Sometimes my kids want more than paint and paper when it’s art time. When that’s the case, we tend to do nature art and crafts. That’s because we find so much inspiration in the outdoors. Plus, it challenges them to think of art and painting in a different way. Last but certainly not least, we get to explore and learn more about nature in the process. (Affiliate links included).
First Step to Making Nature Art: Go Out and Explore
Before we start making nature art, there’s something very important we need to do: explore the outdoors! As we walk through the neighborhood, I challenge the kids to collect things from nature. But we have one rule: no picking flowers or plants from our neighbor’s yards. This took my newly 3-year-old some time to understand, but now he’s more than happy to collect stray rocks, leaves, and pinecones. This time of year, dandelions are another favorite.
Nature Art Painting
Set up is super easy (because, as I’ve stated before, I’m no Pinterest mom). The only supplies you need are:
- Bowl with water
- Paint brushes
- Washable tempera paint (or watercolors, depending on what they’re painting)
- Items from the great outdoors
- Something to put the paint in, like a paint palette (we sometimes use old paint trays or the bottoms of plastic cups)
Also, don’t forget to cover the surfaces where your kids work (or head outside to craft!) My two kids typically work on an old table, so I just use paper towels. I allow them to pick out the colors they want, and they dive into decorating the items they found, particularly the rocks and pinecones. (Note: since you’re using washable paint, it will wash off if you put those items back outside without sealing the color in with, say, clear top coat nail polish).
Paint with Nature, Literally
Kids can also use what they found in nature as paint brushes or stamps! My youngest in particularly loves to take sticks, dip them in the paint, and see what happens when he tries to paint with them. The result is quite a different style and texture, so he learns that what you paint with affects what the end result is.
The same thing can be done with just about any piece of nature you find:
- Dip pinecones in paint and roll them over paper to see what happens.
- Press a leaf onto paint then transfer it over to the paper. The leaf acts like a stamp, and voila, your kids may be able to see the veins of the leaf.
- Dip the head of a flower in paint, and then press it onto a piece of paper. This is a super fun way to look at flowers in a whole new way.
Make Stamps out of Fruit and Vegetables
Another fun nature art activity: turn fruits and vegetables into stamps. Our favorite fruit stamp is the apple. Cut it in half (not stem to bottom), put the apple stamp into the paint, and kids will discover the apple has a star in the center!
But kids can paint with just about any fruit or vegetable too. Cut off carrot tops and use those as stamps. Dried out fruit can leave interesting patterns too. My kids even like painting with the tops of broccoli!
Other Nature Art Activity Ideas
While the above ideas are all related to paint, there are so many other nature art and craft ideas. Here are a few more of our favorites:
- Press flowers using tissue paper, cardboard, and books.
- On sunny days, make shadow art.
- Decorate flower pots before filling them with dirt and seeds.
- Collect rocks and arrange them in a design outdoors.
What is your kid’s favorite way to make nature art? I’d love to hear your ideas below!
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Love your ideas! Thanks!!