Nature Paint Brushes

Best for Ages 3-9
By Monica Stone, Woodland Garden Teacher

Paint brushes can be made from a variety of materials, including those found in nature! Your children will delight in gathering items in their backyard or neighborhood to make their very own nature paint brushes.

This is a wonderful project that just requires a few simple materials and is easy to assemble with the assistance of a parent or older sibling. And of course afterwards your children get to have fun and paint!

Materials:
Several twigs
Materials for bristles (cedar leaves, pine or fir needles, flowers, grass, etc.)
String or rubber bands
Scissors
Paint
Painting paper

The first step is to go outside and gather natural materials for the bristles and handle of your paintbrush. Here I gathered grass, dandelions, bluebells, cedar leaves, and fir needles from my backyard. Evergreen leaves or needles make wonderful, sturdy bristles that can stand the test of time and be used for multiple future painting projects!

Distribute the bristle material of your choosing evenly around the end of your twig. Use a rubber band to fasten material, or tie and wrap with string. Trim bristles if needed. Repeat this step for all the brushes you would like to make. 

Violà! Admire your beautiful set of nature paint brushes.

Now it’s time to test out your brushes! Gather paper and paint of your choosing. Have fun and paint! Notice the different marks and patterns each bristle makes.