Painting leaves and using them as prints are fun and easy art projects that you will be able to do at home with a few simple art supplies.You can make some holiday decorations for your home with fall leaves.You can make endless combinations with the different types of leaves and paints.
Step 1: You can find dry leaves on the ground.
You will have more room to paint on large leaves if you find an assortment of them.Look at the ground around the bases of the trees.If you want to flatten out leaves before you paint them, put them underneath a heavy book or object.
Step 2: If you can't find any leaves on the ground, pick fresh leaves.
After a few days, fresh leaves will begin to dry out.There are big leaves such as maple leaves.Permission is required to pick leaves from someone else's property.
Step 3: The leaves should be laid out on a flat work surface.
You can protect your work surface by putting down old newspapers.Pick a few leaves that you want to paint and place them in front of you on the protected surface.You don't want to get paint outside of the protected area if you leave space between the leaves and the newspapers.
Step 4: Make designs with solid colors by painting the leaves.
The paint colors that you want to use on the paper plate should be squeezed out.Paint the leaves with a small paintbrush.You can create interesting color patterns on your leaves by mixing different colors.The paint will air dry in about 30 minutes.
Step 5: If you prefer drawing with a brush, use chalk crayons.
Try either regular chalk crayons or liquid chalk markers.Draw designs that look nice on the leaves.You can draw patterns on your leaves.
Step 6: If you only want to use one color, spray paint leaves.
You can leave your leaves outside or in a well-ventilated area.Press down on the cap of the spray paint can to spray the paint on if you want to paint a leaf.You can spray paint small branches with the leaves still attached.Place the branches in a vase when the paint is dry if you use gold or silver spray paint.It takes 1-2 hours for spray paint to dry.
Step 7: Pick some leaves that are fresh.
When you press on fresh leaves, they won't break as easily as dry leaves.It is advisable to pick the leaves from the trees or plants where you find them.Maple leaves work well to make prints.If you don't know what a plant is and you want to pick leaves from it, you can take pictures of it on your phone and make sure it's safe to touch.
Step 8: Get your leaves and paints ready by laying newspapers on a flat work surface.
There are different colors of paint on the paper plate.The backs of your leaves should be facing up.You don't want paint on the work surface if you leave space between the newspapers and leaves.
Step 9: The back of a leaf can be covered with paint.
Paint the entire backside of the leaf.It's important to get the paint in the leaf so that it can make a detailed print.The backside of the leaf is where the veins and details are most visible.Try to create multi-colored patterns with different colors on one leaf.
Step 10: Carefully press the leaf down after flipping it over.
Put pressure on all parts of the leaf.Rub every part of the leaf to make it look better on your paper.You can use any paper you want.There are things like sketch paper that work well.
Step 11: A different kind of printing effect can be achieved with watercolor paints.
Press the leaf down on the piece of paper after covering it with watercolor paint.This will give you partial prints that are interesting.If you make the watercolor paint on your brush too watery, it won't transfer well to the leaf.Make sure the paint sticks to your brush by using just enough water.The veins will make a good impression on the paper if you press the leaf against it.
Step 12: Paint around leaves on paper to make outlines.
Attach the leaves to a piece of paper with double-sided tape.Paint in the white spaces and around the edges of the leaves with watercolors or acrylic paints.To create a unique looking print with a variety of leaf silhouettes, blend a bunch of different watercolors.Adding glitter around the edges of leaves or in the blank spaces on top of the paint will create additional effects.