Fall Leaves Inspire Drawing Practice - Painting and Drawing Tips

Have you enjoyed the Colours of  Fall?? 

The trees are beautiful, their reds and yellows glowing in the sunlight.  

My Pumpkin Patch - Leaves and Pumpkins Collage

But here in the Fraser Valley we have more.  The fields of blueberries glow in fuchsias and pinks as the bushes say good bye for another season.  And just this week I saw the red fields of cranberries.  The fields are flooded and the the berries are floating and ready to be scooped up.  The greens of our tall firs make an awesome background.  

I know those colourful leaves are also creating havoc in your life.  They are falling everywhere, need lots of raking, and plugging up drains.   

But don't throw all those leaves away!!

Drawing from life is an important practice to improve your drawing skills.  Leaves are a great subject, eacy to find and very low maintenance.  (They never need to stop for a coffee break) 

As Max and I walk the trails I am always on the alert for a new type of leave.  Some I will press and flatten as they dry but others I will leave to crinkle and roll.  You can get such interesting shapes if they are left on their own.  

3 Ways Leaves Inspire my Practice:

1.  Design:

As many of you know I spend a great deal of time this summer focusing on line drawing of flowers.  Of course leaves came into play.  Using leaves as a design feature to balance a drawing was an interesting part of my practice.   

Petunias and Daisies, one of my summer flower drawings

Look what happens when I remove some of those interesting little leaves I added to my imaginary flower arrangement.  

Petunias and Daisies with some of leaves removed

Really it is amazing what a few little imaginary leaves will do to this arrangement.  Playing with leaf shapes really focuses on design and composition

2.  Shape and Form: 

This particular drawing I did in early spring when the primroses started to bloom.  They were such a wonderful shot of colour when everything was still gray and dreary.  I placed the leaves around the flowers to create my own spring surprises.  Working out the complex curls and wrinkles in the leaves was not easy.  Note how some of the work was done by watercolour and some by ink drawing. 

Spring Surprises - changing my pen stroke for the different planes of the leaves teaches a lot about structure and folds

3.  Patterns:

A page of leaves floating is a very pleasing sight.  Focusing on each leaf as it sat in front of me made me aware of several drawing practices: contour drawing, fore shortening, developing curls and folds, and the differences the shading and fill patterns make.  

Floating Leaves - Love the curls of the top leaf

Adding a pattern to the leaves changes things again.  This is one leaf that I tried drawing from different angles.  

Leaf with different patterns - each one tells a different story.  My favourite one is in the middle

I have found that my practice this summer - focusing on line drawings of flowers and leaves has had many benefits for me.  I see more when I look at flowers and plants then I use too.  But most of all, I feel a greater sense of confidences in my drawing and compositional skills.  I have enjoyed creating my line drawing this summer and almost finished a whole book.  I look forward to sharing that with you soon.  

Special News: 

Show and Classes  November 3-28,
Landmark Pop-UP Gallery, 15140 North Bluff Rd, White Rock.  

Show: Nov 3-28, Wed - Fri 11-5pm, Sat. 10-5pm & Sunday, 12-4pm 
Reception: Nov. 10, 6:30-8:30

Classes: Thursday, November 10 & 24 - 10-12:30pm.   Drawing and Watercolour  with Wendy - $50 each, max 5.  

 1: - Get that Line Drawing Right -Thursday, Nov. 10
Is your Drawing Process a Conversation between you, your subject, and your support? Join Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM as she uses the bare line to bring her Blackeyed Susies to life.

 2 - Values, Light & Shadows Bring Your Subject to Life – Thursday, Nov 24
Are your Values, Lights and Shadows making your subject full and vibrant?  Join Wendy Mould, AFCA, CDM as she breaths life into a flat, outline drawing.

 Beginners to Advanced Welcome.  Contact Wendy to Register 

 Move your work to NEW LEVELS?  

Contact Me for:

1. Private Drawing Lesson: (3 Sessions 2.5 hr each $250)  North Langley, BC (Walnut Grove) 

Do you want your animals to breath, your flowers to sparkle or your people to walk?  Whatever subject your like to paint or draw I can build a drawing program for you.  Private Lessons allow you to focus on the skills you wish to develop.  Wendy is a experienced teacher, providing a calm, relaxing experience as you learn how to use the principles of drawing.  Beginner to Advanced are welcome.  Special rates for younger students.  Contact Wendy for More info

2.  Online: Teaching, Mentoring or Critiquing Your Work - Don't live in the Fraser Valley,  I would be happy to tailor a program just for you online.  Drawing and Painting Lessons, Mentoring you on your Art Journey or Critiquing Your Work with an Eye to Move It Forward.  Drawing & Painting Lessons: 2-30 sessions $75.  Mentoring or Critiquing 30 minutes sessions $25.  Flexible schedule and sessions can be longer or shorter depending on your goals. 

3.  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

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Have a great Artful Day,

Wendy