Autumn—Process
When drawing certain things over and over, I’ve found it helpful to make a crude model that I can capture at different angles and light it to show where shadows will fall. I made this little paper model of the shack for my story ‘Home In The Woods’:
![](https://wheelerstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/6F5D8CF7-B3FC-4BA3-A34B-6536F669E669-1024x512.jpeg)
For the scene marking the arrival of autumn, I was able to find the right lighting and angle for that composition.
![](https://wheelerstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/736B8ACE-755A-480D-BCE2-ED558EA0B0DD.jpeg)
![](https://wheelerstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/60830714-0F40-4C44-B854-A2B702751D75-1024x938.jpeg)
I pulled the photo that I took using the iPad right into the thumbnail sketch and refined the perspective in Procreate.
![](https://wheelerstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/D34228F4-BD08-4B28-839A-1D754915A6DC-1024x922.jpeg)
Also in Procreate, I made a quick rough color study. When it came to picking colors, I only had to look right out my window…the ivy that grew around the studio windows were in full fall color.
![](https://wheelerstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/5DF452C2-E0B2-4BE4-910F-15BEFBCEEA48-1024x768.jpeg)
Here’s the final piece of art, drawn first with India ink, then painted using watercolors (M.Graham brand), gouache, and acrylic paint on Lanaquerelle 300lb cold press watercolor paper.
![](https://wheelerstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/0F89C76F-DF25-4342-886F-998B5535991F-1024x923.jpeg)