Leaf Rubbings Explore Texture and Color

Fall is in the air, and leaves are all around us. In addition to collecting leaves of different shapes, sizes and colors—fall is a great time to explore texture and leaf structure through creating rubbings with crayons or oil pastels. Choose bright colors and peel the crayon or pastel so it can be used along a side. Larger crayons work well for rubbings.  

Begin by exploring the feel of leaves and notice how one side feels rougher and more textured than the other. This is also the side with the veins exposed. Try rubbings of leaves on either side and see the difference. The structure is more pronounced when rubbings are done on the veiny side. With small children, this is a good activity for two sets of hands, one to do the rubbing and one to hold the paper in place.  

Arrange a selection of favorite leaf shapes on the table and cover with paper. Rub with crayons to reveal the unique shapes and textures underneath. Try moving the same leaves and rub them again, creating interesting overlapping patterns that fill the page with shape and color. Try overlapping warm and cool colors or adding metallic crayons to add a bit of sparkle.  

For an extra step paint with watercolor over your rubbings and see how the crayon or oil pastel shows through the paint. This can be especially interesting with rubbings done with light colored crayons. The yellow crayon rubbing may appear almost invisible on white paper but come through with beautiful contrast surrounded with deep red watercolor. For further variations try different colored papers - white crayon on black paper emphasizes the skeletal quality of the leaf structure. Have fun preserving impressions of leaves in rubbings before they all blow away!

Kathryn Horn Coneway is director of Art at the Center, a studio lab for children and families. Learn more at www.artatthecenter.org