The Organic Artist for Kids A DIY Guide to Making Your Own Eco-Friendly Art Supplies from Nature

Immersed in the natural world, The Organic Artist for Kids inspires creativity by connecting kids and their adults to our wilderness roots.

In addition to offering a wide variety of fun, collaborative projects using nature as a source for art supplies and inspiration, this book also introduces the concepts of awareness and perception that are fundamental to the creative process. Children will be encouraged to learn new skills, build resilience, and be resourceful as part of an urgent struggle to prevent and undo Nature Deficit Disorder. Rooted in experimentation and an understanding that fun is fundamental to learning, kids will refine their drawing skills, as well as increase their appreciation for the visual arts and the natural landscape.

Just some of the projects and skills covered include:

The Organic Artist for Kids encourages you to return to the days when art was made with all-natural materials like charcoal and birch bark.

INTRODUCTION 7
 
Paint 13
Project 1: Simple Stone Paint 14
Project 2: Earth Pigments 18
Project 3: Egg Tempera Paint 22
Project 4: Watercolor Paint 26
 
Paintbrushes 31
Project 5: Paintbrush Scavenger Hunt 32
Project 6: Chewed Stick Paintbrush 36
Project 7: Snake Plant Paintbrush 38
Project 8: Stick Palette Knife 41
Project 9: Hair and Fur
Paintbrush 44
 
Charcoal 49
Project 10: Campfire Charcoal 50
Project 11: The Charcoal Kiln Can 51
Project 12: Artist Charcoal Stick 52
Project 13: Charcoal Holders 60
 
Crayons 63
Project 14: Stone Crayons 64
Project 15: Charcoal Crayons 68
 
Inks 71
Project 16: Berry Ink 72
Project 17: Charcoal Ink 74
Project 18: Acorn Ink 78
Project 19: Black Walnut Ink 82
 
Pens 87
Project 20: Twig Pens 88
Project 21: Beaver Pens 90
Project 22: Sharp Stick Pens 92
 
Prints, Stamps & Rubbings 95
Project 23: Hand Printing 96
Project 24: Beet Stamps 97
Project 25: Berry Splat Prints 100
Project 26: Pounded Plant Prints 102
Project 27: Leaf Rubbings 105
Project 28: Eco Prints 108
Project 29: Nature Prints 112
 
Stencils 119
Project 30: Hand Stencils 120
Project 31: Found Object Stencils 122
Project 32: Cutout Stencils 124
 
Papier-Mâché 129
Project 33: Mask with Papier-Mâché Strips 130
Project 34: Make Papier-Mâché Clay 136
Project 35: Papier-Mâché Clay Mask 140
Project 36: Papier-Mâché Art Box 144
 
Land Art 147
Project 37: Earth Art Mobiles 148
Project 38: Earth Art Assemblage 152
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 156
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 157
INDEX 158