As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, the landscape transitions into the rich, warm hues of late autumn. The trees shed their emerald leaves, revealing branches laden with jewel-toned fruit. Crimson crabapples and wild cherries ripen amidst the muted browns and grays of the season.

I’m currently working on a watercolor painting capturing the beauty of this fleeting time of year. The focal point is a crabapple tree extending its spindly, leafless branches across the composition. Several goldfinches are perched among the branches, their sunny yellow feathers fluffed and tinged in grey for winter plumage providing a burst of color against the grey limbs. The crabapples practically glow, little red orbs dotting the tangle of twigs. In the background, a blur of grey to set off the vibrant foreground.

My aim with this painting is to capture a moment, to preserve the splendid colors before the landscape fades into winter’s monochrome. I love how the goldfinches’ plumage echoes the warm tones of the fruit. There’s a sense of nature’s cycles continuing, as the birds feed on the ripened crabapples.

As I work on the structure through finishing touches, the painting calls to mind crisp afternoons spent wandering the fields and forests around my home. With the air tinged with woodsmoke and fallen leaves crunching underfoot, fall is fleeting but stunningly beautiful. I hope to share more of its passing splendor through my art.