Make a Fall Leaf Picture Book ~ part one

Of all the seasons, Fall is my favorite! The inside rooms of our home are painted in cozy fall colors such as warm apricot, crimson red, and earthy golden ocher.

It is the glorious season of fall we have to thank for the inspiration behind this fun and easy picture book. No formal art lessons required!

To get this Art Idea off the ground you'll need to head outside with your children to gather all sorts of fallen leaves. Choose as many shapes as you can find and a wide variation in color.

Look at the varied shades of golden yellows, and the reds looking almost pink in spots!

Note the brown spots in these leaves.

Once you have your leaves gathered, place them between the pages of heavy books, or underneath a large platter or plate to flatten them... Leave them to dry and flatten for 2-3 days. While your waiting on your leaves you can go shopping for art supplies! 

Art Supplies List 

• Watercolor Paints
• Watercolor Pad  11 x 15 inches
• Mechanical pencils for tracing
• Water Color Paint Brushes
•  Washable Tempura Paints
• One pkg. Small Sea Sponges
• Jute, ribbon or twine
• Hole punch
• 
  
• * art supplies can be found at your local craft supply and art supply store. 

Now that you have your supplies you're ready place your leaves onto your watercolor pages.

You and your children can have fun arranging your leaves in any pattern that is pleasing to you. 

As your placing your leaves, think about how leaves fall naturally in nature. Side by side, upside down, on top of the other, most colorful side up or down etc...

Here is an example of an Oak Leaf traced onto graph paper. 

As your tracing your leaves, don't worry about getting it perfect or following too close to the edge of the leaf.

Leaves have missing tips and holes in them so just trace around those edges loosely. 

  Great! Trace as many leaves as you like on both sides of the watercolor paper. 

Your book can be as many pages as you like. 

We'll be back next week for Part 2.

Basic painting techniques in watercolors.

Collage Ideas

Binding your book together

Sneak Peak at a page in progress! 

While you're waiting for Part 2 see if you can make up a poem to go with your leaf picture book. 

Here's a prompt for you!

One by one, down they fall... ??? 

 I'll do a " Fall Leaf Book Tour " post of  your completed  books or pages. Just send me your blog post link if you blogged about it / J Peg photos when your done!

Its fun to share!

 It's on the strength of observation and reflection that one finds a way. So we must dig and delve unceasingly. ~ Claude Monet'