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. 

Sea and Sky

Sea and Sky

watercolor

8 x 8 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

I needed a little break from painting those complex still life images, so I took a mental vacation at the beach with this painting. I like to think that I am working in a series, or with a theme, however in order to keep from feeling stuck with my art work I do keep more than one theme, or series, going at a time. This piece naturally fits with my coastal themed work. I am hoping to develop the idea of the ocean horizon, with just the two elements of sea and sky, into a series. And I have yet to tire of the many moods of the ocean in color and light.

sketchbook :: more washes

A couple of quick wash landscape studies to help chase away this cold, cold, January weather.

Among my stash of abandoned sketchbooks I found a 7 x 5 inch Cachet Linen Watercolor book that is perfect for these little washes. It is a landscape format with 20 sheets of 140 lb watercolor paper. Now I would like to purchase another book like this, and perhaps one in a larger size, but a quick internet search showed none to be found. While I ponder that perhaps I should make a goal to finish the pages in this book first?

Clementines on Asters

Clementines on Asters

watercolor

6 x 6 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

Here is the finished clementine painting with all that pattern. I have done watercolor sketches of clementines so I thought it was time to do a more formal still life with their wonderful orangeness. The fabric I had used years ago to make a table runner and napkins. It has a pattern I still love, even after committing it to paint. Thinking it would prove to be difficult, actually it was the silver bowl that was the most fun to paint in this still life.

sketchbook :: permission to play

I have begun this year with the intent to use my sketchbooks more freely, without restrictions, to play. This comes from my feeling that my sketchbooks were becoming a bit stuck, in the usual approaches and subject matter. I am wanting to let go of expectations on these pages to allow for more possibilities.

The first thing I did was to abandon my handmade books for something less precious. I am also not limiting myself to any one book. I have let go of any self-imposed rules.

These little wash studies were done in a 9 x 12 Kilimanjaro watercolor sketchbook that I have had laying around with very little use. They were all done on one page, with very wet paper and a large round brush. Less control meant more room for play.

When it comes to thinking about what it is that I want to do, whether in a sketchbook or with more finished work, I am easily overwhelmed. I have more ideas than time. So being able to settle on one direction, method, theme, media, whatever, is often a struggle. Laure Ferlita of Painted Thoughts Blog has an interesting discussion going on about this very issue of artists' struggle with FOCUS. With FOCUS being the key word here, I believe that by letting go of my focus in one area, sketchbooks, I may actually arrive at more focus with my art work overall. Or not. Either way, it is always fun to just play.