Leaf Rubbing Bird Art

Leaf rubbing is a fun process art activity for kids of all ages. Turn your leaves into birds with this fun tutorial!

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All you need to make a leaf rubbing is a crayon and some paper. Collect fallen leaves from your backyard and turn them into silly bird drawings.

To make this an educational activity, pick up some books or look at images of birds that are native to your area. Use colors and shapes to make your bird art look like local special.

Or make this a silly project and imagine your own colorful creatures!

Leaf rubbing tips

• Collect fallen leaves instead of picking them from trees if possible, but if you pick a few from a tree, it’s probably okay. (But make sure you have permission to take leaves from wherever you are; some places like state parks prohibit this.)
• Look for leaves in different sizes, shapes, and types to create interest.
• Choose leaves that are still a little soft. If they’re too crunchy, they’ll crumble when you color over them.
• Return the leaves to nature when you’re done with them.

How to make leaf rubbing birds

Supplies

• white drawing paper
• pencil
• crayons
• leaves

Instructions

1. Collect and lay out leaves.

Start by collecting leaves for this art project. Bird wings are kind of a pear or teardrop shape, so look for ones that are similar. Choose different sizes, shapes, and varieties. Imagine what they’ll look like as wings while you gather them from your backyard or a neighborhood park.

Clean the leaves if necessary. You don’t need to wash them in the sink, but wipe off any dirt, cobwebs, etc. Lay them out on your drawing pad to plan out your art. Leave enough space to draw around each leaf.

2. Rub crayon over leaves.

Peel the paper from a crayon. If you have a big box of old crayons, you might already have some paperless ones. You can use one for all of the leaves or try several in different colors.

Place a second piece of paper on top of the leaves. Rub the side of the crayon gently over the leaves to transfer the shape onto the paper.

3. Draw bodies around leaves.

After you’re happy with the leaves, remove them from under the paper. Use a pencil to sketch the bird bodies.

Birds are mostly an oval or circle for the body, a circle for the head, and a triangle for the beak. Add circle eyes and stick legs. You can draw freehand or trace small objects from around your house. Experiment to make all of your birds different!

4. Outline over pencil sketches.

When all of your bird sketches are finished, its time to go over them in crayon. Trace over your lines or draw a body using the pencil lines as a guide. They don’t have to be precise.

You can make each bird a single color, use several shades of the same color, or use a black crayon for contrast. Color them in or just leave them as outlines.

There’s no limit to how many ways you can turn leaf rubbing into bird art! This is process art, so experiment and try different leaves, mix up the shapes, and don’t worry to much about the finished drawings.

Printable instructions

Crayon Rubbing Bird Art

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Materials

• white drawing paper
• pencil
• crayons
• leaves

Instructions

1. Collect and lay out leaves.
   Start by collecting leaves for this art project. Bird wings are kind of a pear or teardrop shape, so look for ones that are similar. Choose different sizes, shapes, and varieties. Imagine what they'll look like as wings while you gather them from your backyard or a neighborhood park. Clean the leaves if necessary. You don't need to wash them in the sink, but wipe off any dirt, cobwebs, etc. Lay them out on your drawing pad to plan out your art. Leave enough space to draw around each leaf.
2. Rub crayon over leaves.
   Peel the paper from a crayon. If you have a big box of old crayons, you might already have some paperless ones. You can use one for all of the leaves or try several in different colors. Place a second piece of paper on top of the leaves. Rub the side of the crayon gently over the leaves to transfer the shape onto the paper.
3. Draw bodies around leaves.
   After you're happy with the leaves, remove them from under the paper. Use a pencil to sketch the bird bodies. Birds are mostly an oval or circle for the body, a circle for the head, and a triangle for the beak. Add circle eyes and stick legs. You can draw freehand or trace small objects from around your house. Experiment to make all of your birds different!
4. Outline over pencil sketches.
   When all of your bird sketches are finished, its time to go over them in crayon. Trace over your lines or draw a body using the pencil lines as a guide. They don't have to be precise. You can make each bird a single color, use several shades of the same color, or use a black crayon for contrast. Color them in or just leave them as outlines.

More fun ideas from Backyard Summer Camp:

• 25 Nature Books for Kids
• Beginner Bird Watching with Kids
• 23 DIY Bird Feeders to Attract Birds to Your Backyard