Nature inspired art experiences

Following on from our nature experiences inspired by Janet Laurence, here are some specific art experiences exploring our natural world.

• Flick through old magazines, find images of plants and animals. Build a collage, sticky tape or glue found natural objects.

• Paint stick and stones

• Make a natural paint brush by bunching together leaves and stems and tie them up with an elastic or piece of string. them set about painting with them.

• Build up a collection of different sized leaves, sticks and stones and paint them.

• Make a pet rock, perhaps even a family.

• Create some leaf rubbings by placing a variety of leaves under a piece of paper. Then turn a crayon on its side a start colouring over the leaf to reveals its pattern.

• Make a scented play dough (think lavender, lemon etc) and offer a variety of natural object to the play experience, for example, gum nuts, twigs, pebbles.

• Create nature prints by paint on to a leave, flower or piece of bark, turn it over and press into a piece of paper to reveal the print.

• Make our own rock pool. Find a large clear dish/bowl/tank and collect all natural object. Give everything a wash and set up.

• Choose a natural object and take the time to really observe it. Make comments about the lines, shapes, colours, patterns. Take a black marker and do a detailed drawing. Perhaps add some colour afterwards using watercolours.

• Create a nature rainbow. Keep an eye out for natural objects of all colours and work towards creating a rainbow collage.

• Collect leaves, flowers, twigs and other natural elements that capture your eye on your next walk. With a bowl, pair of scissors, spoon and some water, create your own potions station. This can have as many or little options as you like (think ice, food colouring), check out the picture below for some inspiration.