Thursday, November 2, 2017

More Leaves to Peep

10/28/17 Maples ablaze on 5th Ave. NE at Northgate Way

Everyone I talk to agrees: We are having one of the best autumns ever for color! 

On my way to the pumpkin carving party last Friday, I missed my turn to the community center because I was so dazzled by the fiery maples near Northgate Mall. I don’t know enough about maples to identify their varieties, but unlike the ones I saw the other day at University Village, which were all bright yellow-orange, these displayed a full range of green, yellow, orange, red and magenta. By the time I left the party, the sun had dipped below the buildings, so the trees were no longer blazing. I returned the next day to catch them in the late afternoon sun, and those maples were once again afire.

10/30/17 Sourwood tree near Green Lake
A couple days later I followed a tip from a friend (thanks, Katie!) to a tree near Green Lake. Expecting to see a maple when I arrived at the intersection she gave me, I was surprised to find another type of tree: spectacularly red in the mid-afternoon sun and dripping strands of yellow-green pod-like buds. After doing my usual “research” (a social media call to my tree-knowledgeable friends), I learned that it’s a sourwood tree. (Actually, a pair of them stood right next to each other, but from the angle I sketched them, they looked like one.) Not only has this fall been a feast of eye candy; I’m also learning to identify trees new to me.

(By the way, you’ll be seeing this sourwood sketch again soon for a special purpose . . . stay tuned.)

6 comments:

  1. Especially with these color drawings, I am always struck by the immense beauty and perspective you capture. And your use of reds and related colors ... WOW!

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    1. Thanks so much, George! After years of struggling with wimpy watercolors, I'm really happy to have figured out that colored pencils are more my game. Stay tuned. . . I have a demo planned for the sourwood tree sketch.

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    2. In all fairness, I don't think it was the watercolors that were wimpy but the water brush. FWIW... However, the colored pencils really suit your quick, bold style. You are getting great results with them. :)

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    3. You're right, Janine -- I didn't mean to say the paints themselves were wimpy -- I meant the results *I* got from my use of the paints! :-) And thank you!

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  2. This sourwood tree is outstanding! I love the shape and the vibrancy and just for you it is embracing the wires!!

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  3. Thank you, Joan! Wires are always the finishing touch! ;-)

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