We're Going on a Leaf Hunt!

Nature gives us the best templates! So when I decided to do a watercolor leaf  project we only needed to walk through my backyard to find the best Maple, Oak and Spruce tracers ever! The final projects ranged from a single leaf, to a few scattered, to a more detailed mosaic pattern. Once they were traced we completed part one of our project. Afterwards, for the younger students, I outlined what they traced with a black glue to dry overnight making it ready for our next class. For the more complicated patterns, the kids outlined their design in a dark colored crayon. 

Part two was the really fun part! After reviewing with the kids which colors were warm and which were cool, we used watercolors to fill in the areas separated by the now hardened black glue to  let the mixing, blending and blurring begin! The leaves were painted with warm colors and the area around the leaves was painted in cool blue and purple. The contrast created results that were as beautiful as the Northeastern foliage that surrounded us!