What you need:
- Twigs
- A selection of leaves, grasses or flowers
- Elastic bands
- Paints
- Paper
Step 1: Gather your supplies
Head outside armed with a basket or bag. Gather some thin, strong twigs and a selection of leaves, branches, grasses or flowers with stalks. You can use whatever you find and whatever you like, so have a good explore.
Step 2: Secure your leaves to a twig with an elastic band.
Carefully secure your leaves or flowers to the end of a twig by wrapping an elastic band round and round them.
Take care not to crush any delicate leaves or flowers as you do so.
Step 3: Make a whole selection of brushes
Now for the really exciting bit. Dip your nature paintbrushes into paint and see what textures, lines and patterns they make when you paint with them on paper. You can dab to make prints, brush to make lines and even swirl the brushes around to see what affects you can make on the paper. Get a large sheet of paper and let toddlers and children explore.