Don't Fight It

Those words are for me. A pep talk of sorts.

Fall is coming. If you're in the same hemisphere as I am, perhaps you can feel it too? (If you're on the other side of the earth, are you feeling the stirrings of spring?).

In truth, it's been feeling like fall this past month. August has been more like September (but with fewer tomatoes, though they're starting to ripen now).

I guess this happens every year. Fall starts to arrive and I want to run in the opposite direction, back to the beginning of summer (where did summer go?). Which is, of course, not possible, so instead I vow to savor all the summery things before they're gone for good (or, rather, till next year).

Perhaps it's a bit ironic, then, that this last week or so I've been working on autumn-themed art.

Moths aren't inherently autumnal, but the colors of this cecropia moth make me think of fall. This painting was one of those that started off a little shaky. I wasn't certain that everything would work out and I made some mistakes along the way.

But I kept working at it and I was happy with the end result. Sometimes all you have to do is keep layering paint (and not give up... that is always key).

My plan with this painting was to begin working on a collection of autumn-themed fabric designs. I hoped to be able to finish one in time for Spoonflower's Rustic Fall Design Challenge. The deadline was good motivation.

I'd love it if you would vote for my design. You can vote for as many designs as you like.

Now that this pattern is finished, I'm ready to get back to more summery things.

Savor the rest of August.

Enter September with my eyes and my heart open to it's beauties and joys.

There is always something to savor. There are always beauties and joys. Don't fight it. Embrace it. Whatever "it" might be.

Have a lovely week, my friends. I'll see you back on Friday with an exciting, inspiring artist interview.