The First Signs of Autumn

 

I sat outside with a pot of tea and my paints to capture the first tinges of autumn coming into the landscape.  A cluster of scarlet Poison Ivy leaves climbing a cherry tree stood in stark contrast to the lush greens of late summer.  

First, I warmed up with pen & ink sketches of "Things Leaves Do." Then I made a quick pencil sketch of the scene, laid in color washes and details, and finished the page with leafy shapes, limbs and shading with a Micron pen.

Thrifted Art Supplies

On Valentine's Day, hubby and I went out to our favorite Goodwill Thrift Store, and in addition to finding a half-price scarlet sweater, I also turned up a box of brightly-colored chalks for $3.  I felt so excited about finding those vivid colors when I needed them the most -- in the depths of February!

As soon as we returned home (after dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant), I busted into the box, and tried out my new chalks on some newsprint.  Luscious violet and magenta mingled with oceanic blue-green and cerulean.  Twenty-four of the most eye-popping colors were mine to play with.

In the morning, the sun rising through a clear sky inspired me to grab a piece of black mat board to capture the scene on.  Art is the most fun when we allow ourselves to play.

Larch Cones

Larch trees are unusual for conifers in that they lose their needles every autumn just like maples and hickories do.  This time of year, the trees turn golden yellow, and glow in the late afternoon light.  I'm taken by the tree's needles -- so much softer than prickly evergreen needles -- and by their cones with the curling tips on their scales.  So many contours!

A good friend sent me a photo of these cones, and it inspired me to tape some watercolor paper to the kitchen counter and paint at the breakfast table.  While the background washes were wet, I sprinkled on salt for added texture.  Once the painting was dry, (& I brushed the salt away) I couldn't resist using Micron pens to pick out the details.

A Brown Banana and a Book of Inspiration

I found a great book about fitting drawing into your life no matter how busy: Art Before Breakfast by Danny Gregory.  It feels like I am perusing his own journal as I flip through the pages.  The book is chock full of Gregory's drawings and paintings of simple, everyday stuff, inspiring me  to sketch everyday stuff from my own life.  And I love his message -- art is for everybody!  Right on!