Breezy greens

Summer

watercolor on 140lb Kilimanjaro cp

7 x 9 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

More watercolor play, inspired this time by the greens of summer. My references really are just that, a point of departure for playing with color and shape. I would like to eventually be able to leave the reference even further behind and find only those essential elements that interest me about the scene. In this case it was the impressionistic feel of green on green in the summer landscape that intrigued me.

right now

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"right now" staying focused on the present, mindful and in the moment, an image from the week, with no words or a few words, that acknowledges the "right now".  If you would like to join me in this mindful weekly exercise, put a link in the comments for this post to share your "right now" image.

Sketchbook Tuesday - blooming

I received a gorgeous potted lily for Valentine's Day. And I have made a couple of attempts at sketching the buds and blooms. The right hand page I sketched on Sunday, but made the color of the flower buds too warm. Yesterday I had another go at it since one of the buds had opened. The pink is a little too cool this time. Each day this lily has another blossom opening up. It is wonderful having a blooming plant indoors, especially at this time of the year. I am hoping we can keep it long enough to plant in our yard this coming spring.

right now

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"right now" staying focused on the present, mindful and in the moment, an image from the week, with no words or a few words, that acknowledges the "right now".  If you would like to join me in this mindful weekly exercise, put a link in the comments for this post to share your "right now" image.

Raven's Ridge

Raven's Ridge

watercolor on 140lb Kilimanjaro cp

6.5 x 9 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

 

Another watercolor inspired by an old photo, taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway from the Raven's Ridge Overlook. One of my favorite Parkway views. I love it when you can see the cloud shadows on the mountains. I have to tell you though, that I am taking quite a few liberties with color interpretation from these photos, and really enjoying the process. However, I have no idea where I am going with these watercolors. They don't fit in with my current plans for colored pencil drawings. I just can't find a tidy category in which to place them in the whole scheme of my art. In a way, they are distant cousins to my oil paintings. Am I allowed to change media for my painting project? For now, I think I'll just allow the paintings to give me direction. I'm okay with that.

Sketchbook Tuesday - asparagus

It's asparagus season. Yay!

right now

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"right now" staying focused on the present, mindful and in the moment, an image from the week, with no words or a few words, that acknowledges the "right now".  If you would like to join me in this mindful weekly exercise, put a link in the comments for this post to share your "right now" image.

Painting surprises and memories

Walking With Shelton

watercolor on 140lb Kilimanjaro cp

6.25 x 9 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

 

I am still working from really old photos as inspiration for watercolor painting. And really enjoying my new watercolor palette. It is fun to see what the colors will do and how they react with each other when mixing. I am loving all the new surprises of color. Oh, I know, I could make color mixing charts for each color combination, and I would know what to expect from this palette of color. But then I wouldn't be surprised with what happens on the painting. I am enjoying the surprises too much right now to be that analytical.

This view is from somewhere near the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was years ago that we were visiting friends in their new home way outside of town. Our host was eager to lead us on a walk on the extended property behind their home. We hiked through the woods where he seemed to be already acquainted with every tree. When we came upon a clearing at the edge of the woods I snapped a few photos. I was drawn to a stand of trees at the top of a distant hill. I remember him commenting that he also liked that view with the row of trees. I hope the trees are still there.

Sketchbook Tuesday - nectarine

More fruit. Sometimes just I feel like sketching - something. This nectarine was handy.

right now

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"right now" staying focused on the present, mindful and in the moment, an image from the week, with no words or a few words, that acknowledges the "right now".  If you would like to join me in this mindful weekly exercise, put a link in the comments for this post to share your "right now" image.

Wanting color

Winter View From Rich Mountain

watercolor on 140lb Kilimanjaro cp

6.5 x 9 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

I am still working on decluttering paperwork here. A few days ago, while sorting through papers to shred, I suddenly felt like playing with watercolor beyond the quick sketches that I do in my journal. I dug out a few really old photographs and along with my new watercolor palette had a wonderful afternoon painting. I have a graphite work in progress waiting on my drawing board that I just can't seem to give my attention to lately. Must be that I was craving a bit of color.