How to create a watercolor relief print

Try this useful art activities with kids. Get some cardboard and cut into rectangles as long as the art project paper you will print on...

clipped from www.artprojectsforkids.org 2. I started the students with blank drawing paper, about 9" x 12", and large cardboard leaf templates. To add more educational value, you could have many different leaf shapes. For example: maple, ginko, birch and oak all have interesting shapes. Show the students how to trace them onto the paper, and then add some veins on the inside. Hand out dark crayons and ask the students to trace all of the leaf lines, pressing hard to cover the pencil. 3. For the rubbing, the students put the corregated cardboard under their paper (bumpy side up) and rub inside their leaf with the side of a peeled crayon. Encourage the use of warm colors, just like most fall leaves. 4. Pass out warm watercolors (red, yellow, orange) which may be painted over all of the inside leaf, including the crayon rubbing. Pass out cool watercolors (blue, green and purple) for the students to paint in the entire background as they please. Cut the cardboard into rectangles that are at least as large as your drawing paper.