Feeling stuck in artistic rut? Want the whole family to do some art together? Looking for an activity that the ENTIRE family can manage no matter what age? Well here we have it, firstly the making of natural paint brushes so that secondly for you all to do some explorative creative mark making art works with. No need to feel you can't paint something realistically when that is not the aim of it, so let's get you started with your trusty natural paintbrushes.
Items Required: Sticks - long enough to hold, see what you can find around & check that they aren't going to snap or crumble under a bit of pressure. Elastic bands/Twine/String - basically you will need something to tie your natural materials on with. We use elastic bands for ease and then secure on top with string or twine, but if you don't have any elastic bands to hand - it is still possible, it will just take a little more time and care when securing the natural materials. Natural Materials - grass, leaves, flowers etc - whatever you have to hand really! Be adventurous - just see what happens if you use...
Scissors - for trimming materials and cutting ends. To make your own mark making works of art consider beginning on large surfaces that you can all access like a large roll of paper (eg back of old wallpaper ends or lining paper) or on an old sheet or some calico fabric & using some child friendly paints. #summer #naturalpaintbrushes #diypaintbrushes #naturebrushes #craft #natureconnection #nature #timeoutdoors #familytime #family #crafternoon #thingstodooutdoors #making #wellbeing #forestschool
Whilst using this resource to inspire learning, know you are helping you and your family's wellbeing by:
1) Get Active - Take you and your family for a walk outdoors in nature first to collect the resources that you need and to see how many different items you can find to attach to your brush sticks.
2) Keep Learning - There are so many different forms of Art and mark making is a freeing one that can allow you to use your imaginations and simply experiment with the materials you have to hand. Lots of people feel that they aren't creative because perhaps they didn't do well at school art classes or didn't enjoy the content they were taught there. However Art is for everyone. If you create a mark making piece of art, then once complete, sit back and let your imaginations do the work and see what you can find in your creations.
Also if you haven't looked at some gallery content online for a while, why not take the time to have a look and see how different art can be. You could try looking at the Tate Gallery Online, The National Gallery or any of the many others worldwide. Or perhaps take the time to look in the art section at your local library, or if you have a local art gallery, then go in and take the time to look at some of the images to see how they are made and talk with the gallerist about them.
3) Be Mindful- Either when collecting your natural materials or when creating your brushes with them, take a moment or two to discover the qualities of each item e.g. How does the grass: smell/look/feel to touch/sound in your fingers? How many shades of green can you see? How do you imagine the final mark making outcome might look with this material?
4) Practice Kindness- Be accepting of all the wonderful and differing outcomes - they do not have to 'look recognisable' or 'good' to have given great joy and much learning.
5) Think Community - Share your beautiful outcomes with your online community, we always love to see your outcomes. Or you could cut the outcomes out and use them for: wrapping paper/cards/tags/wall art and many other creative ways which can then be either kept or gifted.