A pumpkin seed for a canvas, and sheep so tiny that they’re just a concept 🐑

From a handful of pumpkin seeds, to a tiny art collection 🍁 Maybe I should invite some mice for a gallery opening?

It’s not lost on me how ridiculous this is 🎃 But, this has quickly become a favorite October tradition of mine… painting pumpkin seeds!

“Changing Reflection” Painted on a preserved maple leaf 🍁 A little painted farewell to September.

A few scenes of autumn, the season when the leaves paint themselves 🍁 Top: “Morning Harvest” Acrylic on red maple leaf Left: “Gatherer’s Perch” Acrylic on river birch leaf Right: “Scenic Route” Acrylic on white oak leaf Prints of these 3 are now available! 🍂

“Gatherer’s Perch” Painted on a preserved river birch leaf 🍂 I caught the reference photo for this one during my last trail run. This sweet little fella seemed just like he was posing for a painting! 🐿️

A closer look at all the autumn colors in “Scenic Route,” painted in acrylic on a preserved white oak leaf 🍁 #natureart #leafpainting #autumnart #artdetails #painting

“Scenic Route” Painted on a preserved white oak leaf 🍁 Soon, the mountains here in NC will be painted in vibrant golds and reds. And this year, I can’t help but think that the Blue Ridge Parkway will be all the more beautiful for its healing 🍂

“Morning Harvest” Painted in acrylic on a preserved maple leaf 🍁 We’re entering such a rich season for art inspiration (and soup)! The image of hay bales in the morning dew has been stuck in my head since last weekend’s visit to my hometown. I just had to paint it this morning 🍂

“A Welcome Change” Painted in acrylic on a preserved white oak leaf 🍁 This piece was painted as part of the Gilded Collection, back in 2023. As much as I love summer, I sure do love painting with an autumn palette 🍂

The Golden Hour Collection is here! 🍁 Those on my mailing list got first pick this morning, but you can find all remaining available paintings on my site ☀️ www.katiebrooksart.com/paintings

“Evening Watch” Painted in acrylic on a preserved maple leaf 🍁 I’ve come across quite a few hawks lately. I like to think they were hoping I’d include them in a painting! This piece will be available along with the full Golden Hour collection tomorrow ☀️

With the Golden Hour Collection, I’m soaking up these last warm days of the year, just like those fleeting golden rays of sunlight before the sun sets ☀️ I’ve got one more painting in this series to share with you tomorrow! After that, the full collection will be available Friday at 11am EST 🍁

“Light Drenched” Painted in acrylic on a preserved beech leaf ☀️ I painted this scene twice this morning, because the first leaf tore about halfway through the painting. Had to lay down for a minute after that one 🥲

“Over Wheatfields” Painted in acrylic on a preserved magnolia leaf 🌾 This painting will be available in Friday’s collection release, along with all other paintings in the Golden Hour collection 🍁

I sat down today and actually counted up all the leaves I’ve painted since I began in 2018. Y’all. 487. …that’s pretty much a whole tree, right?

“Gold Farewell” Painted on a preserved ivy leaf 🍁 My recent favorite running trail follows the perimeter of a lake. It’s an abundant source of art inspiration, especially watching as the seasons shift. Yesterday’s run was during golden hour, perfect inspiration for this morning’s painting! ☀️

“Evening Grazers” Painted in acrylic on a preserved river birch leaf 🍁 Prints available 🐄

A closer look at the tiny sunflowers in “Set Aglow” - Painted in acrylic on a preserved maple leaf 🌻

“Gilded Clouds” Painted in acrylic on a preserved white oak leaf ☀️ Clouds are one subject that I think I’ll always be practicing. It seems like each time, I learn a new way to paint them ☁️

“Set Aglow” Painted in acrylic on a preserved maple leaf 🍁 I think a collection all about sunlight just had to include a big field of sunflowers! 🌻

Late summer feels like the year’s golden hour; a fleeting moment just before the vibrant sunset of autumn. And within it, the Golden Hour Collection is taking root ☀️

“Before Flight” Painted on a preserved beech leaf 🦋 An abundance of swallowtail butterflies joined us on a hike last weekend, so I decided to give them a place in my next painting ☀️

Just trying to catch the sunlight in paint ☀️ Left: “Through Fog and Leaves” Painted on a preserved maple leaf Right: “Sun Catcher” Painted on a preserved river birch leaf I think a new collection is starting to develop. Any guesses on this one’s focus?

