Mellow Light of Autumn

Hello! Today, I want to share another tile that I painted for the Global Roots America Nature's Gift mural mosaic project. 

This time, the required color scheme was orange. As you can see, I chose to paint a pumpkin, since I find all sorts of gourds and pumpkins visually intriguing.  I called it the Mellow Light of Autumn. There is a particular kind of light that only autumn can bring. It’s not the highly energetic, bright brilliance of summer, nor the stark, crisp clarity of winter. It is softer, richer, and comforting - a mellow light that seems to wrap the world in a warm, golden embrace. In this small painting (6x6"), I aimed to capture a bit of that essence. A rich and warm coloured pumpkin bathed in gentle, late-afternoon sun reminds us of cozy autumn moments: sipping a warm drink by the window, watching the leaves drift, or simply enjoying the tranquil beauty outside.  As such, it evokes a sense of inner peace and contentment, and a hope that despite all of the world's challenges, all will be well. It is also a reminder that we can draw comfort from the simple and little things in life, whether it's just a pumpkin, a bit of sunlight or... a small, little painting on our shelf. 

A little peek into my painting process (with the final image at the end)...

After putting down a sketch, I established the darkest areas with some gray underpainting, and then filled in the background. I used orange and rusty hues throughout, to stay compliant with the assigned color scheme. 

Working more or less from back to front, I then painted the back leaves and filled out the the pumpkin.

All that was left were the front leaves, stems and tendrils, and of course, final tweaks and adjustments.

And here is the finished painting. 

I hope this piece brings a little bit of that mellow autumn light and serene beauty into your day.