Saturday, October 18, 2008

"Autumn asks that we prepare for the future - that we be wise in the ways of garnering and keeping. But it also asks that we learn to let go - to acknowledge the beauty of sparseness." --B.W. Overstreet

As I walked home from work one day, I noticed all the autumn leaves on the trees and on the ground. Of course, they needed to be drawn. I chose carefully, looking at shapes and colors and patterns. I'm not sure what was more fun - the selecting or the drawing. As much as I mourn the passing of summer and the death of my garden, I celebrate the changing of the seasons and the cycle of life. For how would we appreciate the warmth and bounty of summer without knowing the chill and nudity of winter. And though I grumble about the cold and the winds of winter, I really like living in a country with such discrete seasons. It's always changing and always interesting. Each season has it's own beauty and charm, and it's one of the things that makes me want to draw and paint. To try and capture the ever-changing face of nature.
This is watercolorpencil in the Moleskine journal. At first, I didn't like this journal much, but it's grown on me. Although it still scans oddly, I've found that having the black lines as an anchor point tends to balance out the scan some.

11 comments:

Lisa Adams Reed said...

Ohhh I love fall and can tell you do, too. This is awesome!
Lisa

Linda said...

This is really beautiful! And I agree -- who can resist those wonderful colors? I really like the black border line, also.

Timaree said...

I like your leaves. They are a great way to keep the season with you longer. You did a really nice job with the details. The black edging looks nice with them. I would never have guessed they were really to help the scan come out well. I had trouble scanning fluorescent colors in a drawing tonight and had to resort to taking a photo.

Margaret Ann said...

Beautiful and delicate...wonderful shadows...a great spread! :)

Anetka said...

Beautiful colours:)
Love the layout too:)

kazumiwannabe said...

Beautiful drawing and layout - I love the bright colors!

EWian said...

The fall is wonderful, all the changes happening so fast, lovely leaf study.

EWian

Christie said...

Gosh, I miss the fall colors. This page is lovely!

Anonymous said...

Well now... this sketch just looks fun... Great job.

David said...

Very nice leaves! Since I have been ever so lazy, I have a whole bunch of examples that you can have. You'll have to come by and rake them up though.

DALowe Artist said...

Fall is my favorite time of year and I love this sketch. Thank you so much for your comment on my "wild thang" art. You're right - the whole purpose of art is to express your heart. Whether it pleases someone else is not the issue - if it pleases me and it makes MY heart sing, then it's art from my heart. THANK you for those words of wisdom. I think I am doubting the validity of this whimsical art because it is completely fun and labor-free. It's like art has to be work, or it's not valid. That is a crazy way to look at it, huh? Thanks again, Deborah