Create Fall Leaf Patterns

      This design project is best suited to students in fourth, fifth and sixth grades.

Materials:

• Black permanent markers, a variety of tip sizes
• 81/2'' x 11" white drawing paper
• extra scratch papers for cutting out stencils
• pencil and eraser
• a collection of fall leaves
• a variety of colored felt tip pens
• scissors

Step-by-Step Directions:

1. Students will first need to collect a minimum of seven leaves and trace around them to create their own stencils. 
2. After cutting out the patterns, students should then move them around an 81/2 inch x 11inch sheet of white drawing paper. 
3. The leaves should be large enough so that they will overlap a bit when traced onto the white drawing paper.       
4. Next the spaces which overlap should be filled in with solid black ink. 
5. Now challenge the students to draw a different patterned design in every remaining positive and negative space, neatly using black ink only.
6. Students should ink in select parts of the designs only.
7. After completing this part of the design project they may color in their fall leaf patterns with an assortment of colors representing an Autumn color palette.

More Black and White Design Inspiration:

• Scarecrow art lesson emphasizing line and patterns
• Line Drawing Art Lessons: Owls and Cats
• Aztec and Navajo Triangles
• Zentangle inchies with hearts example
• Line art city and clouds example
• Positive and Negative hands example
• Black and White House Sculpture examples
• 6th grade Geometric Composition Project

Above, the hand colored finished fall leaf, art assignment.