Landscape art simply implies images of the land, but this style of artwork has its roots all over the world and reaches back many generations. From realistic paintings of mountains to Monet's famous Impressionist lilies, landscapes make a beautiful representation of nature's offerings. This winter season have your kid try his hand at landscape artwork...by creating majestic, snow-filled scenery with a unique pop-up landscape project. As it reinforces basic art concepts such as color, shape and form, this activity also gives him a chance to explore Earth's own wonders.
What You Need:
- Piece of cardboard in a rectangle or square shape
- Children's safety scissors
- Clear drying, non-toxic glue
- Markers or crayons
- Construction paper
- Tempera paints
- Paint brush
- Cotton balls
What You Do:
- Start by having your child observe a winter landscape in nature. Many landscape artists paint "en plein air," or in the open air outdoors. Although it's unlikely that chilly winter temperatures will allow him to actually create outside, pull up a chair to a window with a view. Ask him to view and observe the winter landscape before beginning to work. Talk about specific things that your child sees such as snow-covered trees, a mountain or hill, or plants.
- Using marker or crayon, have your child draw a few different objects he sees that he wants to appear in his winter landscape. Try to keep him in line with the winter season by encouraging him to draw objects such as a snow-covered hill, a pine tree, a bare tree with snow on the branches, or a simple snow drift. If he can't see things of that nature outside a window, try looking online.
- After your child has finished drawing at least three winter landscape objects, help him cut these out. Make sure to leave a small tab at the bottom of each drawing. This tab will be used later to help the objects "pop up."
- Tempera paint in white can be added by dotting it on with a paint brush for a snowy touch, or use fingers to create a snow-topped effect. Another option is to pull apart a few cotton balls, and then paste the cotton material on top of objects, creating the appearance of real snow.
- Use tempera paints and a brush on the cardboard to create the base of the landscape. This is a great opportunity to talk about perspective and a "bird's eye view." Additional landmarks such as rivers, ponds, or patches of snow can be added. Set aside to dry.
- Fold the tabs on the construction paper back, and have your child place a thin line of glue onto the bottom. Press the tabs firmly down onto the cardboard so that the rest of the object pops up.
Display this wintry landscape for the whole family to see. Use it to remind your child of the winter season during other times of year, or as inspiration for another art project once spring has rolled around.
By Erica Loop
Erica Loop has a MS in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh's School of Education. She has many years of teaching experience working in early childhood education, and as an arts educator at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh.
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