Leaf Rubbing

Materials

  • Fallen leaves

  • Crayons

  • White paper

Purpose: I want to explore the connection between food, nature, and art with the students. It’s fascinating how art can inspire positive change in our environment, and I believe it’s a vital tool that deserves our attention. Project EATS is an organization based in NYC that converts vacant lots and rooftops into community-focused farms. These farms support farmstands and pantries, offer resources for prepared meals, and provide art and community programs to inspire creativity and promote greater food sovereignty throughout the city. On their website they describe their mission saying that “The integration of Art and Food increases the use of imagination, creativity, commitment, and determination as tools for reshaping social, economic, cultural and environmental conditions towards an empowered Life. Project Eats: Art that Feeds.” This idea truly resonates with me, which is why I intentionally incorporate art into our lessons.

Instructions

  1. Carefully remove the paper from your crayons to expose the wax.

  2. Place a leaf underneath your paper while working on a smooth, flat surface.

  3. Hold the crayon sideways and gently rub it over the area where the paper covers the leaf. Experiment with different angles to reveal the full texture of the leaf beneath.

  4. Once you’ve made the leaf imprint, set the leaf aside and use a different crayon to color in your first rubbing.

  5. Choose another leaf and place it under the paper next to your first rubbing.

  6. Pick a different crayon color, hold it sideways, and rub it just like you did with the first leaf.

  7. After setting the second leaf aside, choose another crayon to color in your second rubbing.

  8. Keep going, adding more leaves and rubbings until your entire page is filled with textured leaf prints.

  9. If you'd like, color the empty spaces between the leaves to make them stand out. This empty area is called the “negative space.”