It's so beautiful in Wisconsin during the fall seasons. The yellowing leaves glow as if they are their own light source. Deciduous trees have really lovely life cycles, but there's evergreens here too.
Today, I went back to a recent favorite, Owen Conservation Park in Madison. As I got out of my car, a friendly gentleman exclaimed at me "My daughter is having a baby!" Someone nearby at a picnic table looking slightly embarrassed laughed and I told them congratulations and we shared a short conversation. Ultimately, someone was thrilled to be a grandparent that morning. I thought about the great concept this was, one where people could just say how they felt to complete strangers and the stranger could still be happy for them. I felt a lucky to get to be a part of this shared moment with these two.
I set up my easel, having recently gotten some parts replaced on the legs. I had been putting it off for years, I finally went to a hardware store and got what I needed and took care of it, but it was a comedy of errors. I had been avoiding this task or half-heartedly making attempts for about two years. It was finally getting cold enough that I didn't want to sit in the wet, frosty ground anymore. The view of the trees and the shadows they presented was spectacular, I was so glad to have had my easel, it gave me the better angle.
I was listening to my latest audiobook, a long awaited fourth installment of the John Dies at the End books, titled If You're Reading This, You're in the Wrong Universe. These stories have deep associations with my outdoor adventures with hilariously relevant cosmic horror. It was fun to have one of these readings now that I'm in the Midwest because that's where the books take place. Hilariously, the characters never reveal the actual location and call it "undisclosed."
This particular painting had a lot of colors that I got to explore. Those glowing yellow leaves were a particular joy, but watercolor tends to punish me if I have a poorly planned sketch. I really took my time lining things out so the glow of the yellows would stay sharp as the sun hit them. You can see by the photo the sun had moved a bit, causing the shadows of the trees to rotate a bit to the left. This is probably one of my favorite experiences and pieces this year! I'd love to come back and do a seasonal view from here too! Now, to finalize it at home with some added inks.
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