Story behind the art of Steve Morris

27th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and the Society of Illustrators

Fall's Faded Colors

Quercus alba

I’ve always enjoyed walking in the woods and trails near my home looking for subject matter to paint. My favorite subjects are leaves, seed pods, and fungi. I particularly like the fall when leaves start to decay and change color. They remind me of the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi: the art of imperfect beauty. Nothing is permanent. We can accept the natural cycle of growth and decay in which everything has splendor.

I chose this subject because of its graphic simplicity and range of interesting earth tones. The painting is done in watercolor on Arches paper. 

My favorite part of this painting is the background where I let the paint run creating a looseness juxtaposed against the tight rendering of the leaves.

I would sum up my painting this way: “When someone views my work, I want them to be drawn in and feel an emotional response — joy, sadness, wonder, or awe — not about my work but about nature.”

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