Is it too late to celebrate fall?
After finishing a couple of baby portraits, I was ready to paint something easy; people tend not to mind if a leaf is off by 2-3 millimeters like they do if it's a baby's eye or nostril or lip.
We absolutely had the most gorgeous back yard this autumn. People would literally stop and take pictures of it. I picked up every leaf and nut in this painting right outside my back door. There were so many different kinds, and they were such brilliant colors! I hadn't really intended on making a painting of them, but when I laid them out on the table...
So, I know that the time for being inspired by autumn has passed; we're all eating left over turkey and decorating for Christmas. But, it was a beautiful autumn this year.
I was lucky to get to see this every day as I pulled into our driveway....
...and this as I stepped out our back door. (It's a hickory tree. When the nuts are ready, you can hear the squirrels eating them and tossing down the shells. The ground is covered with hickory shells before they're finished. I don't think they store any of them for winter.)
Original Oil Painting on 6"x 24" Canvas.
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What colors are supposed to be calming and relaxing?
I'm pretty sure, they're blues, greens, purples - the cool colors. I thought the warm colors were supposed to do just the opposite. Right? Reds, oranges, and yellows are supposed to stimulate or cause excitement.
Hmmm...
So why do I want to go into this scene and simply relax, be still, let the time pass without accomplishing any tasks?
This imaginary place was just too wonderful not to visit twice. (You'll see another version of this scene if you scroll down just a few entries.)
What's the best thing about autumn?
Is it the smell of the first smoke from fireplaces, the crispness of the morning air, the kickoffs of a new football season, the spices like sage that we seem to save for this time of year, snuggling under a favorite blanket? Or, is it simply the changing leaves?
This little painting was done as a challenge for Rookie Painter. I love the concept of this site - an image is presented then artists are invited to create and share art inspired by that image. It's so interesting to see the diversity in style.
When I decided to paint this one, I knew I wanted a long canvas, but I didn't have one; there wasn't one on the shelf in the art store either. So, I decided to try painting on an artist's panel. Very different, odd not the have the give or springiness of canvas. I haven't yet decided whether I will use it on a regular basis. In some ways I did like it, but in others I'm undecided. Anyone else have opinions?
An Etsy treasury (collection or art pieces and vintage items) celebrating a year of seasons includes "Autumn Leaves." Click on Catch a Falling, Fall Leaves...Fall Foliage, Fallen Leaves, Atutum: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year or The Colors of Autumn to put you in the mood for fall.
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