Apples delight many times during the year—from their pink blossoms in the spring to their ripe fruit in the fall and throughout much of the year if the fruit are kept properly. The Red Delicious is a good keeper.

Tina Ingraham grew up on a farm in Ohio and began painting in oils when she was in grammar school. She now lives in Maine, painting its people, beaches, harbors and its produce. Delicious with Leaves is a painterly representation of the fruit, the image emerging organically from the background almost as the fall fruit emerges over time from the spring blossom—its painted edges soft and its shadow taking on a life of its own. George Billis Gallery, Thicket 43, oil and acrylic on canvas, 50 x 40", by Jeffrey Vaughn

Describing her process, she says, “A look through a viewfinder divides my vision of the subject into fractions and I clearly see where strong contrasts meet. I mark those on the canvas with charcoal. I grind paint onto the palette with my knife, and with broad brushstrokes, I weave large amounts over the canvas with a hunt for an overall spirit. Varied textures describe my search for spatial relationships. Distance or foreground is implied with thin washes or scraped off paint. Thick paint may identify form, middle ground or detail. As I filter through cognitive, physical and intuitive practices, my engagement with the work ceases being a record of my process. The painting materializes with a spirit of its own.”Somerville Manning Gallery, Indian Summer, oil on panel, 12 x 36", by Timothy Barr

Susan Powell Fine Art, Golden Passage, acrylic, 18 x 24", by Del-Bourree Bach

Timothy Barr paints in the Brandywine Valley, the subject for generations of Wyeths and other readily recognizable painters. The landscape and its buildings have unique qualities that are so familiar they run the danger of becoming clichés. 

Indian Summer occurs between September and November in Northern temperate climates—a brief dry and warm stretch usually following one or more frosts. The term may be associated with the Algonquian who believed the warm wind was a gift of the Great Spirit. It is also a period when Native tribes would gather in their final supplies before winter set in.

Barr’s Indian Summer shows the warm tones of the frost deadened fields with the low sun skimming the tops of the trees and the peak of the whitewashed barn. The long horizontal format echoes the long shadows. He is a master of light and says, “I’ve been watching sunrises and sunsets my whole life. I have to fight the cliché.” Neither the subject matter nor the light become mundane in his paintings. The light animates the barn, and the long shadows suggest the coming long winter in a beautiful but slightly ominous way.Janet Grissom, Music Alive, oil on canvas, 36 x 48"

Images of the fall abound with the riot of fall foliage—usually from afar with large swaths of color. Jeffrey Vaughn gets into the woods in piece Thicket 43, capturing the sun as it brings the leaves to life even as they die. The trees’ life cycle is emphasized by large fallen trunk, rotting and providing nutrients for the growth of the living trees and next year’s leaves. The painting inspires quiet contemplation. Vaughn says, “Dramatic light enhances the translucent interplay of light and shadow on blossoms and leaves. Soft light allows for purer color and subtle explorations of shadow. Through these abstract concerns, I hope to convey the quiet beauty of nature.”Greenhut Galleries, Delicious with Leaves, oil on mounted muslin, 8 x 7", by Tina Ingraham

Continue reading through this section where artists and galleries discuss inspiring works of art featuring visions of the fall. 

“Reflecting on my fall experiences makes my heart fill with joy!” Says landscape artist Janet Grissom. “Whirling and twirling, brightly colored leaves are propelled by the seasonal winds. The skies are a pure, brilliant blue, illuminated by pure sunlight. The leaves are drained of their green allowing vibrant oranges, reds and yellows to shine through for the world to see. The cool, crisp, clear air makes the experience even more alluring. The fall view invites artists to get their paints and play on the canvas. Fall provides the opportunity to make extraordinary art from ordinary life.”Susan Powell Fine Art, First Blush, pastel, 18 x 32", by Jeanne Rosier Smith

Grissom’s memories are saturated with the season. She will fully reflect on the plans for her painting, then she will start sketching. She makes decisions for colors and messages that she will emphasize, then the process of painting begins. “Fall is more than the brightly colored leaves, more than the sunlit trees…” Grissom says. “We each have individual experiences related to the season that allow us to address the fall landscape in our own personal manner. I believe this is what makes each painting our own story about our own fall view.”Janet Grissom, Power, oil on canvas, 48 x 36"

Sally Ruddy, Just Before the Stars Come Out, oil on canvas, 20 x 24"

Vincent Van Gogh once stated, “If one really loves nature, one can find beauty everywhere.” In this same vein, for her Nature’s Heartbeat Series, contemporary artist Sally Ruddy found inspiration in her environment. Her paintings reveal her intimate and personal views of nature in her unique style, characterized by resplendent hues, delicate brushstrokes and the ravishing portrayal of brilliant sunlight.Sally Ruddy, Turning, oil on canvas, 16 x 20"

Ruddy’s tranquil compositions of delectable subject matter, ranging from sun-drenched blossoms to exposed tree branches, convey warmth and optimism to the spectator. Her light brushstrokes capture the essential forms of her subjects with soft edges, resulting in the appearance of light emanating from the canvas, bringing to mind the peaceful effulgence of basking in the sun.  Susan Powell Fine Art, September Color, oil, 16 x 20”, by Harley Bartlett.

Susan Powell Fine Art represents the works of Del-Bourree Bach and Harley Bartlett, who each have been painting for more than 35 years. Both artists are members of the American Society of Marine Artists, the Salmagundi Club and have been juried into national and international art exhibitions. Bach has received over 250 awards during his career. “In [Bach’s Golden Passage and Bartlett’s September Color], each artist has captured that bright and clear light that comes with the beginning change of season, the color has a slight subtleness, the atmosphere seems clearer, accentuating the contrasting light and shadows,” says Susan Powell, owner of the gallery.Janet Grissom, Nature’s Gift, oil on canvas, 48 x 60"

In addition, Powell represents pastel artist Jeanne Rosier Smith, who depicts seascapes, coastal scenes and food and travel. She’s also a member of several significant art groups such as the Pastel Society of America. “In early fall,” says Smith, “when the crowds go home, beach walking gets even better as the East Coast morning light casts a rosy glow. When passing through Atlantic waves, the effect can be magical. The cool morning air carries mist and softens the horizon, while the crisp foreground spray catches the warm light of the coming sunrise.” —

Featured Artists & Galleries

George Billis Gallery
166 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880
(203) 557-9130, www.georgebillis.com 

Greenhut Galleries
146 Middle Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 772-2693
www.greenhutgalleries.com 

Janet Grissom
www.janetgrissompaintings.com
Represented by Brandt-Roberts Galleries
642 N. High Street, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 233-1655
www.brandtrobertsgalleries.com 

Sally Ruddy
info@sallyruddy.com
www.sallyruddy.com 

Somerville Manning Gallery
Breck’s Mill, 2nd Floor
101 Stone Block Row
Greenville, DE 19807
(302) 652-0271
www.somervillemanning.com 

Susan Powell Fine Art
679 Boston Post Road
Madison, CT 06443
(203) 318-0616
susanpowellfineart@gmail.com
www.susanpowellfineart.com 

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