Falling Leaves

Falling Autumn Leaves art print InkTorrents Graphics Soma Acharya

 

The sky is free of the grey smoke and the air ash-free from the Northern California wildfires.  After weeks of being cooped up inside and eager to feel the outdoors again, we decided to go on a Sunday drive to one of our favourite local haunts looking for autumn colours.

What we found, however, was a grim sight.  Instead of trees blooming with ruby red and golden yellow leaves, we found burnt, straw-yellow leaves still clinging on to charred black trees.  There were utility trucks everywhere, taking those trees down before another incoming red alert or high fire danger last Sunday.

 

 

 

This saddened me so much that after coming back home,  I went through my photos and sketchbooks for signs of autumn.  These photos were taken a few years back before the continuous wildfires started.

 

 

Autumn Red Leaf art print InkTorrents Graphics Soma Acharya

 

 

Capturing one of the leaves in my sketchbook as Autumn Red.

 

 

Autumn Yellow Maple Leaf art print InkTorrents Graphics Soma Acharya

 

 

I spotted autumn colours as early as August that year.   Autumn Yellow Maple was another painting of a found leaf.

 

 

Falling Autumn Leaves art print InkTorrents Graphics Soma Acharya

 

 

I love being outside in the rain.  Last year, during one such afternoon of raking leaves, I picked up a few treasures.

 

 

Falling Autumn Leaves art print InkTorrents Graphics Soma Acharya

 

 

Afterwards, I promptly drew them in my sketchbook.

 

 

Falling Autumn Leaves art print InkTorrents Graphics Soma Acharya

Purchase Falling Leaves

 

Falling Leaves will always be special to me, painted in my new atelier surrounded by the ones I love.

 

My wrist continues to heal, but it is still in a splint.  Thank you for being so patient with my delayed replies and visit backs.  

 

No matter what it has been like for you during the current times, I hope you are taking a little time to enjoy the outdoors.  It is a precious thing that we often take for granted.

 

Until next time,
-Soma

 

I am linking up with the linky parties on my Events And Links page. Please pay a visit to some of them.  They are a wonderful bunch!

 

 

Leave a comment

 

Yosemite And I

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

Last weekend of October I had an opportunity to visit my favourite place – Yosemite National Park.  I am fortunate enough to live “only” 4.5 hours away from it.  That is considered close proximity in California.  I take advantage of that and try to go there multiple times a year.  Because of that, quite often I get to hear “Yosemite again??  What’s there to see so many times!”

The thing is, I feel at home there. 

In the words of Lord Byron –

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
There is a rapture on the lonely shore,
There is society, where none intrudes,
By the deep Sea, and music in its roar:
I love not Man the less, but Nature more.

For me, it’s not just a collection of parking spaces for the attractions in the park.  Yosemite needs to be explored. 

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

A sunny day is stunning there, but storm clouds make it even more of a dramatic place. 

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

Clouds skimming over El Capitan

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

Bridalveil Falls

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

Tall, ancient granite formations with cascading waterfalls surround you while you walk in the wide meadows and through groves of trees. 

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

Water droplets catch the sunlight and gleam on grass and leaves. 

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

The Merced river flows through it all, sometimes raucous and sometimes whispering.

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

Season and weather change often, and Yosemite changes with them.

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

Yosemite National Park Photo | Whims And Fancies

 

While I love to hike the mountains and walk the meadows, sometimes I like to just sit at our favourite places in the park with my husband.  He reads while I paint.

 

Yosemite National Park Cooks Meadow Painting | Whims And Fancies

 

That is my Yosemite and I love it.  It has been there long before us and it will continue to be there long after. 

I was going through the photos I took there in October, always good for my spirit.  I hope they bring joy to you as well.

Take care,
-Soma

 

I am also linking up on Life Thru The Lens, Through My LensSeasons, Our World Tuesday, Wednesday Around The World, Photo Friday, and Friday Photo Journal along with with other linky parties on my Events And Links page.

 

  

 

 

 

Leave a comment

 

error: Content is protected !!