Leaves, Color and the inspiration of change

When I was in 2nd grade we had a family reunion picnic at Bear Mountain State Park. It was October and it must have been peak leaf weekend that year!  The entire park was filled with a carpet of the most magical eye popping color this 6 year old had ever experienced.

I spent most of the day joyously collecting leaves.  Each one was a surprise and delight. The memory is SO vivid I can see it, feel it and smell it. I was so absolutely captivated and lit up by the colors.

I am still that person picking up leaves every fall. Delighted with any and all I find. When my daughter was little I came up with dozens of projects for us to make with them - and it gave me an excuse to collect them with her.  I have decorated with them, photographed them, painted, sketched, and just sat in awe of them.

I bring them to classes I teach - the range of colors in a single fall leaf is astounding. Great practice for wet on wet watercolor painting, or blending colors without losing the purity and beauty of each hue.

No matter how many decades pass, every fall, there will always be a bit of that 6 yr old picking up leaves, gathering color, collecting magic.

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or check out my daily illustrations on Instagram

Saturday Sketch Prompt

Fall is here, school is open, and with it comes structure - structure that I desperately needed to keep myself on track. I am getting back to my regular sketching practice - and sharing it with anyone who also needs to be reminded to carve out more time to create! 

I even bought a 'messy' sketchbook when we were back to school supply shopping.  A book purely for messing around in. No pressure. No assignments. Just experimenting and playing. It feels like freedom - and an open door!

As summer is exiting and Fall is in the morning air in New Jersey I suggest picking up a leaf or a small branch outside for your sketch model. Everything is still pretty green at the moment but the colors will be changing quickly now.

Have fun and happy sketching!

You can find more of my art in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.
Or come follow my illustrations and art on Instagram

Mushrooms in the Grass, Daily Sketch

 I start my day with an early walk or run, during which I get my thoughts in order.  Foremost in my daily planning is a sketch idea for the day... for me and for my drawing students.
There is no substitute for daily practice of your art. By applying, and challenging, yourself every day there is growth. 

"You can never do too much drawing." 
~Jacopo Tintoretto (Venetian Painter)

Today's drawing idea prompt is to find something that is normally overlooked. Something small and possibly mundane and bring it into the light, and life - on your page.
During my walk yesterday on a murky grey morning I spied 2 mushrooms growing in the grass along the sidewalk. After seeing them, I spotted another dozen mushrooms all along the way.  Taking the time to notice the first 2 triggered all the rest!

I had fun using creative license to create my little mushroom village.  What can you bring to light and life today?

It is all very well to copy what one sees, but it is far better to draw what one now only sees in one's memory. That is a transformation in which imagination collaborates with memory.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/transformation.html

You can view my more of my work in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.Or take a peek at my recent 100 Day Project on Instagram

Looking for Sunshine, Daily Sketch

Day 6 of grey skies. We left summer behind and it seems the sun went with it.  Drags me down when we go this many days in a row without sunshine. Without brightness and sparkling light.  

The smoky cast over everything, the dark mornings,  the misty colorless afternoons.  It starts to wear on me when there is no sun to break it up.
So yesterday's drawing prompt for the sketch group I lead, was to draw something yellow. Look around and find something sunshiny- yellow!  Hoping that maybe as a group we could conjure the sun. And feel it's warmth by focusing and drawing yellow.

During my morning run a bright yellow leaf appeared along a stretch road that was all rust and grey and brown.  She stood out like a beacon of brightness, I knew then what I was going to sketch as I scooped her up.  Yes, she as this leaf had personality, it called out to me, and made me feel bright and happy and sunny.

For the rest of the run dozens of other yellow leaves stood out brightly - begging to be included.  By the time I arrived at home, I was carrying a bouquet of sunshine. 



You can see my more of my work in my Etsy shop Erin Go Paint.Or check out my recent 100 Day Project on Instagram