Much more than purple
Posted: November 3, 2022 Filed under: Uncategorized 13 CommentsThe purple smokebush (cotinus coggygria) in my garden is exactly that all summer. Purple. But in the fall each leaf is a little flame. I picked up a few of them, spread them out on my desk and sketched them while talking on Zoom with some friends. I especially love the ones that change from green to yellow to red all within one leaf. The best colours for capturing this display: Quinacridone Gold and Coral, with a little Hooker’s Green and Burnt Sienna mixed in. Plus a bit of Violet for the darkest darks.

Thank you for all these nice fall posts! With the color tips 😀!
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That’s lovely.
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Hi Shari! Your leaves are beautiful!! Fall inspiration. And I love how you make use of your time by sketching while on a zoom call.
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Joyful colours! The shadow is a perfect compliment too – altogether, it made my day. Many thanks 🙂
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Beautiful work as always.
Sent from my iPhonet.
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Love the shadows!
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Amazing! I love it!
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I find smoke bush leaves fascinating, I paint them every year.
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So lovely and vibrant. I had never heard of a smoke bush, now I’m going to look for one in the garden centre next spring! 🙂
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Hi Shari,
I enjoy all your posts, especially this one on smoke bushes. I just finished digging a deep hole, mixing in some good soil, for my new smoke bush. It will have winter, in Seattle, to settle in for a food growing season next summer.
Claire Russell
http://www.clairecreates.com
Instagram: clairepaint
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What lovely leaves. Wonder if it would grow here? I haven’t written lately as my laptop is sick. I have a Macbook Air and really hate it. I keep having trouble. Before this the charger broke.
So I was glad to find this and be able to write. Your painting is always inspirational to me.
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Nice painting of the Smokebushes leaves. Most of the leaves here are starting to dry out. Our new Blueberry bushes, just over 2 years old turned yellow and bright orange this year. The colours really were spectacular. I also like how you used a market to outline some details on the leaves and add extra texture.
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Lovely capture of the leaves!
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