The Story Behind the Art: Fall in Destin

Tracy Foster
Oct 6
2 min read

Autumn leaves in orange and yellow on tree branches under a bright blue sky. Green and brown trees in the background create a tranquil scene for mindful reflection.

There’s a particular elm tree that greets us each year along the path we walk with our pup, Seeley, when visiting the Gulf Coast.

It’s an unassuming tree most of the year, but when fall arrives, it transforms into something quietly spectacular.

The canopy glows with gold and rust, and for a few weeks, it turns the path into a tunnel of light and shadow—a gentle reminder that, even here in sunny Destin, fall has its own quiet story to tell.

Paints and tubes on a cork board with paper and leaves with gold and rust. A watercolor palette is open, displaying various colors, evoking a creative mood of fall.

This year, as I stood beneath that elm, the light caught between branches and pine needles, I snapped a photo that became the heart of my Fall In Destin art print—the first in a collection called Fall Atmospheres.

From beneath the shade, I looked up and saw the sun pouring through the leaves, filtered, fractured, almost shy.

Standing there, I realized something simple but profound: there’s beauty in letting the light in slowly, in noticing how even shadow holds space for hope.

A watercolor painting in process with the atmosphere of the sky peaking through the fall branches, creating space for curiousity in the watercolor painting.

Fall has always been that kind of season for me—an in-between moment that teaches us about order and preparation.

Nature, in all her wisdom, begins to tidy up—clearing, pruning, letting go—so that the next season has room to grow.

Maybe that’s why fall grounds us. It’s structured yet soft, reminding us that order and beauty don’t always mean rigidity—they can mean readiness, peace, and gentle expectation.

a board with watercolor paper taped to it and the deep dark shadows of a reflective fall seen have been laid, giving the impression of being under a large elm tree. The blue atmosphere beyond seems to call you into a brighter space.

When I painted Fall in Destin, I wanted that balance to shine through: the mingling of deep shadow and warm sunlight, the coastal pines beside crisp fall leaves, the stillness that whispers, “something new is coming.”

It’s a piece about seeing beyond the darkness and being quietly drawn forward by the pull of promise.

If you’re styling your home for the season, consider giving this piece a spot where sunlight can peak into it—perhaps in your entryway where morning light spills through.

A unique fall watercolor on a rock mantle accented with a ceramic piece and leaves that set the mood of storied fall elegance.

Pair it with textures that echo fall’s warmth but still nod to Destin’s coastal charm: a natural linen throw, a few pinecones gathered on a walk, or a cluster of amber glass jars.

Mix warm rust and mustard accents with soft ocean blues for a palette that feels both cozy and fresh.

A fall maple leaf held in the hand of an artist searching the textures for her next art print.

Decorating for fall doesn’t have to mean overwhelming your space with orange pumpkins.

Sometimes, it’s about creating corners of calm—moments that remind you to breathe, look up, and feel grateful for what’s here right now.

Woman in a dark jacket walks a dog on a leaf-strewn path lined with tall trees. Autumn leaves and overcast sky set a calm mood.

So as the season unfolds, maybe take a walk beneath your own “elm tree.” Notice how the light shifts, how the air carries change.

And if this painting speaks to you, I hope it fills your space with the same quiet joy and hopeful order it brought me on that sunny, shaded path in Destin.