FORAGED ART
4 0 Y E A R S O F C R E AT I V E L E A D E R S H I P
S U PPLIES Whatever you find in nature
INSTRUCTIONS Gather materials from sourced from nature take only what’s abundant and already fallen to the ground – start in your own backyard! Aim to have a low impact on the environment, so start with weeds (and not your neighbor’s flowers). When you’re done, let your artwork return to what it was – let the wind blow the flower petals and leaves, but you’ll have to put back the stones and rocks.
S T EPS 1.
Look around, look for color, shape and texture & find what’s interesting
2.
Collect different sizes and multiples of each thing
3.
Sort each by either color or size, depending on what you’re making
4.
Set-up by either clearing yourself space outside, or if it’s windy, inside
5.
Create! Make designs, patterns, scenes, creatures, rainbows, or simply spell your name
6.
Take a photo
7.
Let it disband and return to nature
I D EAS Rocks can be stacked (large to small) or create a pattern lining up the lines on multiple rocks (a line, a spiral, or other pattern). Leaves can be placed in patterns (spiral of fern leaves, for instance), stacked (different leaves – shapes, sizes and colors), make creatures (snakes, monsters, birds, etc). If the leaf is curled, place the leaf between the pages of a book for a few days. Flowers can be made into garlands, wreathes, lines (place dandelions in a line in the cracks of trees), and creatures (butterflies, birds, etc.). Mix materials using the different colors to create a rainbow, a mandala of flowers and plants, a mosaic of different patterns, or a scene.
LEAF RUBBINGS
4 0 Y E A R S O F C R E AT I V E L E A D E R S H I P
S U PPLIES Crayon is best, but pencils work Paper Leaves
S T EPS 1.
Go on a nature walk and collect leaves. Look for interesting shapes and textures, all different sizes.
2.
Find a clear flat space, such as your kitchen table, to lay out your leaves and other supplies.
3.
Place your leaf on the table and cover with your piece of paper. Without pressing too hard, lightly rub your crayon or pencil over your paper on top of the leaf. It’s best to use the side of your crayon or your pencil at an angle to use the edge rather than the tip.
4.
Pick a second leaf and repeat the process with a different color of crayon or pencil.
5.
Continue adding each leaf until your paper is full
BLIND CONTOUR DRAWING
4 0 Y E A R S O F C R E AT I V E L E A D E R S H I P
S U PPLIES Pencil, marker, crayon or pen Paper A clipboard or book the size of your paper
S T EPS 1.
Gather your supplies and go outside (you can also do this looking out your window)
2.
Find something interesting to draw – maybe a tree or group of flowers or an unusual rock.
3.
With your paper on your clipboard or book, place the tip of your pencil on the paper and without looking at your hand or the paper, start at the top of your tree or flower or rock and slowly follow the edge, copying that edge with the pencil on the paper.
4.
Don’t lift your pencil off the paper, but continue to follow the edge of your tree through all the ins and out, nooks and crannies, trying to keep to a continuous line. It will be hard not to look at your paper, but try not to! If you do, pause your pencil and keep it in position, never lifting it from your paper.
5.
In the end, you’ll be amazed at what a wonderful drawing you will have!