A Quiet Beauty

Collector's Focus: Views of Autumn

Every year, as the seasons turn from the bright and sunny greens of summer into the slow silence of autumn, something captivating happens: deciduous trees and perennial plant life begin to transition to a quiet state of dormancy as nature prepares to conserve its energy for the upcoming chill of winter. As that transition takes place, the leaves gradually shift from deep green to vivid hues of burgundy, golden ochre and buttery orange. Fall colors are often so brilliant and saturated they feel like paintings, made even more brilliant through the contrast of darker weather and less daylight.

Jasper Francis Cropsey (1823-1900), Autumn—On the Hudson River, 1860, oil on canvas, 59¾ x 108¼ in.

This is where the artists step in—poised to capture the full range of nature’s beauty through their paints and their brushes, paying homage to this annual phenomenon. Some of the most masterful landscape paintings depicting views of fall come from the Hudson River School artists like Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, Frederic Church, Sanford Robinson Gifford and Jasper Francis Cropsey, who was especially known for his autumnal pieces.

Moran’s 1868 oil Autumn Wood Scene deftly captures the quiet beauty of the season, with a canopy of trees providing solace from the exposed cliff face and waterfall in the backdrop. Cropsey’s 1860 Autumn—On the Hudson River is a panoramic view of the valley with rays of diffused sunlight peaking through dark clouds overhead. The massive piece measures 5 by 9 feet.

Landscapes are one of the most sought-after genres for collectors, often because of the ways in which these paintings connect us to the natural world. Autumnscapes add that extra touch of peacefulness and warmth.

Clockwise from left: Thomas Moran (1837-1926), Autumn Wood Scene, oil on canvas, 17 x 14 in.; Legacy Gallery, Autumn on a Mountainside, 48 x 72 in., by Douglas Aagard; Legacy Gallery, Council Fires on the Milk River, oil, 40 x 50 in., by Nicholas Coleman.

More than 150 years later, artists are still captivated by the tranquility of the season. Continue exploring the pages of this special section to see more stunning scenes of autumn and learn about the artists who create them.

Western artists Douglas Aagard, Colt Idol and Nicholas Coleman are represented by Legacy Gallery,and within each artists’ oeuvres are gorgeous fall landscapes.

Legacy Gallery, Autumn Mirror, oil, 30 x 40 in., by Colt Idol

Aagard began his career as a watercolor artist. In 2000, after seeing a show of paintings by Gary Ernest Smith, he was hooked on the power possible with oil paints. With encouragement and feedback from Smith, he set his hand to paint oils with a knife. “I never get bored painting with oil. There are so many possibilities; so many techniques to try that one could never exhaust the love of learning,” says Aagard. “I have found that my work has a more dimensional feel or depth when painted with a knife, and oftentimes the texture is more fun than the composition.”

Dawn Sutherland, Aspen Bend, oil, 11 x 14 in.

A lifetime Montana resident, Idol has always been enamored with the West and all that it represents. After an injury-plagued high school and collegiate basketball career, Idol decided to pursue art full time. With the guidance of his father, Dick Idol, he was able to develop his abilities and advance his knowledge of art. He had undoubtedly found his passion. The artist lives in Whitefish, Montana, with his wife Jennifer, their young son and daughter.

Coleman’s work emphasizes the key elements of a good story: scene, structure, event and plot. Every intentional brushstroke builds a story that evokes the common narrative of struggle, fortitude and resiliency through both characters and the characterization. His romantic paintings inspire his audience to join his mission to preserve the fading heritage of the American West.

Julia Munger Seelos, Autumn Colors, oil, 16 x 16 in.; Julia Munger Seelos, Autumn Meadow, oil on panel, 16 x 20 in.

“On the north slopes of Flagstaff’s peaks, there is a rough forest road that winds through prairies and stands of aspens,” Arizona artist Dawn Sutherland says of her autumnal piece Aspen Bend. “I love this turn in the road that reveals the distant peaks, the deep blue sky and those glimmering, golden aspens. One can almost feel the warm sunlight, cool air, and hear the soft applause of those aspen leaves clapping in the breeze. A painting can stir a memory,or take one to a place never before visited. It is that unique gift a landscape painting can bring to one’s home, providing pleasure for years to come.”

Schoonover Gallery, Aspen Sunset, oil, 24 x 30 in., by Garth Williams.

Patie Schoonover is the owner and namesake to Steamboat Springs, Colorado’s newest art gallery, Schoonover Gallery, which includes artists who paint fall landscapes. The name, Schoonover, literally means “beauty everywhere.” The gallery strives to bring collectors unique, inspiring and skillfully curated artworks.

Julia Munger Seelos, Merced River Afterglow, oil on panel, 11 x 14 in.

“Autumn in the far western part of the country brings a feast for the artist’s eye. Regular trips to Yosemite and the Sierras have provided me with endless inspiration,” says Julia Munger Seelos, a member of the American Impressionist Society, California Art Club and Monterey Bay Plein Air Painters. “The golden glow of the sun, lower in the sky, highlights everything it touches with rich fall tones. The brilliant cerulean skies create stunning cool shadows in contrast to the warm surfaces facing the sun. The clear skies provide dramatic light and shadows, adding to a strong impressionistic style of painting. I am especially inspired by the golden meadows of dry grasses with the lavender mountains and blue canyon walls contrasting behind.” Collectors can find Seelos’ paintings at Viewpoints Gallery in Los Altos, California, during her exhibition Mountain Song this December. —