Botanical Art in Autumn
Summer, with its vibrant bloom, bids farewell, the days grow shorter, the weather more unsettled – and you may be wondering:
What should I draw now?
But, if you take a closer look, autumn reveals its own unique treasures.
So, no worries!
This article will give you plenty of ideas to stay creative even in this season.
What I love about autumn motifs
Before we dive in, let me quickly explain why autumn, in particular, holds such beautiful subjects to draw.
And why they are especially great for beginners in botanical art.
1. The Charm of the Transient:
Autumn shows us that transience can be beautiful.
The rich, earthy colors, soft gradients, and changing shapes make perfect subjects for emotional and atmospheric artworks.
2. Long-lasting Objects:
Unlike fresh flowers that wither quickly, dried leaves, seed heads, and fruits last a long time.
You can paint them over days or weeks and continue to enjoy them.
3. Colors and Shapes:
The earthy tones of autumn are gentle and harmonious – perfect for improving your color-mixing skills.
And the variety of shapes – whether it’s the delicate seed head of a grass or the rugged, irregular leaf of a maple – opens up endless creative possibilities.
Instead of mourning the end of summer and seeing autumn as bleak and dull, you have the chance to shift your focus and find beauty in the season.
Inspiration for Autumn Drawing Subjects
Even when it’s raining or storming outside, nature is still brimming with fascinating subjects.
Here are some ideas for you:
1. Autumn Leaves in All Colors and Shapes
Gold, red, brown, green – autumn leaves are like a color explosion.
Each shape, each change in hue tells its own story.
Freshly fallen leaves or already dried and withered ones offer you a great opportunity to experiment with gradients and textures.
2. Dried Leaves, Seed Heads & Nuts
Dried leaves and seed heads have a special charm.
They radiate the beauty of transience and remind us that change is a natural part of life.
Bonus: They retain their shape and color, so you can keep them on hand for a while and start a sketch whenever inspiration strikes.
Tipp: Press a few leaves between the pages of an old, heavy book. You might remember this from childhood.
Once dried, you can paint them during your next creative session.
3. Late Bloomers like Sedum and Asters
Even though summer is over, some plants still bloom in autumn.
Sedum, with its thick, fleshy leaves, and asters, which often bloom well into autumn, offer beautiful forms that you can capture in your artwork.
4. Fruits: Quinces, Pears, Apples, and Rosehips
Autumn also brings harvest time, and fruits like quinces, pears, and apples make splendid subjects.
Rosehips, with their round shape and vibrant red color, are also a wonderful way to practice details and highlights.
These fruits often last a long time, so you can take your time sketching them and maybe even use them in a delicious recipe afterward.
5. Lichens and Mosses
Lichens and mosses often go unnoticed in spring and summer, but now, with the leaves falling, they come into their own.
Their delicate structures and vibrant colors provide a fantastic opportunity to practice detail work and capture the unique texture of these little natural treasures.
6. Mushrooms
Autumn is mushroom season!
Scientifically speaking, mushrooms don’t belong to the plant kingdom, but in botanical art, this distinction is often overlooked.
With their unique forms and earthy colors, mushrooms offer a wealth of inspiring subjects.
Whether it's the delicate gills or the velvety caps, mushrooms are ideal for experimenting with textures and shading.
Practical Tips for Your Creative Autumn
Here are a few simple tips from my painting practice:
Keep your eyes open:
A walk in the park or garden can uncover real treasures.
Take a small bag with you and collect leaves, seed heads, and fruits that catch your eye.
Often, the unexpected finds become the best drawing subjects.
Dry and store objects:
You can easily press dried leaves and seed heads between the pages of a book or in a box.
This way, you'll always have your inspiration ready and can use them during a quiet moment.
Take photographs:
If you’re out and about and don’t have time to sketch, snap a few photos of interesting objects.
You can paint them later at home at your leisure.
Combine painting and journaling:
Don’t just paint the fruits and leaves, but use the opportunity to add a little story or journal entry.
For example, you could paint the fruits and then write down a recipe that you made with them.
This way, your art project becomes a more holistic experience.
Make Autumn Cozy
Autumn is the perfect time to snuggle up indoors after a walk, enjoy a cup of hot tea, and paint with your collected autumn objects.
You’re sitting at your kitchen table, wrapped in a blanket, with warm socks on, while the wind blows outside – and you bring your treasures to paper.
Could it get any cozier?
Well, okay, I wouldn’t say no to some Danish butter cookies, either!
You see, autumn is a wonderfully picturesque season in many ways.
And if you now feel inspired to set up a cozy art space, you’ll surely be interested in this article:
“Room for Joy - Creating Your Dedicated Art Space”.
So, keep your eyes open, gather what inspires you, and take the time to bring your found treasures to life on paper with a nice cup of tea. #metime
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