To do: Use nature to inspire your painting
Time: 30 minutes
Materials: Favorite paints and a park or nature area
__

What’s better than going to the park, you ask? Well, painting at the park!

Artists like Claude Monet and Berthe Morisot loved painting outside in the open air.

Use the season change to your advantage. In winter start with a blue canvas, and paint in white. In summer try smearing grass to get a lime green color, or maybe paint with coffee in the fall.

Here are some things in nature you might enjoy painting:

• Trees
• Flowers
• Clouds
• Leaves
• Grass
• Bugs
• Snow
• Wind

Allow your child to explore outside and discover what they’re interested in drawing. Find a neat pile of leaves, or maybe a running rabbit.

Open air painting is all about painting things as they really are, but collecting things can be fun too! For kids who don’t like sitting still, use this outing as a chance for them to collect items and arrange them into a nice composition. Take a picture of their amazing art.

For your older child, see if they are interested in famous artists who painted outside. Many impressionists loved painting outdoors, and it can be fun to try and paint in a way similar to their styles. See how different painters can be from Claude Monet to Berthe Morisot!

Recommended for you: