Monday, November 30, 2009

Colorful Abstract Winter Trees

"Art Projects for Kids" has a wonderful and simple abstract winter tree lesson. I decided to add the extra element of decoupaging colored tissue for the trees. After a rectangle of tissued posterboard is dry, it can be cut into the triangle tree shapes. These are glued onto watercolor paper that has been divided using oil pastel or crayon and then watercolor washed into three different sections as well as a foreground. With an oil pastel lines and "v" shapes can be drawn on the trees. Lastly a hole puncher is used to add the white snowfall effect. The 2 colorful pieces below were done by a kindergartener and a 2nd grader.




22 comments:

  1. I really like these trees. They are colorful and original. Looks like an interesting project.

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  2. I came across these on Pinterest. So pretty. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. These are really lovely. I saw them on Nurturestore's Christmas tree round-up. Glad I did because I didn't know about your blog! :) Now I can follow along with you!

    Aleacia @ Dilly-Dali Art

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  4. These are really beautiful. We have to try. I found your lovely blog via Nurture Store's Christmas Tree Round Up.
    Following you now :)
    Greetings from India!

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  5. These are beautiful. Can't wait to try them

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  6. Do you have any good children's books to read with these trees?

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  7. Could you a post on how to make the trees? Do you use watered down glue? Are the triangles already cut out? Love this project and would like to do it with 1st and 2nd graders :o)

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    1. Thank you Barbara. We used watered down glue. Liquid starch would great if you can find it. The triangles were cut out after the tissue papered cardboard was dry. Hope this helps!

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  8. These are so beautiful. I'm a kindergarten teacher and I think these would be so fun! When you say the watercolor was "washed" into the different sections, did they just paint them in with brushes or..?

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    1. Yes, just painted with large brushes Allie.

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  9. I am a teacher of special needs high schoolers. This is a great activity to try.

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  10. I'm sure I tried this lovely Christmas art project last year, but didn't blog about it. I'm going to do it again tomorrow

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  11. I would love to try this! Can you provide step by step directions? I need an art activity ASAP and cannot think of one! Layout can send them to me at anna.gaiter@gmail.com

    Thanks, and I hope I hear from you soon! :-)

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    1. I guess no directions...just samples. Beautiful but not helpful...

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    2. I'm sorry you didn't find my written directions provided above helpful. The original lesson was from another blogger (Art Projects for Kids). I haven't done this lesson in 15 years (2009). Maybe I'll give it another go.

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  12. my kids did this. they turned out gorgeous.

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  13. What did you do for the hole punch effect?

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  14. Can you also do this with coloring coffee filters with marker and then spraying them with water to get the watercolor effect for the trees?

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  15. When you use watered down white glue, do you just use a paint brush to paint it on? My school has really limited supplies and only one set of brushes per grade level (3-4 classes) and I worry about not being able to get the glue out of the brushes. Thoughts?

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    1. I do try to use my cheapest brushes (dollar store) and reuse them just for these type of projects. I read that you can use nail polish remover to remove dried up glue or mod podge from paint brushes. Hope this helps!

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I appreciate your comments and feedback!