We love foraging, even just in the backyard, for leaves, flowers, acorns, and other natural items to learn about and display or create with. This day I decided to try to use them in a new way: as paintbrushes! We headed out with our basket and gathered flowers, leaves, moss, grass, and plants from the garden and wooded areas. I also grabbed some long thin twigs for “handles” You could do this portion with your child for another added element of fun, or you could gather it on your own and surprise them by setting up an invitation to play.
How to Make Natural Paint Brushes for Kids
You will need these items:
- Twigs about 1/4″ around and 6″ long
- Twine
- Acrylic paint
- Water
- Gathered flowers, grasses, weeds, moss, etc.
Here is how to create some naturally fun and beautiful artwork…
To make each “paintbrush”, I lashed the flower and other stems to the end of the twig by wrapping it in bakers twine securely.
For the paint, I put about a tablespoon of acrylic paint and a tablespoon of water in each jar and mixed them together. This created something similar to a watercolor, but with much more vibrant colors.
Set up your brushes and paints in a paint area, be it on an easel or on the table. Be sure to cover your floor well because this paint is pretty wet and will drip a lot. I recommend a clear shower curtain liner for easy clean up.
Encourage your child to paint whatever they like; they can use their homemade nature brushes to recreate a scene from outdoors or create an abstract piece of art.
More Nature Fun for Kids
- How to Make Watercolor Paints from Flower Petals
- Backyard Bird Watching
- How to Make a Portable Flower Press
- How to Make Butterfly Nectar
- How to Make a Nature Journal
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