Sketchbook Tuesday :: back to the beach

Yes, we were away again, at Edisto Beach, and it was wonderful. This time we were accompanied by our friend, fellow artist, and traveling companion. You know those friends that are more like family than many actual family members, so good to reconnect in such a tranquil place as Edisto.

Our rental cottage for this stay was nestled in palms and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss.

I will not bore you with every sketch that I did, although we all painted watercolors every day, or most every day, along with beach walks, good food, and lively conversation. Kiddo collected many shells which I enjoyed sketching in my journal. (you can see The Professor's watercolors here)

 The weather varied from gloriously sunshiny days to a brief visit from tropical storm Alberto that made for some dramatic light and surf on the beach. You know I took many more photos of the waves and surf, as well as the marshes. Still obsessed with that watery landscape. Lots of references to keep me busy for some time to come.

The big news from our trip is that I finally gathered the courage to approach a gallery about showing my work. And guess what? Of the ten pieces I took along as representative of my work in colored pencil, oil, and yes, even watercolor, they accepted them all! So I can now say that I have gallery representation. If you ever make your way out to Edisto Island, stop in and say hello to my art work at With These Hands Gallery. You can't miss it, it's on HWY 174 on your left as you approach Edisto Beach right next to the Old Post Office restaurant.

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.

Following along

Following Along

watercolor on 140lb Kilimanjaro cp

7.5 x 9.5 inches

 ©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

 

Another watercolor inspired by photos snapped from the van while on our last trip to Edisto, SC. The colors of the marshes in spring were glorious. Maybe it's because I live in the mountains, but I just love the wide horizons of the Low Country, with so much sky over a watery landscape.

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.

Across the way

Across the Way

watercolor on 140lb Kilimanjaro cp

7.5 x 9.5 inches

 ©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

 

 The marsh grasses, the water reflecting sky, and bright sunshine illuminating the other shore. I wonder what is over there, who lives there, on that side across the way?

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.

One Morning

One Morning

colored pencil on Rising Museum Board

6 x 11 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

Bit by bit, I worked on this drawing and am now calling it finished. Even though I may go back and tweak something here or there. I like to live with them a while, and it does help to see them on the computer screen. This is a view of Edisto Beach, from an early morning walk. Always such a refreshing way to begin the day, with a walk on the beach.

Sketchbook Tuesday :: strawberries

It's so nice when strawberries are in season. These were sketched in one of our handmade ceramic bowls, right before they were served over ice cream for dessert. Yum.

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.

Sketchbook Tuesday :: Thyme and synchronicity

Kiddo will be finishing up her 7th grade materials next week, and I have been pondering just what to have her work on over the summer. From experience I know that math must be continued without much of a break, otherwise too much is lost. We don't like spending a whole lot of time in review. But what else, if anything? While debating this homeschooling issue I came across this site, and ordered a couple of books. Their book for tweens seemed perfect. Kiddo and I can experiment with herbal remedies while tending my neglected herb garden this summer. Add in trips to the local farmers' market and we can be brewing up lip balms and cooking with herbal oils and butters all summer. She likes the idea of working with plants, especially in the kitchen, and is fascinated by the few stories I have of a great, great grandmother who was reportedly knowledgeable in herbal remedies. We have already begun by picking up a few herb plants and seeds to grow in pots, in order to supplement the few plants in my herb garden. But here's the synchronicity part. While planning all of this out, I spotted an ad for a book signing at a local  market. The book? The Essential Herbal for Natural Health. But what also caught my eye was that the author, Holly Bellebuono, used to live here and was a member of our little homeschool group! So with my new collection of reading material, and a few plants and seeds, we now have a summer homeschool curriculum in place.