Autumn Walks

The patterns of leaf colour during the season

Yellow and orange pigments, the carotenoids, are hidden within cells by the chlorophyll during Spring and Summer. As the days shorten and plants prepare for winter dormancy, chlorophyll production slackens and stops; only then does the fading green yield to the warm, vibrant palette concealed underneath.
Red anthocyanin, lighting up leaves with endless variation during the bright autumn days, is produced by the plants in response to their seasonal needs, harmoniously blending this demand for energetic balance with a gentle gift of beauty.
My Autumn walks were set on the slopes of the Ligurian Apennine, along the natural boundary between the Mediterranean and the Po Valley, with the Alps beyond.
The species represented are a selection of trees and bushes from the rich flora of this region.

All artworks in this collection are watercolours on paper.

SEPTEMBER