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Summer Endings + What's Coming Next

08/30/2025 19:06:09 +0000
There's an autumn quote I've had a love/hate relationship with.

"Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go." (Anonymous)

Sometimes it's beautiful to let things go.

And sometimes it's rather bittersweet.

This has been a beautiful summer and mostly, I'm happy to say I can let it go and see the beauty.

In today's watercolor sketch of a trio of sunflowers, we wave goodbye to the season of summer and step into autumn. We look back at the beauty and gifts we've received, seen, and given in the past few months.

First, start with a sketch. Turn each face in a different direction: one looking at the viewer, one portrait style, and the third one drooping.

If you want to sketch out the sunflowers, I've included a picture here. You can also download the pdf here.
Creating a Sunflower Sketch in 20 Minutes
It's a very loose and quick sketch. No fuss or focus on details.

Then, paint the faces (raw umber or burnt sienna) and then the stems. You can mix greens like I do or simply use what you have. Sunflower leaves have a muted, warmth to them so a sap green works well. I like to add in yellow to create depth and a sense of a bit of a bounce.

Finally, paint the petals. I'm using a mixture of yellow ochre and cadmium yellow and dropping in a bit of lemon yellow.

As we paint, I reflect back on the summer and recall all the memories. As I work through this, I remember more and more of the special moments. Doing journal work like this seems to help cement memories.

Sometimes I flip through pictures on the camera or glance at my planner to help stimulate thoughts and memories.

This year though, everything feels fresh! It's as if all the days of summer just happened last week! No need to look through the planner.

As we finish summer, I am also finishing this season of the YouTube channel.
It's been four years since I started the The Creative Season YouTube channel.
 
Originally a way to share videos during the pandemic, it turned out to be a wonderful way to keep painting easy, simple sketches each week with you. I love painting with you. Thank you for painting and creating with me. Thank you for coming back to the channel over and over.

With a few big projects looming (that I am very excited about), I needed to let go of a few things.
 
So, as autumn approaches, I am choosing to see the beauty this has been and letting it go, as the quote advises.

But it's still a bit bittersweet.

I share a bit more in the video.

I am not stopping painting or creating. There are new things on the horizon I'm excited to share with you.

If you aren't already on the mailing list, that is the best place to be to hear what is new and coming out from The Creative Season. Sign up here.

Thank you for painting and creating with me on YouTube. It's been a gift.

I'll see you in your inbox soon.

With lots of joy,
Melissa

The 2025 "Thankful Home" autumn watercolor project is coming soon! This project is my gift to The Creative Season community and I'd love for you to receive it! Be the first to know when it releases. Sign up here.
Author: Melissa AuClair
Hello! I am a floral painter and I enjoy helping others discover their God-given gift of creating, finding beauty and learning how to paint and create paintings of flowers and other nature-inspired art.
 
You can find the art, stationery, and stickers on the website as well as online workshops including Praying & Painting through Psalm 23.
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