FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN 2014: Google Doodle reflects how inspired fall artists use the leaf of paper - The Washington Post

First Day of Autumn. (courtesy of GOOGLE)

BACK IN MARCH, Eisner-nominated artist Eleanor Davis created a beguiling animated Google Doodle to celebrate the budding Spring Equinox. The watering of the letters in “Google” by a “blob lady” resulted in the blooming Doodle, Davis told The Post’s Comic Riffs.

Today, into the Doodle, a little reversal must fall. In an animation reminiscent of Davis’s vernal work with Google team artist Sophia Foster-Dimino, the California company’s Sept. 23 marks the first day of autumn with blue-gray trees that, above our “blob man,” turn deep colorful hues before revealing the stark and barren branches that spell out “Google.”

“I’m super tickled to have another Doodle drop!” Davis — who appeared at Small Press Expo this month with her new book, “How to Be Happy” — tells Comic Riffs today.

The Doodle falls on the autumnal “equinox,” or “equal night,” when Earth’s days and nights are of roughly equal length, as the planet’s axis tilts not toward, or away from, the sun.

[FALL EQUINOX: Explained in 6 images]

The Doodle summons thoughts of other artists who have created sublime cartoons and illustrations in autumnal tones and themes, including Ronald Searle, Bill Watterson, Charles Schulz and Eric Drooker.

1. BILL WATTERSON

Growing up in Ohio, Watterson developed a keen artistic eye for the colors of seasonal change, and his beloved strip “Calvin and Hobbes” could positively burst with color, including the golden russet and ochre tints of a watercolored lazy autumn:

Watterson’s “Calvin and Hobbes.” (courtesy of Universal Uclick/Andrews McMeel)