Did you know that some of the best paintbrushes aren’t found in a store? They’re found in nature.
The next time you visit the Garden or explore your backyard, look closely. You might spot leaves, grasses, seed pods, pine needles or small sticks that can create amazing patterns and textures on paper.
Get creative and use nature to create art tools! Use natural materials to create paintbrushes and explore textures and patterns with art.
What you’ll need:
- Sticks, approximately 5 inches long
- Twine or string
- A variety of nature materials like hay, grass, mesquite pods, pine needles, leaves, dried flowers, etc.
- Paint
- Paper
Step 1:
Cut sticks about 5 inches long. These will be your paintbrush handles.
Step 2:
Select the natural materials you want to use for your paintbrush bristles. Experiment with different natural materials and different combinations to get a variety of textures.
Step 3:
Create a small bundle of natural materials and wrap together on the end of the stick. Tie the string or twine tightly to keep the bristles together, wrapping around the string a few times to secure it.
Paint! Use your nature paintbrush to make a masterpiece. What patterns and textures do each paint brush make? What do you notice?
