How to Create a Mixed Media Painting Using Pressed Leaves

Most of us tend to think of mixed-media painting as constructs of artificial materials. Adding natural objects, such as pressed leaves, puts a new spin on an old technique. Whether you intent is to show summer light shining through leaves or the splendor of fall colors, pressed leaves are easy to add to mixed-media work.

Things You'll Need

• Art paper or canvas
• Paints of choice (water-, acrylic-, oil-based)
• Brushes
• Craft glue
• Nonwoven dusting cloths, like Handi-wipes or paper towels
• Heavy books
• Pressed leaves
• Optional: pieces of fabric, paper, tissue paper, thread, yarn, string

Instructions

1. Pick and press leaves. Deciduous leaves work the best, because they are thin. Pick more than you tend to include in your painting because leaves do not always look exactly the same when pressed and it's good to have some extras. Wash and dry leaves, smooth them between nonwoven dusting cloths or paper towels, and press them flat under heavy books. This process usually takes 2 to 3 days, at which time leaves will be dry and flat.

2. Make some choices. If leaves are to be used as-is, you're ready to proceed. If leaves need to be painted, do that before going on to the rest of your picture. Another technique you may wish to incorporate is using painted leaves to print (coat leaves on one side with paint, press against your paper and leave the impression of the leaf when you peel it off and throw it away).

3. To incorporate leaves, coat them on one side with craft glue and affix to your painting. Wipe any glue that seeps out from under leaves off with a paper towel.

4. Consider emphasizing the inclusion of leaves by adding other materials that reflect some leaf-like qualities. Colored tissue paper or fabrics that mirror the translucence of leaves might be good additions. Use yarn or string to make vines for your leaves.

5. Experiment with different kinds of leaves, including those on thin branches or stems. Allow three days for thorough drying so that stems lose most of their moisture. Feel free also to rearrange leaves from their natural state, layering leaves of different sizes or using them in geometric patterns. Adding a new material to mixed-media brings minor challenges and major opportunities to produce something beautiful.

Tips & Warnings

• Occasionally, leaves such as maples will contain enough sweet juice that they will stick to paper towels or even the nonwoven dusting cloths. In that case, layer leaves between two sheets of waxed paper, then paper and then place them under the books.

• Evergreen "leaves," like cypress or cedar require extra drying time because they are constructed with harder and less porous outer skins than leaves from deciduous trees and plants. Evergreen needles may lose color as they dry, again because of their structure.