Fall Leaves

How does a watercolor artist capture the patterning and color variations present in fallen leaves? The answer is to create texture through alternative tools, namely aluminum foil and plastic wrap. I painted each leaf individually using both dark and light hues, then crushed up the foil or wrap and placed it directly on top of the wet paint. I applied a weight to the top of the covering and sat patiently waiting for the magic to happen. Once I was certain the paint was dried I lifted off the foil or wrap to uncover the texture of a fall leaf. Then it was time to paint the next leaf; this was definitely a time-consuming project, but I loved the result.