Nature painting

Nature painting offers a unique and engaging way for children to connect with the natural world while honing their artistic skills. This hands-on activity encourages creativity, exploration, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty of nature. By using natural materials found on a nature walk, children can discover the vibrant colours and textures that the environment has to offer. This project emphasizes the process of learning and experimentation over the final product, providing a valuable and enjoyable experience for young minds.

Early learning:

• Explore the natural world
• Form positive attachments
• Understand changing states of matter
• Experiment with colour, design, texture, form, and function

What you will need:

If you are close to a park or woodland with a stream, you may find everything you need for this activity. Alternatively, on your next nature walk, collect natural materials that can be used for painting. Consider a forest walk where you can gather from a streambed.

• Paint rocks (sandstones) are small and coloured and can be found in shallow running water. If you aren’t able to collect from a streambed, consider the following options:
• Chalk
• Charcoal
• Safe berries (blackberries are best)
• Some flowers when crushed can produce bright colours (poppies, buttercups, daisy heads, geraniums, dandelions, and cornflowers).

Additional materials to enhance the activity:

• Brushes or sticks can be used to apply the natural paints to the surface if a child is uncomfortable getting messy.
• Small containers or cups can be used to hold the paint mixtures.
• Aprons or old clothes to protect children's clothes from paint stains.
• Water bottles for rinsing brushes, adding to nature mixtures, and cleaning up.

Steps:

Set-up: We highly recommend working outdoors for this fun activity! (As you can see, we decided to stay in the woods for the entire project.)

Help each child set up their own nature paint workstation: their painting materials, water, and a safe surface for them to paint on. A flat smooth surface works best, either a rock, smooth brick, or perhaps even the pavement.

Prepare materials:

Prepare the paint rocks by mixing each one with water on your surface of choice to discover the different colour possibilities. Crush the charcoal and chalk, and add a little water to these, too.

Paint:

Children will be captivated by the idea of mixing colours and will delight in exploring the textures and hues they create. Encourage them to experiment and have fun, perhaps even gently trying the paints on themselves or each other!

This project is all about process…not product. The focus isn't on creating a perfect piece of art, but on the valuable learning your child will gain from the experience. Some of our children were able to paint on a piece of bark or wood which they then brought home. But everyone had fun!