Spring’s colors and landscapes make it the perfect season for creating nature-inspired art. With the help of high-quality online art lessons for kids, parents and teachers alike can encourage young artists to make the most of the vibrant outdoor scenery and materials. From the youngest child taking their first creative steps to older students with more advanced skills, at this time of year there’s something to inspire all ages and levels.
Tips to Help Kids Create Spring-Themed Art Inspired by Nature
At Golden Road Arts, we’ve created many lessons using natural materials found outdoors. Here are our suggestions for supporting children as they work on art projects inspired by the colors and themes of nature during springtime.
Spend Time Outdoors in Spring
Spending time outdoors encourages kids to use their senses and pay close attention to their environment. During a walk outside, children can familiarize themselves with everything from the new foliage and colors to the singing birds and buzzing insects that appear at this time of year.
Collect Art Materials in Nature
One of the benefits of doing art as a family is the opportunity to spend time in nature. Parents and children can visit a park or trail and collect useful “found items” for an art project. With a selection of leaves, flowers, twigs, pebbles, feathers and acorns, you’re all set to create the most common nature-themed art projects.
Create a Nature Collage
Natural materials are ideal for creating a seasonal collage. For this project, gather leaves, twigs, feathers and other items, lay them out on cardboard to represent a landscape, animal or abstract pattern, then glue them into place. An alternative approach is to use pebbles and seeds to create interesting patterns.
Mix Spring-Themed Colors
Learning color theory is a key part of a child’s artistic development. During springtime, mixing seasonal colors can get kids thinking about the hues they witness every day. For instance, a spring project example is to mix yellow and blue in different ratios to create various shades of green.
Experiment With Flower Prints
Flower printmaking is a fun art project for kids of all ages. After gathering flowers, petals, paint and thick paper, a child simply dips the petals into the paint. Next, gently press the petals or flowers onto the paper to create unique, eye-catching patterns and designs. A nature printmaking project helps children learn about textures and shapes.
Design a Nature-Inspired Sculpture
A nature-themed sculpture can combine natural objects found outside with a clay base. First, mold the clay into the shape of an animal, tree or abstract object. After creating the base, add items like twigs, leaves, shells, seeds and other materials found during springtime. Creating a seasonal sculpture works as a fun classroom art project or an engaging activity at home.
Spring-Themed Art Lessons for Children
Golden Road Arts provides free art lessons for elementary and middle school children. Browse our online tutorials for help creating nature-inspired artwork this spring. Watch free art lessons here, and please consider donating to support new content.
