Trace & Paint Leaves

We were looking through Martha Stewart's Living October 2014 when we were inspired with this activity. In the magazine the leaves are traced lightly in pencil and filled in with water color. To make it easier for children, we traced the leaves in pencil and then drew over the pencil marks with permanent marker.

You will need:
green leaves
paper (we used watercolor paper)
watercolors
paint brushes
pencil
permanent marker

First we collected leaves which can be just as fun as the painting portion. Alpine County is well-known for the fall colors in the aspen groves. We picked some green leaves off of various trees- including aspens. Green leaves are easier to trace since they aren't stiff and fragile. You will want to trace them within a few hours as they will dry out. To extend this time you could cover with a moist towel and refrigerate.

Trace the leaves. Older children can trace by themselves and younger children may want to lay the leaves in a pattern that pleases them and have you help them by tracing.

We used an ultra fine point permanent marker for two and a fine tip permanent maker for one (the aspen leaves)

Set up your paints, brushes and water......

Once this activity is set-up with the leaves traced, any level artist can participate. These would even look great with the entire page painted as they do with the paint over the lines.

An extension of the activity could be helping children identify the names of the plants and write the names next to each leaf.

Happy Leaf Hunting!