Autumn Paintings

Painting as meditation

Last year I was invited to have a one day solo show in conjunction with the Creative Alliance’s Art to Dine For series. I decided to create a series around the concept of autumn.

All of the paintings are based on reference photos I took on various autumnal adventures over the years: a trip to the pumpkin patch, a hike in the woods, a stroll by the ponds of Ladew, and a skulk around a creepy old graveyard at night.

Often as an illustrator I have to exercise the skill of making efficient and attractive art on a short deadline. There are good parts about being forced to work quickly, but for these pieces I really wanted to slow down and luxuriate in the details.

I’m not sure that I prefer one approach over the other, really. I think I romanticize painting like this because I don’t have the opportunity to do it as much. When I do it feels meditative and relaxing. But I like the more active, frenetic pace of working on a short deadline, too.