position there at the edge of the marshlands.

Colorful days ahead

ACEO Blue Ridge Series V

watercolor

2.5 x 3.5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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ACEO Blue Ridge Series VI

watercolor

2.5 x 3.5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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These are the last two, out of my series of six art cards inspired by some of my favorite local scenes. They are both done with watercolor and a few touches of watercolor pencil. And like these images suggest, the fall color is beginning to appear around here. Only these past couple of days have been so wet and foggy up here in our mountains you would never know there was any color other than gray in the landscape. I suppose that's what makes splashing these colors around on paper so much fun. I enjoyed doing these so much that I have already begun another watercolor art card series. But I won't share what sort of landscape theme the next set is about - you'll just have to wait and see.

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-inspired by Amanda Blake Soule of SouleMama

More Blue Ridge Series art cards

ACEO Blue Ridge Series III

watercolor

2.5 x 3.5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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ACEO Blue Ridge Series IV

watercolor

2.5 x 3.5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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Have you ever noticed how practice with one media translates to another? I discovered this when going from drawing in colored pencil to painting in oil. All of that use of color in drawing helped my use of color in oils become somehow more freely intuitive. Then, while doing all of those oil paintings, I slowly loosened up with my application of paint and became more sure of where and when to lay down those strokes of color. Now I feel this same sense when working with watercolor. Trusting what I already know. It is something that does take time to practice, at least for me, there are no shortcuts. And at the same time I have come to the realization that it is the challenge that keeps me interested and wanting to do more.

Here are the next two, out of the six in my series, of art cards inspired by some of my favorite local scenes. The top one is a view found in a local park, and the bottom is from nearby Valle Crucis. They are both done with watercolor and a few touches of watercolor pencil.

Bid on this painting to donate to the NWF!

Venice LA

oil on canvas

6 x 8 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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This is the painting that I did in response to the Gulf oil spill, and The Spirit of the Gulf challenge. It is also #44 in my 100 painting project. I have listed this painting on Ebay with 100% of the proceeds from the sale going to the National Wildlife Federation. This painting is a view of the marshlands in Venice, Louisiana, an area affected by the oil spill. I found this scene using Google Street View.

Even though some time has past and we tend to forget rather quickly when the news cycles on to the next big event, there is still clean up going on in the Gulf from the devastating effects of the BP oil spill. Wildlife in that area will probably be impacted by the oil spill for a long time. I admire the efforts of organizations such as the National Wildlife Federation to help care for our natural environments and its inhabitants as well as this organization's educational efforts, especially their publications for children. So if you can help me with this donation, head on over to it's listing on Ebay.

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-inspired by Amanda Blake Soule of SouleMama

It only took a year

Cloud I

colored pencil on Rising Museum Board

8 x 8 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

Because I haven't scanned my next painting to post yet, I thought I'd share a colored pencil drawing that I recently finished. It is meant to go with this drawing, as part of a developing series. I had started this second drawing for the series almost a year ago. At that time, while I was working on this, I was losing interest in doing this kind of work. I longed to loosen up and let the paint fly. So I did. I set this drawing aside in it's unfinished state and started playing with oils a short time later. The other day I unearthed this drawing, still in it's half completed state, and thought I really should finish it. After playing with paint for so long now, I have finally come around to thinking about drawing again. Completing this piece seemed as good a place to start as any. There is a lesson here, I am sure of it.

*The first drawing in this series, Wave I, is available as fine art prints from ImageKind.

Watercolor art cards!

ACEO Blue Ridge Series I

watercolor

2.5 x 3.5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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ACEO Blue Ridge Series II

watercolor

2.5 x 3.5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

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I decided to try some ACEOs with watercolor. I found that I had missed doing these little art cards. They are a fun way to work, and challenging with the small size. So I made a page with some of my favorite Blue Ridge Mountain scenes. These are the first two out of a series of six. I am thinking of doing a small series like this with various types of landscape imagery, including  marshes and beaches, of course.

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-inspired by Amanda Blake Soule of SouleMama

Drift

Drift

oil on canvas

6 x 8 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

For purchase information click here

This is #43 of my 100 painting project. It is a scene from a nearby park where the North Fork of the New River runs along a walking path. Having grown up near the Ohio River, I always chuckle at the thought of these mountain streams being called "rivers". Yet it's true that they are indeed rivers. Up here, right at the Eastern Continental Divide, is where the rivers begin their journeys that eventually end at the sea.

A mile high

On Sunday, we went up to Beech Mountain for their annual Kite Festival. At an elevation of 5506 feet, Beech Mountain is the highest town in the Eastern US. Flying a kite from the top of Beech Mountain means that you are flying a kite a mile high. Except that on Sunday, there was no wind. Not even a mile high on top of Beech. Not enough to keep a kite aloft, anyway.

So we headed down the road a ways and stopped in at Fred's Mercantile. Fred's is the kind of store where you can get a key made, pick up a copy of the NY Times, buy some fresh produce for dinner, and shop for shoes. The sketch above is inspired by the lively mums sitting on the front porch of Fred's.

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-inspired by Amanda Blake Soule of SouleMama

September Print of the Month

This is the piece that I have chosen for September's Print of the Month. It is from my colored pencil drawing titled Edisto Dune. I'm thinking of all my coastal friends and family today as they ride out hurricane Earl and hoping they all stay safe and dry. Prints and greeting cards of this piece are available from ImageKind.