Scott Creek Marsh

Scott Creek Marsh at Low Tide

watercolor

8 x 10 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

Scott Creek meanders behind the park and shops along Jungle Road on Edisto Island, South Carolina. The creek runs from Big Bay Creek and St. Helena Sound to the Atlantic Ocean at the north end of Edisto Beach State Park. The salt marshes change appearance with the rise and fall of the tide. At low tide what remains are the muddy etchings of the water's flow, crabs scurrying about and the sucking sound of the mussels now exposed to the air. I was drawn to the curvilinear shape of that shallow ribbon of water in this low tide salt marsh view.

sketchbook :: season's change

We had stunning Autumn days last week. Tuesday afternoon while Kiddo worked on her science project recording native plants in our yard, I took the opportunity to sketch one of our forsythia that lives beside our drive. The deep reds and purples of its autumn leaves create quite a show against the backdrop of deep blues and greens of the rhododendrons.

Postcard From Autumn V

watercolor

3.5 x 5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

sold

And here is the last in my Postcards From Autumn series, one that I previously neglected to post. It does seem that winter has arrived, now that we had our first snow over the weekend. The colder temps have me thinking about winter time projects in the studio, as well as lots of cooking and crocheting. How does your creative activity change with the seasons?

Ocean Dreams IV

Ocean Dreams IV

watercolor

8 x 10 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

Sometimes, when walking on the beach at sunrise, the water seems to be on fire with the color of dawn's sunlit sky. It only lasts a few moments and I feel so grateful when I am there to see such a colorful show. Like a gift that I want to hold on to forever. So I'll add this painting to my Ocean Dreams series, a series about light and color on that watery horizon that I think about when I think of being at the beach.

sketchbook :: more Autumn leaves

Have I mentioned just how stunning the color has been here this fall? I just had to paint a few more colorful leaves from our yard and finished the page with a scene of fall color that I captured with my camera on a recent drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway. But you don't have to get out with all the "leaf-lookers" on the Parkway to find Autumn beauty, it's everywhere this year. Cheap Joe's blog, The Sketchbook, has a nice post with wonderful photos of local scenes celebrating this year's fall color.

Postcards From Autumn III and IV

Postcard From Autumn III

watercolor

3.5 x 5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

Postcard From Autumn IV

watercolor

3.5 x 5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

sold

Here are two more in my series of small, Autumn themed paintings. The color continues to be stunning here this fall season. And those candy colors are so much fun to paint.

Postcards From Autumn I and II

Postcard From Autumn I

watercolor

3.5 x 5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

Postcard From Autumn II

watercolor

3.5 x 5 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

sold

A friend recently asked if I would consider doing a few small, Autumn themed, watercolor paintings. What resulted were six postcard-sized pieces inspired by the beautiful fall color we have been experiencing here in our Southern mountains. I was just as challenged working in this small size as I am when working in a large-for-me format. The experience helped me realize how good it is to occasionally leave my comfort zone, what ever direction that happens to be.

sketchbook :: autumn leaves

Autumn is such a glorious season that seems to scream for attention. But finding time to create has been challenging for me lately. So many things that I want to do yet so many things that I have to do, and the days fly by filled with "have tos".

Refusing to ignore Autumn's colors any longer, I took a trip around the yard to collect a few leaves and snap a few photos.

And to avoid a point of total frustration over lack of time, I took an hour for sketching in my journal.

Because, if I didn't do it now, all the glorious color of Autumn may be gone the next time I pause to look. And after that brief hour's pause spent with my sketchbook, I felt so much better.

Come Away

Come Away

watercolor

8 x 10 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

Here I am revisiting the marshes of the South Carolina Low Country, if only in my imagination. Sometimes the light creates such a wonderful glow on these watery landscapes. I would love to be there. Now. But when I can't get away, I am inspired to paint my favorite coastal landscapes instead.

Ocean Tide Study IV

Ocean Tide Study IV

watercolor 

6 x 6 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

available

One more tide study. This was another with early morning light on the water. I love that glow of sunlight illuminating the wave from behind and the challenge of trying to capture that with paint.

Store Creek Marsh

Store Creek Marsh

watercolor

11 x 14 inches

©Ann Thompson Nemcosky

Beautiful marshes grace both sides of Highway 174, the road onto Edisto Island, in South Carolina. This painting is inspired by the view from The Old Post Office Restaurant, which also happens to be right next door to With These Hands Gallery, where I have art on exhibit. I enjoyed playing with the bands of color in this composition as well as further exploration with various ways of expressing trees in watercolor.