Illustration: fall leaves

Here, in the Northeast, the leaves are starting to change. Hear the subtle crunching as you walk outside. Gracefully, they float down from the heavens like orange and yellow snowflakes. Although the air is crisp, the colors will soon illuminate the vista with brilliant warmth.

Do you look at the different shapes and try to identify what tree they are from? What tree is common in your area?

I made four watercolors, and then turned them into postcards. Feel free to check them out at my store.

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drawing: the oak tree

Long before Henry the VIII was the King of England and long before Leonardo da Vinci painted his famous painting Mona Lisa, an oak tree began its life, 600-years ago. Generations of American Indians enjoyed the shade underneath its long branches. Even George Washington was here, during the revolutionary war.

Sadly, now, the old oak tree is dying. It is showing its age. There are steel props and support wires applied by caring people, desperately holding up its heavy branches.

The New Jersey town is understandably distraught. It is like a family member is going away and so is piece of history.

I visit the gentle giant to witness its grandeur which still stands next to a church in Basking Ridge, NJ. I am so glad I did. In own my way, I honor the amazing tree by doing a little sketch.

sweet gum

Watercolor painting of an autumn leaf from a Sweet Gum tree.

the cardinal

I used to think that all birds fly south for the winter, but since I started hanging a bird feeder, I learned that there are certain birds that stick around even through the winter. One of those birds is the Cardinal.

If you are an avid bird watcher or animal lover, hanging feeders can be addicting, not to mention birds start relying on you as a source for food in their daily routine. Displayed just outside my window, I have three kinds feeders – a seed dispenser, a thistle bag and a suet cage, so that I can observe a diverse group of visiting songbirds.

In the spirit of season, this is my little sketch of a cardinal on an Autumn tree.

photography: florida

drawing: oak tree

The average life span for Oak trees is 100 to 300 years. There are over 150 species of Oak trees, including Black, Bur, Northern Pin, White and Swamp White. This drawing of mine is of the Red Oak species which characteristically turn a brilliant red during the autumn season.

Its acorns are enjoyed by White-tailed Deer, squirrels and Blue Jays.

painting: cicada

On the same theme as my last post, here is another creepy crawler insect, the cicada. With July approaching, summertime is when we hear the droning of these critters in the trees. That is because cicadas are eagerly seeking for a mate, after having spent 17 years underground. They may be big in size and overwhelming in numbers, but don’t worry. Cicadas are harmless.

photo: spring wallpaper

These are photos I took during the peak of cherry blossoms. They can be used as wallpapers for the computer desktop.  The resolution is 1600 x 1200 pixels.  Feel free to download.  Comments welcome and appreciated.  Enjoy.

photography: winter mountain

As I’m on a trip, away from my pencils and brushes, the camera will be my source of creativity.  Here are a few photos I took during my ski trip in Mammoth.

fall leaves

I’ve collected a pile of leaves this fall season, while walking the dog.  I can’t seem to identify the round one (middle, lower row).   It is not as common as the maple and oak species, and it has a interesting pattern of veins.