“Through Fog and Leaves” Painted on a preserved maple leaf 🍁 It’s no surprise to me that photographers and painters alike are so drawn to golden hour. There’s magic in the way the setting sun bathes the world in gold, and I can’t help but try to capture a bit of that magic in paint ☀️

“Sun Catcher” Painted on a preserved river birch leaf I treated myself to a new paint this week—azo gold. This painting is the result! 🦌

I couldn’t send “Lady of the Meadow” off to her new home without taking a few detail photos first! Something about this painted maple leaf in particular just had my heart through this collection. 💚

Thank you to everyone who decided to give a painting from the Wildlife Collection a place in your home! My nerves are a bit high each time I put on one of these releases, but time and time again, I’m overwhelmed by your kindness and support. What a gift that is 💚

The Wildlife Collection is here! 🌱 In addition to original paintings, you’ll also find prints and a new set of greeting cards from this collection in the shop! This series was such a joyful challenge 💚 www.katiebrooksart.com/paintings

“Lady of the Meadow” Painted on a preserved maple leaf 🐻

“Crow’s Perch” Painted on a preserved magnolia leaf 🌿 I’ve always wanted to trade trinkets with a crow. Maybe I should offer them a little portrait? 🐦‍⬛

A closer look at a few recent critter paintings 🐾 I’ve got a few more animals that I think deserve a spot in this, but then I think these pieces will be ready for new homes! Mark your calendars for Friday, August 8th (and consider joining the mailing list, too!) 💚

“The Blueberry Picker” Painted on a preserved wild grape leaf 🐿️ As a kid, finding wild blueberries in the woods during summer was such a thrill! I imagine it is for the little critters living there, too 🫐

“The Climbers” Painted on a preserved maple leaf 🌱 There were quite a few requests for possums to join this wildlife collection, and I just had to give it a try!

“Night’s Keeper” Painted on a preserved white oak leaf 🦉

“Forest Meeting” Painted on a preserved chestnut oak leaf 🦊

Here’s a closer look at yesterday’s scene: a doe and her fawn, basking in the creekside sunlight breaking through the treetops 🦌 “Watched Over” Painted on a preserved maple leaf 🌱

“Watched Over” Painted on a preserved maple leaf 🌱 Deer are among my favorite animals, and it’s fawn season! No matter how often I see them, I can’t help but be thrilled by spotting a doe with her baby 🦌 Prints of this piece are up now!

The Wildlife Collection is growing… 🌱 I’ve got a quite a few critters I want to include in this series, and I’d love to hear if there’s any in particular you’re hoping to see! 🐾

“Dandelion Eaters” Painted on a preserved ivy leaf 🌼 There’s a little bunny that lives by the trail I run, and he’s often “waiting” there at the end when I finish. I like to think he’s cheering me on! This little painting is for him 🐇

A tiny bandit hiding in a beech tree 🦝 “Tree Hugger” Acrylic on preserved beech leaf Prints of this little fella are available on my site! 🌱

“Tree Hugger” Acrylic on preserved beech leaf 🦝 I had to paint a little raccoon, they’re just so sweet! (Even the one that chased me through the woods a few years ago… maybe he was just having an off day? 😶)

“Field Keeper” Acrylic on preserved maple leaf 🌱 Just a sweet little field mouse, climbing a stem of Queen Anne’s lace for a better view of his field in the evening light 🌾 …I think I got a bit emotionally attached to this little fella 🥲

The Idyll Collection is here! 🌱 The folks on my mailing list got first pick this morning, but you can find the remaining available paintings on my site! This series has been such a joyful way to enter into the summer season ☀️ www.katiebrooksart.com/paintings

“Welcome Stillness” Painted on a preserved tulip tree leaf 🌱 The later sunsets are among summer’s kindest gifts, and (while I may be biased) I think they’re most beautiful in the Blue Ridge Mountains 💚

The vibrance of summer, captured in paint on real, preserved leaves 🌱 The Idyll Collection will be available this Friday, July 4th at 11am EST. Those on my mailing list get an hour of early access at 10am EST! 💚

“A Silent Guard” Painted on a preserved oak leaf 🌾

“Light Finds Water” Painted on a preserved beech leaf 🌱 There are few places on earth where I feel more at peace than by a little creek in the middle of the woods. It’s a painting subject I’ll come back to time and time again 💚

The Idyll Collection (so far) 🌱

“Moonglow” Painted on a preserved ivy leaf 🌙 This painting comes from thoughts of warm summer nights, and tall grass dancing on the breeze 🌾