White oak leaf variety

It has been a busy month for my family we just moved from Northeastern Ohio back to Central Illinois; from the beech-maple forest back to the oak-hickory forest and prairie.  I have been pretty busy and just got back to doing some drawing. 

The fall color is just about peak here and one of my favorite trees, white oak (Quercus alba), is displaying a wide variety of colors right now.  Yesterday on a walk with my son I grabbed a variety of white oak leaves representing a wide range of shapes and colors.  I cant be sure these all came from the same tree, but they did all come from three or four individuals in a small area.

Sorry for the splice - I had to scan it in two pieces.  Colored pencil - Polychromos

Chinese Pistache

With hope and anticipation for fall color, again, my husband and I watched our chinese pistache tree turn brown and drop its leaves within two days. These trees are known for their beautiful fall color and in California we don't get lots of that so I planted some trees just for their that purpose. This one was bought during the spring so we never saw it color up. It is a big tree, brought in with a crane so I can't rip it out. Every year for the last 4 years we hope but nothing. This year I noticed that my leafless tree was dropping these nasty hard peppercorn shaped things on the grass and walkway. I bent down and grabbed some of them and they were really beautiful. I did a sketch as I sat outside on this glorious morning thinking about how I need to not expect more than it is able to give and be thankful for what it does provide which is also beautiful. I need to apply that to my personal life also. So this is my sketchbook entry and was my prayer for the third.

I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and tell you all how much I enjoy getting comments and hearing from everyone. I love visiting your blogs and getting inspired by each of you. Although we have not met in person I feel as though we have been friends for such a long time. Thank you again for brighting my day and making me feel connected on those gloomy days.