Story behind the art of Sarah Yu

28th Annual International

American Society of Botanical Artists and Marin Art & Garden Center

Autumn Red Maple Leaves

Acer rubrum

Growing up in New York City, autumn has always been my favorite season. I have fond childhood memories of fall hiking trips I took upstate with my family, and I recall how much I admired the autumn foliage and enjoyed collecting colorful leaves, particularly ones without any blemishes or holes. When we got home, my mother would press the leaves we gathered between the pages of books to preserve their colors. As an adult, I still enjoy chasing fall foliage and collecting leaves, but now I appreciate all the imperfect ones as well. I think red maple autumn leaves are captivating in their color transformation, and it fascinates me to see the variety of colors and how each leaf changes uniquely.

The red maple tree is native to the eastern half of North America and is the most widely dispersed tree species along the East Coast. It grows well in a variety of soil types and environmental conditions, making it an adaptable and versatile plant. The red maple tree supports hundreds of butterflies and moths in the eastern United States, and its samaras are a valuable food source for many birds and small mammals. During the fall season, maple leaves turn yellow, orange, red, or a combination. This color change is a complex biological process influenced by a range of factors, both genetic and environmental. Surrounding conditions and soil characteristics, such as temperature, moisture, nutrients, and pH levels, are crucial in determining the intensity of the color development.

Inspired by these myriad colors, I painted five life-size leaves arranged in a frieze. I focused on each leaf’s unique color variations and presented them in a timeline of the process, based on my findings. The first leaf on the left retains its green color, indicating the onset of change. The second leaf shows a red maple leaf that had transitioned through a yellowish-orange phase, possibly before turning red. The third leaf represents the peak of its coloration. The fourth leaf exhibits signs of drying around the edges, accompanied by black spots of deterioration. Then the final leaf is depicted in a dried and curled state.

Observing the color transformation in red maple requires frequent visits and the collection of a range of leaves. As these leaves retain their vibrant colors only for a day or so before fading, it is critical to document their colors and capture detailed photos promptly for reference during the painting phase. To capture the gradients of color variations, I used a wet-on-wet technique to blend one color into another in a smooth transition, as it appears on the leaves.

This piece is one of three I created for my certificate project at the New York Botanical Garden. The project involved observing and studying the life cycle of the red maple tree. The other two pieces focused on spring blossoms, summer leaves, and samaras. With this project, I wanted to highlight the beauty and significance of native flora and to encourage the appreciation and protection of species such as the red maple, which are critical to the health of our ecosystem.

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