COLORFUL LEAVES Look to nature for color inspiration and bring this collection of drawings to life with colored pencils, crayons, watercolors, or markers.
COLORFUL LEAVES A Coloring Book of Artwork from Nature by Gail Selfridge
In addition to the leaf images, there is information on using art materials, and ways for you to create additional drawings from leaves found in your own neighborhood. Gail Selfridge, professional writer and illustrator, is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, and recipient of the ASBA 2015 Anne Ophelia Dowden Award. She developed a lifelong interest in botanical art and scientific illustration through leaf rubbing and has worked extensively with leaf illustration and educational outreach programs for both children and adults. More online: gnsi.org/journal/leaf-rubbing-educational-outreach. ISBN 978-0-9746690-1-4
51250>
Colorful Leaves is funded by the American Society of Botanical Artists. 9 780974 669014
COLOR NOTES ILLUSTRATIONS
1a
1c
1b
2a
2b
2c
1d
2d 3
Populus deltoides Eastern Cottonwood
4
5
COLORFUL LEAVES A Coloring Book of Artwork from Nature by Gail Selfridge
Colorful Leaves is funded by the AmericanSociety of Botanical Artists a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting public awareness of contemporary botanical art, to honoring its traditions, and to furthering its development. See more online: asba-art.org
Ulmus americana American Elm
Preface On one level Colorful Leaves can be seen and used simply as a coloring book, but the images in this book can also be utilized as tools for exploring both color and different techniques. In addition, there is step-by-step information for developing additional images from the wealth of leaves that exist all around you. Working with leaves can expand your knowledge not only of drawing/coloring techniques but of science and nature as well. Instead of seeing only leaves blowing in the wind, you begin to recognize the shapes and to notice, for example, the difference between a Pin Oak and a Bur Oak. In nature there is great variety in both colors and leaf shapes. Observe leaves found in your own neighborhood and use them for inspiration in coloring the images shown here and for developing images of your own through leaf rubbing.
LIST OF PLANT ILLUSTRATIONS Scientific Name
Common Name
TREES Quercus robur Quercus imbricaria Quercus macrocarpa Quercus palustris Quercus rubra Platanus occidentalis Acer rubrum Acer saccharinum Acer saccharum Cercis canadensis Ulmus americana Populus deltoides Fraxinus excelsior subsp excelsior Ginkgo biloba Aesculus hippocastanum Liquidambar styraciflua Prunus armeniaca Diospyros virginiana Morus rubra Carya illinoinensis Pyrus calleryana Pyrus calleryana Malus ‘Robinson’
Common Oak, English Oak Shingle Oak Bur Oak Pin Oak Red Oak Sycamore Red Maple Silver Maple Sugar Maple Eastern Redbud American Elm Eastern Cottonwood One-Leaved Ash Ginkgo/ Maidenhair Tree Horse Chestnut American Sweet Gum Apricot American Persimmon Red Mulberry Pecan Callery Pear Callery Pear ‘Cleveland Select’ Flowering Crabapple
SHRUBS Euonymus alatus Rhus glabra Rubus allegheniensis Rubus occidentalis
Burning Bush Smooth Sumac Blackberry Black Raspberry
3
Practice Section The last section of Colorful Leaves includes practice images that can be used to gain experience with various art materials. Color Notes, page 44, is a complete listing of the media, paper, and colors that were used to create the drawings featured on cover front, back, and inside. Color Notes Illustrations, back inside cover, shows examples of finished works. By starting small with a practice image and some of the designated colors you will begin to see how many of these same colors are appropriate for other leaf/branch drawings as well. Uses for Finished Drawings Particularly when working with children, once finished it is important to organize and display the drawings. This can be done in either purely artistic ways or as a means of learning how to identify plants by their foliage rather than by their blossoms. Colorings, drawings, and rubbings can be cut out and arranged on a background. They can be organized as a collection that is kept in a scrapbook, photo album, portfolio, or booklet. Temporary exhibits can be arranged on a bulletin board. Finished works can be displayed by matting and framing then hung as artwork, or mounted on a roll of paper creating a scroll that is attached to a dowel rod and hung vertically. They can be used to illustrate a book that records plants in your neighborhood, or to illustrate reports and other writings. They can be used to create postcards, greeting cards, or transferred to T-shirts, tote bags, etc. A Lifetime Activity Even with only a limited knowledge of botany it is possible to create accurate and beautiful drawings of plants, and the attention to detail required to depict a plant’s parts increases your knowledge. In addition, drawing requires a modest investment in art materials and supplies and it is a pleasurable activity that can be pursued for a lifetime.
