Grounded
After the grand display of autumn’s boldest colors, the leaves come down. One by one they fall, by day and night, in windswept flurries and slow-motion descents. I collect a sample of oak, maple, beech, hickory; trying to preserve the quickly fading splendor. But in the turning of the season, all is not lost. The Earth is grounded in beauty, change, quiet, and renewal…and so are we.
Tips and Techniques– I always think that painting leaves will be easier than it is. There must be a way to simply splash bold colors on the page, but I haven’t figured it out. Instead, I take the slow road: a pencil sketch, followed several layers of watercolor. I like starting with a wet-in-wet wash to let colors merge on the paper. Then I deepen the color and add details and shadows last. If you have not painted leaves before, you might start with just one or two. This will build your skill and confidence before tackling more.
Drawn In 
Stunning…and I love the ‘not grey’ shadows.
Thanks! Good that you noted the shadows!
Your leaves a so beautiful! I’ll have to try it ~ Thank you! 🍂
Highly recommend it!
Love your treatment of the rolled edges – really conveys the texture beautifully!
I liked having those rolled edges in the mix. There’s rarely a “perfect” leaf left by the time they fall.
Gorgeous writing and sentiment, Jean.
🍁❤️
Thanks Dari!
I immediately laughed at your first sentence. That is so very much my experience, too. For several days I’ve been working on a double page spread of leaves from my yard. Then I opened your beautiful page. I looked at mine again and realize it’s still not finished. Thank you for the on going inspiration.
I know the feeling. These took several sessions over a few days to finish.
I agree about painting leaves. Whenever I try, I can’t seem to render the rolled edges, with accurate fore- shortening. How do you do it?
Beech leaves are good ones to practice on because their veins are so pronounced. Follow the curved lines up and around as the edge curls. The shadows are also important in conveying the curl of the leaf and the underside is typically paler.
Thanks for the tips.
Beautiful stuff. Leaves are so fun and challenging, I find I over think them instead of adhering to the old adage of “paint what you see, not what you think you see.” Also I find that watercolor works so well, especially as you said the wet on wet, because of all the natural variations that happen with the paint it looks very natural.
Yes. I like letting the paint and water do a lot of the work in making the color look natural. Spattering into wet paint works too.
I so love seeing your lovely sketches/paintings of nature’s many wonders. Thanks also for information and tips as well.
You are welcome Barbara! I’m glad the tips are helpful!
Such realistic leaves, with perfect shadowing. I did a double take because it looks like you laid the actual leaves on the paper. Fall colors are so rich and warm ….. and leaves are tricky to paint, for me. Thanks so much for your painting tips, Jean. Stay warm up there!
Good to know that leaves are tricky for a number of us. But worth the effort!
Just so beautiful. And your shadows are so faint yet so effective.
Thanks Brenda. It doesn’t take much to give the leaves a bit of lift.
I have trouble with mostly oaks. Which is all we have in our yard. Odd, huh? You make these leaves come to life. Beautiful.
Interesting…I found the oaks to be the easiest because they didn’t have a serrated edge. A combination of red and green merged to give me some nice browns and russets. One thing that helps me (and maybe you are already doing this) is to start with the internal structure of the veins. Then draw the outside edges.
Good suggestion. It’s just my oak leaves lack depth. Too flat. So I’ll try what you said. Thanks.
These are truly beautiful leaf portraits. The slow approach is the way to go, in my opinion. All the better for appreciating the nuance of colour, form and the life in the leaf.
Maybe so, Alison. And maybe the leaves were teaching me a lesson about the need to slow down.
Every year…. without fail…. I canNOT resist the urge to pick up beautiful leaves I’ve found on the ground. Gingko leaves are my absolute favorite — I find myself just standing and staring at a gingko tree at it’s peak of color, just before they all drop from the tree as a beautiful robe falling to the ground from its shoulders. I always admire your technique that looks painterly and realistic at the same time — a touch of seriousness with a bit of whimsy — so very lovely and delightful.
Ah…the lovely Ginkgo! Yes, those leaves are so colorful and the shape is so nice. I don’t see many of them, but I know where a few are. They would make a fine painting.
Jean you are a poet as well as a painter and a teacher! What a pleasure to read your notes and look at the beautiful leaves. Thank you.
Hi Sue- Nice to hear from you. Glad you enjoyed my touch of Autumn. Be well! – Jean
So delicate and life like Jean – true beauty !
Thanks Cindy- It’s been a spectacular fall. Now mostly on the ground.
Thank you for sharing the picture.
Yesterday I tried with a mix of dried leaves and paintings. It was so helpfull to see it side by side.
Greetings from Germany
Hi Susanne- I hope you are pleased with the process and the way your leaves turned out. — Jean
Beautiful text, beautiful image. 🙂
Thanks Linda!