Black Tupelo Leaves
Maybe it's because of all those years of school starting from elementary school and extending through college and graduate work, but fall has always felt like a fresh beginning to me. The cooler weather and break in humidity are gifts, but it's the changing light and the turning leaves that stir something artistic. In September, the sunlight somehow feels both warm and crisp, and the colors slowly deepen as the landscape begins its final display before winter. It's an inspiring season, and I often find myself wishing I had more time simply to sit and take it in.
That chance rarely comes, but I do collect leaves—small treasures gathered on walks to and from school with my children, during errands, or on quiet walks of my own. Each one offers its own palette of color, texture, and pattern, and often becomes the beginning of a new painting.
On a rare midday walk through Princeton, I noticed the most striking red leaves scattered along the sidewalk. They were richly colored and mottled with dark markings, absolutely glowing against the pavement like pieces of stained glass. I didn't have time to stop and study them, so I gathered a handful to press and examine later.
When I spread them out at home, I realized something unusual—I couldn't identify them. That never happens.
I've spent a lifetime noticing plants, gardens, and the changing seasons, so encountering a tree I didn't recognize immediately captured my curiosity. I made a mental note to return and study the tree more carefully.
A second visit, along with a little botanical research, finally solved the mystery. The brilliant leaves belonged to a Black Gum, also known as Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), a beautiful native tree. Although it can unnoticed for much of the year, it produces some of the most spectacular autumn color in eastern North America. Individual leaves can glow in shades of scarlet, crimson, orange, and deep maroon, creating an extraordinary display each fall, which I discovered by chance.
After spending time studying the subtle shifts in color, the elegant leaf shapes, and the distinctive mottled markings, I arranged the leaves into a gentle spiral reminiscent of a conch shell before beginning the watercolor. Layer by layer, I worked from bright scarlet lake through deeper alizarin crimson and perylene maroon, trying to capture the brilliance of the leaves.
What began as an unidentified leaf on an ordinary walk became one of those small reminders that discoveries are waiting to be made if we're willing to look a little more closely.
I hope the finished painting conveys a bit of the wonder I felt standing beneath that canopy of exceptional color. If you're interested in learning more about this remarkable native tree, the Municipality of Princeton has an excellent article about the Black Gum (Black Tupelo).
Resources: Read about the Black Tupelo
Continue Exploring:
Related Artwork · Black Tupelo Leaves in Autumn, Maple Leaves with Kingman
Related Gallery · Gallery of Trees, Foliage, and Landscapes
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