just one more

Pink Joy

watercolor

8 x 10 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

Pink has to be one of the happiest colors and I couldn't resist doing just one more painting of these joyful tulips. I kept the palette lighter this time, with less contrast to emphasize the lightness of the sun streaming in through the window. And of course, as with the other tulip paintings, the abstract shapes of the leaves was a fun puzzle to work out in the composition.

sketchbook :: spring's blooming in my yard

I wasn't sure I would see lilac blossoms this year after the hard freeze we had a few weeks back. Many of the lilac buds did turn brown and wither, but a few survived and are now beginning to bloom. My lilac bush is a favorite of mine and I so look forward to its fragrant blossoms each spring.

And although the forsythia is mostly finished blooming now, they were spectacular this year. Ours are not kept in tidy hedges, but grow wildly at the edge of our woods. This year the color was so vibrant they reminded me of fireworks bursting forth in all their golden yellow glory.

Both sketches were done with watercolor only in an 8 x 8 inch hand.book watercolor journal.

A Little Sheep-ish

Shaun

watercolor

6 x 6 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

Now you all know I don't often paint animals. However, when I saw the challenge for this week over at Daily Paintworks, I couldn't resist that face. And all that wool! Besides, Shaun does look "a little sheep-ish".

Spirit of Galene

Spirit of Galene

watercolor

11 x 14 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

My fascination with water continues with this painting of the surf. And continuing with the mythical theme as well, the title is inspired by Galene, a Greek goddess of calm seas. I am enjoying creating these watery compositions that border on abstraction, by exploring the movement, color, and light of water. And even when the surf is only a ripple, there is magic to be found with those elements. Of course, calms seas are what we hope for as we set sail everyday.

Water Sky

Water Sky I

watercolor

8 x 10 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

There is a spot on Edisto Island, SC, called Steamboat Landing. Situated on Steamboat Creek, a fishing pier juts out over a wide expanse of water. The views of the surrounding marsh, water, and sky are stunning. When choosing this composition to paint I liked that distant thin strip of land separating the water from the sky and they way it created a nearly abstract composition.

This is the beginning of a second series that focuses on water as a theme. I usually do have more than one series going at a time with my work as I enjoy the variety and interaction between them. I have explored water as theme before, and as with most things that I choose to paint, subjects have a way of cycling around again and again. Water is returning as a central theme of focus for me and I have more ideas for exploring this subject in ways that take it beyond my past explorations.

Oceanides

Oceanides

watercolor

11 x 14 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

Oceanides is a mythical name for water nymphs. This painting is inspired by the movement of the surf as it nears the shore. That activity of the surf often surprises and delights me as it splashes and sprays, and seems at times to be controlled by some mischievous being. And of course watercolor is the perfect vehicle for painting this uncontrolled activity of water since so much is left up to chance when using this media.