Foraged Paintbrushes

With Lauren Fry, Arts Educator

There are few greater ways to engage children in creative activities than through ‘process art’. By focusing on choice, discovery, and experimentation - as opposed to the final product - young artists are encouraged to be independent in making decisions, learn about the possibilities of materials, and develop critical thinking skills.

This process art activity celebrates foraged autumnal materials and the joy of mark making by constructing natural paintbrushes from twigs, feathers, leaves, and seed heads. With no predetermined outcome children are free to play with their new brushes, creating endless patterns and textures.

Throughout the creative adventure, children can be encouraged to make predictions about the marks that will be made by each foraged material, to experiment with pressure and speed, and conjure up innovative uses for the painterly patterns.

Materials

Foraged materials including fallen leaves, feathers, and dried flowers/seed heads Foraged wooden sticks Tape, twine, string, or ribbon Paint or ink Paper

Mark Making

When using any new art material, it is vital to discover its limitations and possibilities by exploring pressure, speed, and form. Why not start with these classic mark making techniques:

Did you know?

The brown, oval spiky seed heads of the teasel are very important for birds, such as the goldfinch, which can often be seen landing on the old flower heads in autumn to ‘tease’ the seeds from them.

Instructions

Step One:

Venture out into nature to forage for natural materials; this could be a local hedgerow, woodland, or riverbank. Collect items that you imagine will make interesting marks and patterns as well as fallen sticks that fit comfortably in your hand.

Step Two:

Construct your very own set of natural paintbrushes by taping or tying the foraged materials to the sticks you have collected.

Step Three:

Using either watery paint or ink start experimenting with your brushes.

Find out more about Lauren’s illustration work at studiowren.co.uk or follow her on Instagram @studio_wren