The October Collection
The October Collection has arrived! Click here to shop the paintings.
When Dave and I were first married, we’d effortlessly hop into the car on a sunny weekend and head straight for the Blue Ridge Parkway. We justified these annual excursions with the idea that we were searching for “the perfect red tree.” I’m not sure why I needed to justify them at all. Of course I wanted to find breathtaking fall foliage to paint, and Dave was happily along for the ride. I’ve always loved that about him- he is willing to drive me all over the place so that I can look out the window and signal “STOP! I NEED A PHOTO OF THAT!” at a moment’s notice. Dave always obliges- even when I’m too nervous to get out and get the shot. (Some roads are busy, you know!)
Painting red trees has been one of my callings since college. I remember one of the first paintings I sold to someone other than a family member was a painting of a bright red maple tree in my parents’ backyard. We even managed to find a red maple in Monet’s garden when we were in France! (And yes, I did paint it and hang it in our home!)
Photography adventures continue to be our favorite pastime throughout the year, and over the years we’ve continued our search for the perfect red tree. We’ve planted Japanese maples in our yard, tagged locations on our phones that showed red-maple promise, and now instead of effortlessly hopping in the car on a weekend, we plan, cajole and pack the kids (and all the stuff) in the minivan with us too. Occassionally we lure them with the thrill of Tweetsie Railroad because secretly, I’d do just about anything to take a drive through the beauty of the fall mountain roads in October.
This collection is a homecoming of sorts for me. It has all the beautiful colors and textures that fill my senses in October. I’ve experimented with different ways of using color in the same image. For example, how does a yellow tree look against a buttery yellow sky, or what happens if I add pink? This small group of paintings is comfortable in that same sense of relaxation and welcome I feel when I step into my parent’s house after being away for a spell. It’s familiar and joyful all at once. This time of year there’s a scratchy crinkle of leaves underfoot and a certain crispness to the air that heralds the holiday magic, football games, turkey dinners and good memories to come. I love the fall, and I still haven’t found the perfect red tree. I hope I never do because my joy is in the search for beautiful colors anyway. (I always find them!) Plus, I still like to pretend I need a justification for “just one more pumpkin spice latte!” before we hit the road.
The October collection releases right here on my website at 8 a.m. on October 6th for Studio Insiders and at 10a.m. for the public. To join my Studio Insiders group, click here and in early October you’ll get a sneak preview of the newest paintings as well as a password to shop your favorite ones early!