Nature and art: a natural synergy

Have you ever considered creating colors from vegetables, fruits, seeds, leaves, and flowers? Can twigs, stones, leaves, and other found items from nature be used as art materials? In this section we explore ways to use the abundance found in nature to create art. We are joined by Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF) as they share some of their ideas for bringing together nature and art.

Colors in nature
Colors are an integral part of the visual arts. And children can be constantly encouraged to observe and notice colors around them. Going on a color walk is a great way to know more about the natural world and notice the colors around us. Simple activities like trying to find different shades of the same color (for example, noticing the different shades of green around us and trying to describe them), as well as sorting/categorizing different colored items in different ways, can help children learn new things about their surroundings.

Patterns in nature
The natural world is filled with interesting patterns on the surface of almost everything. If we look closely, for example, on leaves, bark, seeds, animals, insects, and even on rocks, there are different kinds of patterns and marks. A magnifying glass can reveal tiny patterns as well. Taking a nature walk to find different shapes and patterns is a great activity for children. They can find a variety of patterns like spots and lines on insects, spirals on snail shells, and symmetrical patterns of leaves or flowers. Children can explore endless patterns in nature and discover a whole new, exciting, and visually interesting world!

Art materials from nature
Many materials in nature can be collected and used to create collages, sculptures, textures, observation drawings, and more. Children can find objects like seeds, leaves, bark, feathers, flowers, rocks, and sticks for artmaking, and this can help children stay connected to the natural world as well. These are rich sources of art materials, but they also help children become aware of seasons as they will notice when certain trees bloom, bear fruit, or shed leaves. Materials like soil, fallen leaves and flowers, and vegetable and fruit peels can be crushed and mixed with water to create natural paints. The process of finding and experimenting with natural pigments can be a wonderful way to learn about nature as well as history and local culture. Not just paints, natural materials like grass and twigs can be used as brushes as well. Using these as brushes or pens can provide a good challenge to children to create different textures and effects that may not be possible with synthetic paint brushes.