A Doorway to Autumn: A Cozy Evening of Watercolor at Glimmerbug Art Studio in Harvard, MA

Last night at Glimmerbug Handmade Art Studio, we welcomed autumn one painted doorstep at a time! Our watercolor workshop brought together a lovely group of creatives to paint autumn-inspired doors, complete with leafy wreaths, cheerful pumpkins, and pots overflowing with fall color.

There’s something especially inviting about a front door dressed for the season. It makes you imagine a cozy home just beyond it—perhaps with a warm cup of tea waiting inside. That little feeling of welcome was the inspiration for our paintings, and each person brought their own personality to the page.

Our finished doors ranged from soft blue and lavender to a wonderfully bright green. Around them, garlands of orange, gold, burgundy, and green leaves climbed the doorframes, while autumn wreaths framed warm yellow windows. Pumpkins gathered on the steps in shades of orange, cream, sage, blue, and even purple. Each painting became its own little place you could imagine visiting.

One of my favorite things about teaching a project like this is seeing how differently everyone interprets the same idea. A change in color, a softer wash, a bold brushstroke, or a few tiny details can give a painting a whole new character. Looking through these finished pieces, you can see those individual choices everywhere—from the shapes of the pumpkins to the textures in the foliage and the little door handles.

They would make such a charming neighborhood together!

Watercolor is a lovely medium for capturing autumn. The colors mingle on the paper, little dabs of paint become clusters of leaves, and soft washes give each doorway its welcoming character. There’s room for both delicate details and playful, loose brushwork.

These workshops are also a chance to set aside the everyday to-do list and spend a little time making something simply because it brings you joy. That’s the kind of creative space I love sharing here at Glimmerbug: Welcoming, encouraging, and full of possibilities. I think my most favorite thing is listening to the chatter from the creatives, catching up on life, laughing and having a grand time together just visiting. It sure does make for a welcoming atmosphere! Just a wonderful group of lovely, friendly and encouraging people. We even had a few new faces last night and they were easily brought right into the fold of the group with lovely conversation, chit chat and sharing stories and such.

If you’ve been thinking about trying an art class but wondering whether you’re “artistic enough,” there is a place for you here. You can begin with curiosity, take things one step at a time, and discover what happens when you give yourself permission to try. Your color choices and your way of making marks are part of what makes your work special.

Thank you to everyone who joined me last night and brought these autumn doorways to life. I loved seeing the personality in every painting, and I’m so happy we had this time to create together.

Would you like to join us around the art table? Visit Glimmerbug’s studio class page to explore upcoming workshops in Harvard, Massachusetts. I’d love to welcome you into the studio for a little creative time of your own.