Nose for News by Sarah Stultz

When I was a youth I loved art. I loved time in art classes and regularly drew in a sketch pad.

As I entered college, I started out aiming for a minor in visual arts in addition to my journalism degree, but after getting busy with a lot of things at that time, including work at the student newspaper and work outside of school, I set my artistic endeavors aside.

I remember also being intimidated by some of the amazing talent at the college, and as I look back on it, that might have had something to do with how things turned out, too.

In the years since, my love of the arts has shifted more into viewing art — and I love seeing art of all kinds, whether it’s paint, sculpture, textiles, pencil or myriads of other mediums. I have an appreciation for those who can create pieces that are pleasing to the eye. But I also have an appreciation for those things that may not be as pleasing to the eye and that may cause us to think and spark discussion with those around us. I also love rich, bold color.

This past weekend and every once in a while, I get a little itch, so to speak, to get out the paper and pencil — or as it was this weekend, the paints — and dip back into it all again.

As I drove to a few places in our own community, I was in awe of the rich colors I passed — of yellows and reds and oranges — and it made me want to paint.

It was nature’s own artwork, and I was thrilled to see it.

As I write this, I am sitting at my dining room table looking outside into my back yard to see our two trees with bright yellow-colored leaves and the sun shining brightly through the branches. In my neighbor’s yard directly behind us, there are three trees with red leaves, and in another neighbor’s house there is still a green tree. Next door, there is a tree with a more orange hue.

It is beautiful right now to look out the window and revel in this sight.

I know it won’t be too long until the leaves are all on the ground, and then we will be busy bagging them all up and preparing for winter, but for now I think I’ll give myself a pass to look outside and soak up the beauty.

I keep telling myself to take a picture of it so I can have the image when I decide to finally bite the bullet and get the supplies out. I’m also thinking of trying oil pastels again.

Whatever I decide to do, I need to do something.

What are you doing to enjoy the fall color?

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Albert Lea Tribune. Her column appears every Wednesday.