There is something about the changing of seasons that makes me wonder if our souls have seasons of their own.
Most people talk about seasonal depression in the winter, when the days grow shorter and the sunlight becomes scarce. But I sometimes wonder if there is such a thing as seasonal longing, a quiet feeling that your soul is reaching for the season in which it feels most alive.
For me, that season has always been autumn.
Summer seems to stretch on forever, while autumn somehow disappears almost as soon as it arrives. And yet, even when I find myself longing for cooler days, changing leaves, and crisp autumn air, I don't want to rush past the beauty of the season I'm in. Every season has something lovely to offer, if only we slow down enough to notice it.
Citrus Serenade was painted during one of those moments. My soul was already longing for autumn, quietly whispering, “autumn cannot come soon enough,” while summer was still very much here. So instead of wishing those last days away, I wanted to savor them.
This piece became my little love letter to summer.
A vibrant orange hangs from its branch, painted in saturated shades of orange and yellow, with deep red shadows tucked into its textured skin. Delicate leaves reach around the fruit, their fine lines and gentle brushstrokes reflecting some of those warm citrus hues. Against the cobalt turquoise background, the orange seems to glow.
There is something almost tangible about it. You can nearly imagine the bumpy texture beneath your fingertips and the sweet, citrusy scent lingering in the warm summer air.
Citrus Serenade is a celebration of those final moments of summer; the warmth, the color, the abundance, and all the little things that make the season beautiful. A reminder to savor the season we are in, even when our hearts are already dreaming of the one to come.
Perhaps that is part of the beauty of changing seasons: learning to let ourselves long for what is next without forgetting to appreciate what is here.
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