Leaf Resist Paintings
The Set Up
Paint sticks are one of our favourite materials at Smudge. They glide on smooth like lipstick, blend in seconds, and dry instantly so the play never slows down. Start by filling the page with bold abstract shapes in a chosen palette. Could you work only with warm autumn tones, or mix in cool blues and greens for contrast? Pause to chat about how different colours feel — does a fiery orange make the page buzz, while a soft blue calms it down? Paint works beautifully too, it just needs time to dry in the sunshine or a quick blast with a hairdryer.
The Making
Once the background is alive with colour, bring in a collection of autumn leaves. Trace their outlines directly onto the page, or for an extra challenge, draw them by looking closely, like a still life. When the shapes are ready, use a black or white paint stick to block in all the spaces around them. Suddenly the leaves glow with the colours underneath.
White softens everything, letting the background shine through in a misty, almost translucent way. Black does the opposite, locking the colour inside the leaves so they glow like stained glass. Try layering the two together — what happens if you put down white first, then black, or the other way around? Each order changes the effect. There is no single right way, only endless experiments in how colour can shift and surprise.
Variations
Layer leaves over each other so the colours stack in unexpected ways. Add fine details inside the leaf shapes with markers or gel pens. Try metallic paint sticks so the leaves shimmer and catch the light, as if frost has settled across the page.
Materials
Paint sticks in a range of colours (or paint if you prefer)
Thick paper or card
A variety of autumn leaves
Black and white paint sticks
Markers, gel pens, or metallic paint sticks for details