With the arrival of spring, and nature waking up with color, texture, and inspiration, March is the perfect time to step outside, explore, and use nature as an artistic medium. This month, here are some fun, easy, and economical ways to blend art and nature.
Make paintbrushes from nature: Gather twigs, leaves, pine needles, or feathers and use them to create your own paintbrushes. Dip them in watercolor or acrylic paint and see the interesting textures they make on paper. Experiment with different materials to create unique strokes and patterns.
Create natural pigments: You can use the Earth to create your own art medium. Experiment with rubbing flower petals like poppies, buttercups, or dandelions directly onto watercolor paper. Mash berries, strawberries, or cherries, then soak in water to extract pigment. What other natural materials can you use to make pigments?
Breathe new life into materials: Create unique art pieces using recycled materials. Collect bottle caps and arrange them into colorful mosaics. Use old cardboard boxes to create sculptures or 3D models. Transform plastic bottles into decorative planters for small plants.
Explore natural colors: Use natural colors and earth tones in artwork to create a harmonious look. Identify and mix colors that reflect the natural world, such as browns, greens, and blues. Experiment with different techniques to add texture and depth, like dry brushing or using natural materials like sand.
Let the sun shine: On a sunny day, arrange leaves, flowers, or small objects on light-sensitive or construction paper. Let them sit in the sun for a few hours. When you remove the items, you will have a nature-inspired silhouette. This is a simple way to make are using sunlight and shadows similar to a photography technique called cyanotype.
You rock!: Find smooth rocks and turn them into mini masterpieces. Participate in Kindness Rocks by paying your creation forward, leaving it in a location for others to find as a surprise.
Pressed masterpieces: Collect interesting leaves or flowers and press them inside a heavy book for a few days. Once dried, use them in a collage, make a bookmark, or add them to a journal.
Nature sketch walk: Take a sketchbook on a walk through your backyard, neighborhood, park, or a nearby trail. Observe the changing season, the budding flowers, and the birds returning from migration. Try quick sketches of what you see or focus on a single subject, like a detailed tree bark pattern.
Embrace nature in journaling: Nature journaling is a way to connect with the environment and document observations. Begin with a sturdy notebook and bring along basic supplies like pencils, pens, and watercolors. Practice observing details in nature, such as the shape of leaves, the colors of flowers, and the behavior of animals. This is a great opportunity to learn quick sketching techniques to capture scenes and details on the go. Even if the weather doesn’t allow for you to be outdoors, bring nature inside by collecting small items like petals, acorns, or twigs. You can even observe nature through your window.
Spring is the perfect time to refresh your creativity and connect with nature. Whether sketching outdoors, using natural elements, or simply taking inspiration from the world around you, embracing nature can spark endless artistic possibilities.
About the author: Danielle Gapinski: is a 4-H Youth Development Specialist in Creative and Cultural Arts. She provides leadership to the 4-H youth development program focusing on 4-H clubs, 4-H groups, and youth education initiatives. Danielle provides researched based educational programs geared towards art creation and performance, art careers, intersections of art and culture, art as a tool for wellness, advocacy, and education, and more.