# Textures in Nature

## Overview

In this chapter, students explore the rich and varied textures found in nature. Through activities inspired by ancient stories and modern art techniques, they learn to feel, observe, and replicate textures using creative methods. The chapter culminates in the creation of a Kalpavriksha or wish-fulfilling tree using frottage, collage, and leaf printing techniques.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Understanding Textures in Nature

- Nature provides endless textures such as rough, smooth, bumpy, and soft.
- These can be observed in tree barks, leaves, pebbles, soil, flowers, and more.
- Students are encouraged to explore their surroundings and identify these textures using their sense of touch and sight.

### 2. Kalpavriksha – The Wish-Fulfilling Tree

- Inspired by ancient texts, students imagine and create their own magical tree.
- They observe real trees for inspiration—studying trunks, branches, leaves, flowers, and roots.
- Using imagination, they sketch multiple designs for their wish-fulfilling tree, deciding on size, shape, and colours.

### 3. Frottage – Capturing Texture Through Rubbing

- Frottage is the process of rubbing paper over textured surfaces to record patterns.
- Materials needed: paper, coloured pencils, crayons.
- Steps:
1. Place paper on a textured surface (like bark, leaves, stones).
2. Rub with crayon or pencil to reveal the pattern.
3. Apply more pressure to highlight finer details.
4. Repeat on different surfaces and collect all rubbings.

### 4. Collage – Assembling the Tree

- Collage involves pasting textured papers onto a surface to create an artwork.
- Steps:
1. Prepare a base using large sheets or fabric.
2. Draw an outline of the tree with trunk and branches.
3. Use frottage work and materials with different textures.
4. Share and exchange textures with classmates.
5. Arrange and paste within the outlines to build the tree.

### 5. Leaf Printing – Decorating the Tree

- After completing the collage, students add leaves using printing techniques.
- Steps:
1. Collect leaves with varied shapes and textures.
2. Mix paint and water to create a creamy paste.
3. Apply paint using fingers, sponge, or brush.
4. Press leaves onto the surface and carefully lift.
5. Repeat with different leaves and colours to create patterns.

## New Terms

| Term | Simple Definition |
|--------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Texture | How something feels when you touch it (rough, smooth, bumpy, etc.) |
| Frottage | Rubbing over a textured surface with a crayon or pencil to show patterns |
| Collage | Art made by sticking different pieces of material on a surface |
| Leaf Printing| A way to make leaf shapes by painting and pressing them on paper/fabric |
| Kalpavriksha | A magical tree that is believed to grant wishes in ancient stories |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)

1. **What is frottage?**
*Answer*: Frottage is rubbing over a textured surface with a crayon or pencil to show its pattern.
*Explanation*: It helps to capture the texture of objects like leaves and bark.

2. **Name two things you can use to create frottage.**
*Answer*: Crayons and coloured pencils.
*Explanation*: These tools help show the texture clearly on paper.

3. **What is a Kalpavriksha?**
*Answer*: A tree that grants wishes.
*Explanation*: It is from ancient stories and used in the chapter as a creative idea.

### Medium (2)

4. **List the steps involved in leaf printing.**
*Answer*:
- Collect leaves.
- Apply paint.
- Press on surface.
- Lift and repeat.
*Explanation*: This creates leaf shapes and patterns in art.

5. **Why do we use collage in this chapter?**
*Answer*: To assemble different textures and complete the trunk and branches of the Kalpavriksha.
*Explanation*: Collage allows combining different patterns and designs into one tree artwork.

### Difficult (3)

6. **How is frottage different from leaf printing?**
*Answer*: Frottage involves rubbing on a surface to capture texture, while leaf printing involves painting and pressing leaves.
*Explanation*: Frottage records texture; printing creates a pattern.

7. **How can you use textures from nature in art?**
*Answer*: By collecting them through frottage or leaf printing and arranging them in collages.
*Explanation*: These techniques use real natural patterns to make beautiful art.

8. **Explain the process of making a Kalpavriksha with all three techniques.**
*Answer*:
- Sketch ideas.
- Use frottage to capture textures.
- Paste textures as a collage for the tree’s trunk and branches.
- Add leaf prints for decoration.
*Explanation*: This combines imagination and natural materials in one artwork.

### Very Difficult (2)

9. **Imagine and describe a texture from nature that is hard to capture using frottage. How would you represent it?**
*Answer*: A soft flower petal may be hard to rub. I could represent it using soft pastel colours or smooth fabric in collage.
*Explanation*: Some textures may need visual representation instead of rubbing.

10. **Design your own art activity using one of the chapter techniques and explain its steps.**
*Answer*:
*Activity*: "Nature Texture Bookmark"
- Collect leaf and bark textures using frottage.
- Cut paper into bookmark shapes.
- Paste textures and add leaf prints.
- Laminate or cover with plastic.
*Explanation*: This uses frottage and printing for a practical art item.

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