Fall Season Art

Fall Leaves Ink 1

 

I Love Fall

When the leaves start falling, it is time to start those wonderful fall pictures.

A few days ago, I gathered a few leaves of various shapes and put them in books to

flatten then out and get them a little dryer.  When I had some time I spread them out on

Arranging leaves to trace on paper

drawing paper, in random arrangements and traced the outlines, some over lapping others

to make it interesting.  Then I got out my favorite ink markers, a mix of Faber-Castell Pitt

pens and Picma Micron by Sakura, both are permanent and don’t tend to bleed through

the paper.  Then just took my time creating interesting patterns in each shape.  These drawings help me to focus on composition and pattern.  I limit the colors to keep my focus there.  This is an interesting and relaxing exercise that makes some unusual works of art.  Latter I will use this idea but use some watercolor paper that has been already painted with fall a background in fall colors.  This is a fun fall project, now go collect some leaves and give it a try.

one out line arrangement

Another outline arrangement. pencil on drawing paper

Starting to fill in shapes with patterns

Fall Leaves Ink 2, 11 by 14 inches

more motivation

Fall is moving in here fast, October feels more like November this year. Knowing the fall season will move

too quickly, I used what good days we have to get some reference photos and some outside painting in.

The last wild flowers to bloom in my yard are the Jerusalem Artichokes, so the weather determined my subject matter for me this week. The last blooms of these flowers I captured with acrylic outside.

While working on this I noticed my neighbors starting to put away the wonderful lawn decoration

they use all summer. They have two large metal birds that I have admired all this year, and contemplated painting. So before they could drag them in for the winter I ask permission to get some drawings done on them.

With paper and pencils and charcoal, and grabbing as an after thought some ink and sumi brushes

I headed for they’re yard. After sitting and just viewing the birds I realized the only media that would work

was the ink. So to make a long story short… I let the weather motivate me and the subjects determine the media.

Sometimes you just have to let things happen, everyday life can present an abundance of motivation, subject and creativity.

go with the Mood

Let the moment grab you

There are moments that are good to grab, and sometimes they grab back. It is too easy to look pass the small glories of everyday life.
There are small garden patches and wild flower areas in my yard. They are there for two reasons , one less to mow (main reason), and two they are kind of pretty. I get up with a coffee in hand each morning and if it isn’t raining just walk around the yard. Each day the patches grow and bloom and I finish my coffee, then go in to deal with the day. Today I set the coffee aside, got out my paints grabbed a few flowers and painted several pictures. Still inspired I got the camera out and took some reference photos. Why today the bug grabbed me, who knows, but I do know it felt good and is something I should do more often.
It is good to let that a nice moment flow over and touch other things. What emotions you are feeling, will spill over to what you are creating at that time.
Also sharing a couple figure paintings that I let a moment of good feeling help me paint. Hope you enjoy the reference photos and the paintings I shared today.
Oh and by the way those big (10 foot tall) flowers are Jerusalem artichokes and I hear you can eat the roots, they are suppose to be like little potatoes.