Autumn Leaves

Autumn has always been my favorite season. As soon as Labor Day is over I start anticipating all the wonderful things I love about the season. Here in the Northeast the air is already beginning to chill and I am on the lookout for the changing of the leaves. As a child growing up in South Jersey I spent hours in our yard collecting different leaves, seed pods and acorns. I decided to try to capture these moments from my childhood and put them all in one painting. Researching all these familiar leaves and seeds was like going home again. The Tulip Poplar, the Sycamore and the Sweet Gum feel like old friends. Just looking at them all together brings the scent of woodsmoke to my mind and puts me right back in my Parent's yard all those years ago!

Prints are available for purchase in my Etsy shop The Curious Kitchen

Acorn Man Portrait

I have always been interested in anthropomorphic fruit and veggies. I love giving them faces, arms & legs. Essentially giving them personalities. When I was a kid I used to collect acorns and make little people with them using pipe cleaners and painting faces on them. Well last week I was out jogging by the Hudson and saw the acorns were ready and falling from the trees so I collected a bunch to give to my squirrels. (The ones I feed from my fire escape). I kept looking at the bowl full of them, admiring their smooth brown surfaces and remembering how I used to love them. That was what inspired me to immortalize one in a painting. To honor the humble acorn, a true symbol of autumn.