This originally began as just a warmup exercise. I had found a sweetgum (they look a _lot_ like a maple leaf don't they?) leaf on a walk across campus. I sketched it out on some 11x14 Bristol, then decided to also color it... then I just kind of ran with it. The subtle bits of contrast along the edges, as well as the broad values in the deep reds and rich yellows really brings it to life.
I still have this painting, it's one of my favorites.
Years after creating this, Mark Crilley (a fantastic artist I admire) published a book called "The Realism Challenge" ( https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Realism_Challenge/cM1vDwAAQBAJ ) and I had to do a double-take -- he had a sweetgum leaf on the cover that looked _so much_ like mine! Great minds, I suppose!
(Reposted from my DA: https://www.deviantart.com/armahillo/art/Sweetgum-Leaf-495489379)
