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Home Β» Art Projects for Kids: Exploring Textures and Color

Art Projects for Kids: Exploring Textures and Color

by L. E. Mastilock 6 Comments

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Exploring textures:

Learn to think outside the box using materials other than a paintbrush and discovering the prints and textures that result.

In week two of my basic art class (my class is once a week) we reviewed primary colors and how to mix them to make secondary colors.

Then we discussed the term “multi media” and what a “multi- media artist” is: someone who uses more than one medium to produce their art.

We talked about how you can be inspired and use anything to create art. Some examples I gave: I’ve been to a studio where the artist did a whole series with popsicle sticks in every work of art. Some artists use nothing but garbage they find; see Washed Ashore for a great example. 

We then got to work on our trees. Yep, we made trees inspired by this great project I found on Pinterest:  Tree Cork and Utensil Painting.

I modified it some to work a little better for us. 

Texture Trees

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Materials: 
scissors
glue
paper bag (or brown paper)
large white multi media paper
acrylic paint
items for printing/making textures- we used rags, corks, and plastic forks.

First cut a rectangle from a paper bag, approximately 12″x7″. Roll into a tube and then twist it.

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Pull open one side a bit to widen the bottom for the base of the tree. Then widen the top and tear a few strips. Don’t tear them off, just rip two or three sections that will be branches.

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

 Twist each of these.

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Glue the tree down, bending the branches to your liking. If you have time, you can lay a heavy book over it (cover your tree with another piece of brown paper so your book doesn’t get glue on it). We didn’t have time to wait for the glue to dry, so we used paste (specifically chunks of glue sticks because that’s what we had) and went on to painting right away.

Pour paint, only in primary colors, onto separate paper plates. (I added a little white to the blue to lighten it, but didn’t mix it completely, and put out a few more plates for mixing other colors. Everyone wanted green for the leaves, so, after asking them how to mix green, I mixed some up for them on another plate.)

Dip a rag into the blue and dab it, smash it, swirl it, blot it, any way you want (notice the different effects) on the top and around your tree. 

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Next, take a plastic fork, dip the prongs into the green and press along the bottom half of your paper. Angle the prongs a bit left when you press down, then press over the same spot angled to the right this time to get a grass effect.

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Last, dip a cork into some paint and press it around the branches of your tree for leaves. The more colors the better. You can use different size corks, or add finger prints for larger and smaller dots, if you wish.

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

 These are some of my students’ beautiful works:

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Sandy Toes Creations- Art Projects for Kids- Exploring Texture and Color

Next class is oil pastels, warm and cool colors.

 

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You can find more fun educational ideas on Learn Through Play.

 

 



Filed Under: Art, Homeschool, Kids & Family Tagged With: Crafts, education, Sandy Toes Creations

About L. E. Mastilock

Author, Artist, Pro Blogger, and Social Media Manager. I encourage parents to nurture children through art and nature. I homeschool my kids and advocate for alternative education, creativity, family values, clean eating, rescue pets, and a playful childhood.
I blog at naturalparentguide.com & RascalandRocco.com

Comments

  1. Tauna M says

    October 4, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    This is a really good one. My kids will love mixing the textures. I'll be trying this for our little co-op. Thanks! Pinned it.

    Reply
  2. Lauren Thompson says

    October 4, 2013 at 9:02 pm

    Wow! These look super! I love mixing textures, and I love reusing materials. A win win. Thanks for sharing. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  3. blogging says

    September 30, 2013 at 9:07 am

    Oh good! Have fun! And file it away for your future bundle of joy, too! πŸ˜‰

    Reply
  4. Auntie Angela says

    September 27, 2013 at 4:43 pm

    I love the idea of using plastic forks and corks to explore different textures with the paint! I'll be trying this with my daycare kids soon. πŸ™‚

    Reply
  5. Mercedes R. Donis says

    September 26, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Looks like so much fun! I can't wait unitl my babies are old enough to try something like this. I'm a new follower from the hop:)
    http://projectprocrastinot.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • blogging says

      September 26, 2013 at 9:46 pm

      Thanks for coming by and for joining the hop! L=You have lots of art fun to look forward to! I'll come over and check out your blog right away

      Reply

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About Me

Hello, I'm L. E. Mastilock. I am a lover of food, family, and nature. I encourage parents to live a green, healthy lifestyle and have fun learning together. I am a published author and multi media artist, homeschooling my kids in the beautiful CA mountains. Read More…

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I miss the days when the kids would freely play ou I miss the days when the kids would freely play outdoors. Rocks & streams, sticks & flowers, their toys of choice. They're older now and drawn and to technology. They still have a love of nature, but it takes a push to get them to go outside and their play is different now. How do you get your big kids or #teens outdoors? ⁠
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