one for me

Beach Walk

watercolor

6 x 10 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

Sometimes you just need to do a little something for yourself. I have had this image saved to paint for a while now. My daughter, walking along the beach, swinging her bag of found sea shells.

sketchbook :: down by the river

This past Sunday afternoon's weather was such a contrast to the Sunday before, when we had 10 inches of snow on the ground. No sledding this Sunday, it was 60 degrees and sunny, so we took the dogs out for a walk at a nearby park. The walking trail follows the South Fork of the New River for a bit and has been extended since I was last there. As we approached the end of the path we could hear a very loud noise. We thought it might be birds. It sounded kind of like wild turkeys. Lots and lots of very loud turkeys. Beside the path, at the base of a wooded hillside, was a boggy spot. I crept over to the water's edge and saw the source of all that racket - frogs! The little pond was filled with frogs! By coincidence, we learned that evening from a local friend's post on Facebook, that they were Wood Frogs. Awakened from their frozen slumber by the warm weather they were in full singing voice, all wearing their little Zorro masks.

I sketched the view of the river from a photo after returning home from our walk. The frog I added later, from various references, and sort of looks like a Wood Frog. It will do.

watercolor washes again

I am still enjoying this exercise of painting these quick little watercolor washes.

They are interesting to me as color studies.

And I find it enjoyable to paint without expectations. Just allowing the color to flow on the paper.

These are all watercolor only in my small Cachet sketchbook.

sketchbook :: roses

I attempted sketching the flowers I received from my sweetie in my handmade sketch journal. It was tricky getting those deep, velvety reds, which I overworked a bit here. And roses, well, they are so challenging to get the idea of all those layered petals down in paint. Yet it was a fun sketching exercise.

Bluebird

Bluebird

watercolor

6 x 6 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

Sometimes the sunlight falls just so through my living room window and I am able to capture a scene perfect for painting. This was one of those times. The sun streaming through the window and reflections from the little glass bluebird figurine created interesting patterns of color and light. I have had this image in my stash of references for some time but it has taken me until now to feel brave enough to attempt to paint from it. I am now glad that I did, it was a fun challenge, and a nice escape on these snowy winter days.

Tulip

Tulip

watercolor from photo reference by Cindy Cool

6 x 6 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

It has been a long time since I participated in a group painting challenge. I am a member of the Facebook group, Paint The Barn In Winter, that was begun over a year ago by Casey Klahn.  However, I'm not a very active member as I have only participated once or twice. But when Cindy Cool's photo of cheerful tulips for the February challenge came across my news feed, I felt inspired to have a go.

sketchbook :: washes #8 and #11

I won't bore you with every wash study I have done up to now. But here are two recent favorites.

It seems this has turned into a regular project. I am enjoying playing with paint in this way. Maybe I'll fill up that little sketchbook after all.