Fall leaf art lesson using easy marbling technique

In this beautiful fall leaf art lesson we’re using an easy marbling technique to create unique autumn-coloured prints.

 

 

Fall leaf art lesson

 
This art idea is inspired by suminagashi which is the Japanese art of paper marbling.

Marbling is a long-practiced art of floating colour on top of water, or other viscous solution, to create patterns similar in appearance to marble and other stone. Prints are taken of the patterns using paper or sometimes fabric. You often see marble prints used in book covers, and the patterns that are created are unique.

You can try this art process at home to make your own prints, or to enjoy simply for the sensory process of playing with the colours and patterns.

In our simplified version of autumn marbling, we’re going to use the wonderful sensory material of shaving foam as the base of our art work.

 

 

For autumn marbling

 

 

 

Enjoy your time playing with the colours and experimenting with the patterns you can create.

 

 

 

If you would like to take a print of your marbling, carefully press a piece of card onto the surface of the shaving foam.

 

 

 

Peel it back gently and then use a piece of card or tissue to wipe (in one smooth movement across the card) the shaving foam off your card. Your marbled print will be revealed!

 

 

 

You can repeat this process as many times as you like, adding another clean layer of shaving foam if needed. Enjoy the process of mixing colours, and swirling and blending them.

 

 

 

Lay the printed cards down on a flat surface until the paint is dry.

 

 

 

If you would like to, you can cut out leaf, apple, and pumpkin shapes from your marbled cards.

Draw shapes by hand, or trace around cookie cutter shapes.

You might use your marbled shapes to make bunting or a mobile, or to decorate your nature table.