Are you ready to create a masterpiece? Let's go on a trip and document the beauty of the natural world. Follow along for a step-by-step guide to creating a one-of-a-kind work of art. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Wait! What about the art supplies?

Don't worry, we'll cover that later. There's a specific project outline later in the lesson that will suggest all the supplies you need. If you'd rather just stick with a pencil and paper, that's fine too! Before we head out though, let's take a look at some tips that will help improve our drawing skills when we get to the sketching part.

Why are you staring at an empty piece of paper?

I'm drawing a blank.

Project Briefing 

This assignment has two parts. We will talk about Part 1 here, and then, you're off. Check back in when you're ready for Part 2.

Part 1:

Alright, it's time for some fresh air. As promised, we are going to head outside and draw some natural objects. Here are some ideas on where to go and what to draw:

Locations:

• Backyard

• Public park

• A local farm (with permission)

• Hiking trails

Subjects:

• Plants (trees, grasses, bushes, flowers)

• Animals (birds, squirrels, deer, farm animals)

• Non-living things (rock formations, rivers and streams, even litter can be beautiful in the right context, but throw it away after!)

• Humans

Materials (for part one, we will be keeping it simple so bring whatever you have from the list):

• Pencils and/or pens

• Colored pencils, markers, or crayons if you want to add color

• Sketchbook or paper and a hard surface like a clip board or binder

• If you find cool leaves, flowers, or other items you want to incorporate into your work, you might want to take a small sample back home. Make sure it's ok to take from the place you're visiting, and do not take more than you need!

When you have everything you need, head out to your area of choice and complete separate drawings of at least five things you see in nature. Pay attention to details and be sure to practice your shading techniques. The most important part of drawing accurately is careful observation. 

PRO TIP: Don't draw what you know in your mind; draw what you see right in front of you, exactly how you see it. 

Check out the examples below for inspiration:

Part 2:

I hope you had fun on your field trip! By now you should have five sketches of nature scenes. Don't worry if you aren't happy with all of them, we're about to take it up a notch and bring these drawings to the next level!

Let's Talk About Collage

Collage is a fancy word for gluing things together in an artistic way. It comes from the French word "coller" which means "to glue" or "to stick together." We will be using the sketches we made and mixing them with other materials to create a collage.

Here's what you need:

• Your sketches

• A piece of paper or cardboard to use as a base

• Bits of colored paper, newspaper, magazine clippings, photos and/or maps

• Glue or tape

• Scissors

• Natural objects you found on your adventure

Excellent! Here is the step-by-step process for making your nature collage:

• Step 1: Select a base. Cardboard or thicker paper would be ideal.

• Step 2: Cut out shapes from your sketches and any other materials you've collected

• Step 3: Glue or tape the pieces to the base to create a brand new scene. Don't worry about it looking realistic; let your creative juices flow.

• Step 4: Present your artwork to a friend or family member

• Step 5: Clean up after yourself and move on to the reflection and review.

Check out the examples below if you need ideas for inspiration:

Review and Reflection

How did your collage turn out? Take a picture of it to share with your friends or even your art teacher. I hope you enjoyed using a variety of materials, but make sure you put everything back where you found it! Let's take a minute to think about what we learned before we move on to a super easy quiz. 

1. How did it feel to spend time with nature as you carefully observed it and recorded what you saw? Did you feel calm, relaxed, inspired? Explain.

2. What other subjects would you like to draw next? Architecture, cars, food, interior design? Choose any option or come up with your own and challenge yourself to create one more sketch before the end of the day.

3. A collage in drawing involves gluing images together to create art. Are there any other non-art-related examples you know of that involve mixing and matching things to create something new? Discuss with a friend.

Quick Quiz

Who ever heard of an art quiz? There's a first time for everything! It's super easy. And remember, you can refer back to the lesson to find the answers you need. 

About the Author

Rainbow*

There are so many colors of the rainbow, and she likes to use every one! When Rainbow graduated from high school, she went to Kent State University to study fine art, but found that her favorite time of year was the time she spent working at summer camps in between semesters. If you've been to an Ohio Girl Scout camp lately, you've probably seen her there! After earning a BFA in painting and sculpture, she came to Nuhop to work in a camp setting year-round. Her favorite activities are campfires, the high ropes course, and rock climbing.  She can't wait to see the smiling faces of all her campers when they come to Nuhop once again!

*The Nuhop Outdoor Education Staff use "nature names" when working with students. The reason for these nature names is twofold: first it gives them a built-in conversation starter with students, and second, it provides them a level of personal privacy when working with over 4000 students in a given year.