Creating art and spending time in nature are two of my favorite hobbies. These activities provide the opportunity to slow down and tune into the present moment. I love exploring creativity with my children. As a result, they have developed their own creative outlets which include building with Legos and working with various art materials. We also spend a lot of time visiting local parks and trails. I recently wrote an article about some of our favorite spots, and we have many more to check out in Harford County since we just moved to the area a few months ago!
Yesterday I hosted/facilitated the first Watercolor in the Woods art workshop at Emily Bayless Graham Park (what better way to combine two of my favorites?!). We began with a short walk through the woods, and I gave each participant a bag to collect objects that could be used as inspiration for their artwork.
Upon returning from the walk, participants arranged and observed their natural objects. A few chose to create still lives (objects arranged together in a composition) to draw, while others drew individual objects around their page. The objects ranged from leaves, to berries, flowers, moss, sticks, rocks, and even a fuzzy caterpillar! Some participants found painted rocks along the trail, created by members of the Painted Rocks of Maryland (PRMD) Facebook community.
For the watercolor portion of the workshop, I demonstrated two painting techniques.
- Wet on dry: applying wet paint to dry paper, best for small spaces and details
- Wet on wet: applying wet paint to wet paper, best for applying to medium/large spaces
I explained that with watercolor paint, a little goes a long way, and there is no need to ‘dig’ into the paints. Brushes should maintain a pointed tip and should be used gently so as not to damage the bristles. I also demonstrated proper brush-cleaning, to keep the paints from getting mixed up within their containers and to prevent oversaturation with water.
The final artworks were unique and expressive. Participants ranged in age from 5-11. Scroll through the photos at the top of the page for some in-progress and final paintings!
I’m hosting another session of Watercolor in the Woods on October 16th, same time and location: 1:00-2:30 pm at Emily Bayless Graham Park. This workshop is for ages 5 and up, and all materials are included. Click here to register.
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