Texture Rubbings
MARCH 25 2020
Author: Sarah Clowe, Director of Art Programs
Materials: Crayons or colored pencils, paper
Optional Materials: Scissors, glue, watercolor paints
Looking for art activities to complete at home without a lot of supplies? Try texture rubbings! Rubbings are a classic favorite for a wide range of ages.
Step 1: Texture Search
Take a look around your home and surroundings for items with defined texture that can be copied. In the example pages shown beIow I used the following items:
Red: Tree bark found on a nature walk Orange: The bottom of a shoe
Yellow: Woven rush on a rocking chair seat Green: Wood grain from a fence found on a walk
Blue: Bathroom tile Purple: Netting from potato packaging
Step 2: Texture Rubbing
Place a sheet of paper over a surface with defined texture and hold the paper securely in place with one hand. Take your crayon or colored pencil and push it back an forth over the entire paper. The raised patterns in your chosen material will now copy onto your paper. This will create interesting patterns and designs that can be colored in further or cut and pasted into a fresh design.
Optional Extentions:
You may choose to keep your texture rubbings as finished pieces or continue to experiment and create. Here are some suggested ways to continue on:
-Cut out shapes out of your rubbings and glue them onto a paper to create a new scene. This could be realistic like a flower or an abstract celebration of pattern and shape.
-Color between the lines of your texture patterns
-Brush watercolor paint over crayon rubbings to fill in the background paper and create a resist effect