Ghost Leaves
The Set Up
Pile the table with leaves gathered from outside. It does not matter if they are freshly fallen or dry and brittle, each one brings its own kind of magic. Spread them out beside thick craft paper or watercolour sheets. Fill spray bottles with liquid watercolours, about ten drops each to start. Adjust until the colours feel as soft or as bold as you want.
The Making
Scatter leaves across the page and spray. Hold the bottle high and colour drifts down like mist, settling softly into the gaps. Spray close and the edges come out sharp, almost like shadows frozen mid-fall. The moment the leaf is lifted never (ever) gets old; crisp white silhouettes with the gorgeous bursts of colour. Keep layering! Add more leaves, tilt them on angles, spray again.
Variations
Try metallic sprays or shimmer paint so the silhouettes catch the light like frosted leaves in early morning.
Build a collaborative piece where everyone adds to the same sheet, each spray leaving behind a trace of the moment.
Materials
Autumn leaves (fresh, dry, curled, or flat)
Thick craft or watercolour paper
Spray bottles
Liquid watercolours
Optional metallic sprays or shimmer paint
Drop cloths or protective covering