ATC Autumn

When I came across this ATC (link), I knew I wanted this one! The creator of this ATC was open for a trade and she asked me to do an autumn leaf which I had done before. Because I didn't want to do a copy, I picked a new leaf and here it is: an autumn leaf.

ATC2012-#013, watercolor

Class and Autumn

Last week there was class again and after our 10 minute sketch I decided to paint an autumn leaf - the colors around here are so beautiful!
While I was painting, my leaf was curling up more and more...

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Autumn leaf (watercolor, 15 x 20 cm)

Leaf in sepia

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Yesterday at drawing class, I wasn't in the mood for a big and detailled project. So I made this quick sketch of an almost dried autumn-leaf. It is done with pigmented ink (sepia).

Practice, practice, practice

A few weeks ago I started with botanical illustrations in a more serious way. I had this book for some time now and never gotten to it to start. After reading the first paragraphs, watching other peoples drawings and getting some advice from great artists in this field, I started my first drawings - not in color, but start with pencil drawings.

A pear in different angles and a leaf from the hydrangea

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Leaf from a Japanese Maple

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Leaves

You can find the most amazing things on YouTube... I wanted to better myself in watercolor paintings, and mostly for botanical paintings. I found a tutorial from Helen Fitzgerald and I immediately wanted to try that.

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The first leave wasn't a succes, the second one is getting better - I know I need to practice more! So when my painting classes started last week (yeeeeey, finally they started), I picked a leave and tried to paint it. This is the result:

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IF: Renewal

In the spring, all the trees will have a renewal of all their leaves. But before that can happen, in the autumn the leaves are dropped in the most wonderfull colors.

This is a sketch in sanguine, I hope to make it some day with autumn-colors.

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