- Use a feather can be used much like a regular paintbrush. Simply wet the feather and run your fingers down its barbs to gather them into a point. Dip the feather into paint and use as you would a paintbrush.
- Use leaves or feathers to stamp an impression onto your craft. Use a paintbrush to coat one side of the leaf or feather with paint. Then, carefully lay the leaf or feather, painted side down, onto your paper. Press the item gently with your fingertips and then slowly pull it off the paper. You will have a print of the leaf or feather on your paper.
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Example of a smashed leaf paintingSmashing works with leaves because they are full of natural juices that can be used as paint. Lay the leaf on paper and cover it with a small board. Pound the board with a rock or hammer, then slowly remove the board. The pounding will have pressed the juices from the leaf, leaving an impression on the paper. For better results, use leaves that are thick and do not have a shiny coating. - To get a painting that looks like marble, paint your entire surface in white paint. While the paint is still wet, dip your leaf or feather into gray paint. Drag your tool across the white paint in a light, zigzag pattern. This will simulate the veins that run through natural marble. To get different colors of marble, paint the entire surface in the color you want and use black paint for the veins on very dark colors. Use white paint for the veins if you use black as your base color.
