Draw the Fall

by Kathy Garvey

I'm just back from a trip to Maryland and Virginia where the leaves were just starting to change colors and fall to the ground. It's one of my favorite times of year. And I love leaf shapes. I gathered some pretty ones on my many walks. 

Later,  I slid them into the pages of my sketchbook to flatten them. 

And when I had time to draw, I gathered them up and played with arranging them on my pages. 

But I didn't sketch. I took the easy way out and just traced around my leaves. 
Next, I drew some of the veins in, and then filled in the sections with designs.
Easy, fun, satisfying. 

(Note that some people refer to this type of art as a "Zentangle".
Way before that word existed, it was just called doodling!)

Find some leaves and give it a try for yourself!

Pear Season

After a long hiatus from oils I begged my fellow 8, Carol to stand over me and prod me along again.  She graciously agreed and after seeing her beautiful pear still life yesterday I asked if she would paint a pear with me. 
It felt good to just get out my oils, brushes, and easel and set up for a still life.  No products, no found objects, no newspapers spread on the floor, no rubber gloves just some oils and a canvas.  I painted this pear from a painting Carol had done awhile ago. Neither my colors or the shape is exactly the same but the process is.  Draw, mix, paint.
I have also been inspired by several of my other 8's who have committed to painting or drawing daily.  Thanks, sometimes life gets in the way but don't let it get in the way of doing something for yourself as often as you can.

Pear Day 1