10
Populus deltoides Eastern Cottonwood
13
Practice Section The line drawings on pages 38-43 correspond to the images featured on the cover front, back, and inside. They can be used in conjunction with Color Notes and Color Notes Illustrations to experiment and gain experience with various art materials. Color Notes, page 44, is a complete listing of the media, paper, and colors that were used, and Color Notes Illustrations, back inside cover, shows examples/stages of the finished works. Many of these designated colors are also appropriate for other leaf/branch line drawings.
38
Platanus occidentalis Sycamore Colored Pencils
COLOR NOTES See examples of materials used: dickblick.com, staples.com, or google search. Watercolors:
Markers:
Winsor & Newton Winsor & Newton Bic Markers Prismacolor
Colored Pencils:
Prismacolor
Graphite Pencils:
Cotman Sketchers’ Pocket Box. Cotman Watercolor Brushes Set B, set of 4 Three Rounds (Size 1, 4, and 6), and a 3/8" One Stroke. Bic Mark-It also called Bic Marking (both acid free) Set of 36 fine points; Set of 36 ultra fine points. Prismacolor Colorless Blender Sets available or as individual pencils. Frequently used: Olive Green, Moss Green, Limepeel, Dark Green, Crimson Red, Tuscan Red, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Goldenrod, Terra Cotta, Burnt Ochre. Sets available in various brands or as individual pencils.
Crayons:
Crayola
Sets available; I used the set of 64.
Papers:
Canson Canson Arches Arches Clearprint
Bristol, pad of 15, 100 pound, 9" by 12" Watercolor, pad of 15, 90 pound, 9" by 12" Hot Press Watercolor, pad of 12, 140 pound, 9" by 12" Watercolor Rough, pad of 12, 140 pound, 9" by 12" Design Vellum, pad of 50, 8.5" by 11"
Key to Colors in the Illustrations 1. Stages of Sycamore leaf using Prismacolor colored pencils on illustration board. a. Entire leaf covered in Goldenrod; veins and stem added in Moss Green. b. Burnt Ochre and Yellow Ochre added. c. Terra Cotta and Tuscan Red added. d. Finished by intensifying colors around the edges, shadows, and highlights. 2. Sycamore leaf using Crayola crayons: Green Yellow, Yellow Green, Olive Green, Forest Green, Pine Green. a. Green on Arches Watercolor Rough b. Green on Exact Vellum Bristol (paper used to print this book) Sycamore leaf using Winsor & Newton watercolors on Arches Hot Press Watercolor. c. Brown: Burnt Umber 076, Alizarin Crimson Hue 003. d. Yellow: Cadmium Yellow Pale Hue 119, Cadmium Yellow Hue 109, Alizarin Crimson Hue 003, Burnt Umber 076. 3. Cottonwood leaves using Prismacolor colored pencils on Bristol. First layer of Lemon Yellow. Overlayer Limepeel and Dark Green. Dark spots of Burnt Ombre. Branch bark (inside cover) French Gray 50 %, and 70%, and Dark Ombre. 4. Burning Bush using Prismacolor colored pencil on illustration board. Top four leaves: Crimson Lake, Crimson Red, Yellow Ochre. Middle: Terra Cotta, Tuscan Red, blended with Crimson Red and Olive Green. Bottom: Olive Green, Moss Green, blended with Crimson Red. Stem: Moss Green. Buds: Raw Umber, Tuscan Red. 5. Ginkgo using Bic Permanent Markers and Prismacolor Colorless Blender on Clearprint Design Vellum First layer: Yellow Blaze. Over layers: Margarita Green, Key Lime, Forest Green, and Blender.
44
COLOR NOTES ILLUSTRATIONS
1a
1c
1b
2a
2b
2c
1d
2d 3
Populus deltoides Eastern Cottonwood
4
5
COLORFUL LEAVES Look to nature for color inspiration and bring this collection of drawings to life with colored pencils, crayons, watercolors, or markers.
COLORFUL LEAVES A Coloring Book of Artwork from Nature by Gail Selfridge
In addition to the leaf images, there is information on using art materials, and ways for you to create additional drawings from leaves found in your own neighborhood. Gail Selfridge, professional writer and illustrator, is a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, and recipient of the ASBA 2015 Anne Ophelia Dowden Award. She developed a lifelong interest in botanical art and scientific illustration through leaf rubbing and has worked extensively with leaf illustration and educational outreach programs for both children and adults. More online: gnsi.org/journal/leaf-rubbing-educational-outreach. ISBN 978-0-9746690-1-4
51250>
Colorful Leaves is funded by the American Society of Botanical Artists. 9 780974 669014