Eagle Magazine

With a little outdoor inspiration, any kid can be a pint-sized Picasso.

Parents know it doesn’t take much to occupy young, inquisitive minds. If you can find sticks, rocks, dirt and an assortment of buckets and bags, you open the door to a world of creative outdoor play. Moms and dads often enjoy creating craft projects with their children, but sometimes need a few ideas to get started. We’ve collaborated with some of Eagle’s most imaginative kid-art champions to brainstorm a few project ideas for those idle summer months. For a wonderfully simple children’s project, consider tie-dyeing. Gwen Wheater, an Eagle artist, introduces us to this non-toxic version of a classic; it will have you itching to roll up your sleeves and begin.

Find:

Large kettle filled 2/3rds with water
1-3 white t-shirts, depending on size and water in dye bath
¼ cup white vinegar
4 cups (packed) of dried onion skins
dish soap
several small stones
rubber bands

 

Create*:

Simmer the onion skins for one hour in the pot of water over low heat. Meanwhile, place the small stones throughout the t-shirt, holding them in place by wrapping the rubber bands tightly around the material. (This step prevents dye from penetrating the material, therefore creating the random tie-dyed design.)

Add the prepared t-shirts to the kettle and continue simmering for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not over pack so the material can move freely. Add the white vinegar to set the dye and simmer 20 minutes longer. Carefully remove the t-shirts, rinsing them in cold water until the water runs clear. Give the shirts a final rinse with a few drops of dish soap to cut the vinegar. 

Remove the stones and the elastic bands, letting the t-shirts air-dry. The result will be a natural amber color. Washing in cold water will preserve the color longer.

 *Use caution! This project requires the use of a stove and hot water.

 This next nature-inspired project comes to us from Rolling Hills Public Charter School’s art program. By using objects found on a nature walk, kids can paint a one-of-a-kind landscape or create their very own wrapping paper.

Find:

12 x 12 brown packing paper
scrap paper
pencil
tempura paint in a variety of colors (earth tones work nicely)
miscellaneous materials found in nature (i.e. pine needles, willow branches, leaves, sticks, grasses, feathers, bark, etc.)

 

Get inspired: 

Enjoy a nature walk, encouraging young ones to collect an assortment of naturally occurring materials of varying sizes and textures. Point out the visual interest of the landscape: foothills, water features and plants.

 

Create:

Sketch a simple pattern or nature scene (with pencil) on a 12 x 12 piece of brown packing paper, using the sights from the nature walk as inspiration.

On scrap paper, show children how they can “paint” with the items found on their walk. Pine needles can be used like paintbrushes. A stick can be gently dipped on its side in the paint, then pressed onto the paper to create the trunk and branches. By using the same item to create a pattern, children can depict mountains, grass or leaves. After children have had a chance to experiment, have them paint their design on the packing paper.

Allow the paint to dry and erase any visible pencil lines. The finished artwork can be matted and framed or used as gift-wrap.

The kid-friendly staff at Handmade graciously offered this wire sculpture project, inspired by nature and Alexander Calder, an artist and sculptor who invented the mobile. The creative possibilities are endless with this summertime favorite.

 

Find:

sketch paper and pencil
bailing wire, colored wire, old phone wire, construction wire, etc. (art supply stores sell various types of wire)
wire cutters
scissors
wood glue (elmer’s glue works too)
wood chunks (lumberyards often sell random pieces of 2 x 4’s and 4 x 4’s)
power drill
paint, fabric, tissue paper (optional)

 

Get inspired:

Take a walk around your neighborhood or look through books or magazines with pictures of the great outdoors. Sketch whatever inspires you on paper: a landscape, individual tree, flower, leaf or animal.

 

Create:

Use the wire to create an outline or contour sculpture of your drawing. The pliers will help in making interesting shapes and sharp angles. Allow at least one of the wire ends to extend from the sculpture so that it can be stabilized in the wood.

Drill holes into the wood, placing the wire ends into the holes. Fill the empty spaces in the holes with glue. Finish your sculpture by staining or painting the wood pedestals. You can also add fabric, tissue paper and other materials to the sculpture for extra color.

Using this project as a model, you can also create mobiles or hanging sculptures.

There is no limit to what you can do with a child’s imagination, a few art supplies and a nature walk. Nature-inspired artwork fosters a love of learning in children and presents great opportunities for parents to bond with their young ones. Moms and dads might even learn a thing or two.

 

Sidebar:

To bring out your child’s inner artist, try these fun activities

Open-air theater
Vegetable garden signs
Texture rubbings on brick, concrete and tree bark
Basket weaving with plant stalks (day lilies work well)
Leaf collage/plant journal (press leaves, flowers and herbs in a large phonebook)
Dandelion jewelry
Mud pie castings
Nature-inspired calendar
Outdoor orchestra
Paint walking sticks
Terrarium