Painting on Dried Leaves

Large leaves are ideal for beginning leaf painters.

Indian artists are famous for creating intricate, gorgeous paintings on peepal or bodhi leaves. But, painting on leaves isn't exclusive to India -- artists throughout the world create paintings on whatever sturdy leaves are indigenous to their locale. In the United States, maple and sycamore leaves are common canvases. In addition to choosing sturdy leaves, use leaves with interesting or unusual shapes -- these features may figure beautifully into your leaf painting.

Things You'll Need

• 3 Heavy books
• 2 pieces of tissue paper or newspaper
• Cake pan
• Water
• Cloth or paper towel
• Clean white cloth
• Newspaper
• Acrylic paints
• Paint brushes

Instructions

1. Collect leaves that are still on trees in late summer and fall. Pull the leaf's stem to remove the leaf from the tree, retaining the entire stem. Be careful not to rip the leaf as you remove it from the tree.

2. Put one piece of tissue paper on top of one of the books. Set only one leaf on each piece of tissue paper. Put the second piece of tissue paper over the leaf. Position the remaining two books on top of the tissue paper and leaf.

3. Allow the leaf to dry for three to five days. Large, moist leaves may need a full week to dry.

4. Fill the cake pan halfway with water. Put the dry leaf into the water. Leave the leaf there for three to four weeks. Replace the water every three to four days. If the leaves begin to develop a film from soaking in the water, gently wipe the film away with a soft cloth or paper towel.

5. Remove the leaf from the water after it has soaked and the outer layer of leaf has been eroded away by the water. Put the leaf on the clean cloth and allow it to dry for 24 hours.

6. Set the dry leaf on the newspaper. Paint the leaf with acrylic paints as you would normally paint on paper and with the designs you desire. Allow the paints to fully dry for 24 to 48 hours.

Tips & Warnings

• Some artists like to mount and frame their painted leaves for display.

• If you have collected several leaves to paint on, you can put them together in one large bowl for soaking.

References

• Childcraft; How and Why Library: Make and Do
• Painting on Peepal Leaf
• Georgia Heritage Center for the Arts: Painting on Leaves GHCA