Leaf and Pattern Kids Art Project

by zzlivingJanuary 24, 2017

A fun and easy art drawing project from art teacher Kathy Barbro.

Leaves with Lines

This is a good exercise for those small motor skills. I’ve found students have a lot of fun just losing themselves in their patterns.

1. Cardboard templates of leaves may help young artists get started, but drawing their own is always best. Students draw at least two of their favorite leaves, and then draw the veins inside. The veins should divide the leaf up into large sections.

2. Sharpie markers are used to trace all the lines. Students fill all the areas with patterns, changing whenever they got to a new section.

3. When complete, the leaves are traced with what I call “energy lines” around the outside until the paper was filled. I emphasized throughout the project that nothing was to be filled in. I think it made the students think more. . . and made my markers last longer too.

By Kathy Barbro

Arts & Crafts

Kathy Barbro earned her B.F.A. at Minneapolis College of Arts & Design, enjoying a 20-year career in graphic design. When her son entered kindergarten, her career path took a turn. The local elementary school had no art program and that was all the inspiration she needed. Kathy served as a volunteer art docent for several years, later becoming the school’s Professional Expert in Visual Arts. She teaches twenty K-5 classes weekly and conducts an after-school Art Enrichment program. Kathy pooled her talents to share her curriculum via the blogosphere. With 500 classroom-tested art projects posted, her Art Projects For Kids www.artprojectsforkids.org is a favored source of art lesson plans among teachers, home schoolers and parents.