“Last Days of Green” Painted on a preserved chestnut oak leaf 🍂 Being a leaf painter means gathering all the leaves I can in autumn, so I’ll have enough to paint until spring. The quiet preparation of this time of year is something I’ve grown to treasure. There’s a peace in working along with the changing seasons, a reminder that we’re just as much a part of it all as the squirrels and birds. The studio is full of leaves, so I think we’ll be all set for the months ahead! 🍂 #artcollection #pain

The Dwarf Chinkapin Oak (Quercus prinoides) is a small, shrubby oak native to barren, dry, sandy sites throughout various regions of the eastern and central US. In my home state of Pennsylvania, it is mostly limited to serpentine barrens, fire-prone sites, and otherwise harsh areas where large trees cannot usually grow. Within the past few years, especially because of the work / research of Dr. Doug Tallamy (Homegrown National Park), demand for this small oak species has increased. This species