Painting with leaves: an elegant brush with nature
New Life Journal, June-July, 2004 by Suzann Roalman

As a would-be artist for over three decades, I had allowed obsessive and negative thoughts about my ability, or lack thereof; my materials, and their seemingly inordinate value; and my artistic training, or absence, to inhibit creative flow and expression, until I hit on the brilliant idea of allowing Nature to be my muse! Now, I happily paint with leaves, allowing them to be my vehicle for artistic expression.

On the day I learned how to paint with leaves, I had been unhappily pondering a new watercolor set and a blank sheet of paper. I was raised in the school of thought that "Mistakes-Are-Costly-Events-to-be-Avoided." This belief definitely crimped my efforts at creative serf-expression. Blank paper evoked a sensation akin to terror. With what was I supposed to cover all that white space? What if I put down color that bled into ugly! Then I hit upon the idea of painting with leaves. Eureka! Here was a method for applying color to paper that circumvented ego and early childhood training.

In experimenting with the application of color to leaves, which are then applied to paper as a kind of imprint, I soon envisioned myself engaged in sacred activity. As a medieval monk transcribes an illuminated manuscript with painstaking care and devotion, each leaf of my artwork carries an imprint of the Divine--the furry silk of lamb's ear, the intricate veins of a kudzu leaf, the stout ridges of a sycamore leaf. Each leaf or seedpod or blade of grass is breath-takingly unique and perfect. Such a discovery! Such an awakening!

My painting method is simplicity itself. I take a white china plate, and using tubes of watercolor, squeeze blobs of paint around the edge of my plate/palate. Next, I fill up a clear glass with water. Voila! I'm ready to go!

Painting with leaves is a fun activity to share with children of all ages, and the method is disarmingly simple: take a leaf, and then paint it with watercolor. You'll learn how thick or watery to make the paint ms you go 'along. Use this painted leaf ms an imprint and transfer its image to paper. I usually smooth the leaf with my lingers to transfer the paint onto paper. In general, it's the underside of the leaf (the more porous, less waxy surface) that accepts paint more readily and transfers more interesting textures and patterns onto paper. As you experiment with different leaves, you'll discover that some wilt quickly, while others turn dry and brittle. Some accept paint like a sponge, while others seem coated with a waxy surface and are less accepting of paint. Gingko is a good leaf with which to paint. However, its somewhat waxy surface and fine ridges are tricky, to capture in an imprint.

The fun, of course, is in the experimentation. Some of my favorite specimens for painting include lambs ear, lotus root sections (from our local Asian grocer), gingko, sycamore, the gills of mushrooms, the heads of composite flowers like daisies or feverfew, the center ribs of magnolia leaves, and many more. Over the years, when sharing my painting technique with others, I've set one ground rule which follows from my observations: in Nature, there are no mistakes. So, using Nature as our inspiration and guide, we'll agree beforehand to accept each painting as unique and perfect. There are no mistakes! Some children have a big problem with this until I remind them that we're here to learn and discover. We don't need to be critical of others or ourselves.

Finally, a word about materials. If you have a psychological obstacle, like I did, about wasting paper, it might be good to start with a deck of blank index cards, so you don't get too hung up about the cost of your new-found artistic efforts. Eventually, I purchased a ream of nicely textured recycled paper and cut it into the shapes I wanted for my post-card or note-card sized paintings. They make wonderful note cards and gift certificates for when you want to provide that extra-special greeting.

Suzann Roalman is a certified massage therapist, an herbalist and a teacher, with homes in Athens, GA (706-546-0114) and Brevard, N.C. (828-966-9612). She welcomes your inquiries or comments.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Natural Arts
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Bibliography for "Painting with leaves: an elegant brush with nature"
Suzann Roalman "Painting with leaves: an elegant brush with nature". New Life Journal. June-July 2004. FindArticles.com. 23 Sep. 2006.

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