. . . watercolor winter trees

There is no denying the beauty of tree foliage. From the dappled light of green canopies to the color riot in autumn, tree leaves are ever so lovely.  So, it can be understandable that we miss those luscious days of verdant bounty when confronted with the starkness and chill of winter weather.  If you take a moment to look closely though, winter trees are pretty magical too. It's the time of year when we get to appreciate the beauty and intricacy of their structure.

Each and every branch has. . .

. . . a purpose. . .

. . . and a story to tell. . .

. . . if we all take a moment to be quiet, look up. . .

 . . . and take it all in.

 

Wax Resist Winter Tree Postcards

Materials:

• Colorless wax crayon (like these batik crayons)
• Watercolor paints
• Paintbrush
• Card stock, watercolor paper, or these fun watercolor postcards

Not only is this project simple, it has the added element of a little "magic" when the paint reveals the hidden trees. 

To make the postcards, simply draw bare tree shapes on your postcard blanks with a clear wax crayon.  Don't worry if you can't see exactly what you are doing, that's part of the fun.  If you really need to take a peek though, you can move the paper around a bit in the sun and the drawing with shine a bit in the light.

Once you have a tree shape on the paper, paint over the sheet with watercolor. The wax will resist the water in the paint and leave that part white.  I liked the texture and look of a single color in horizontal strokes, but your little artists can explore every option of color they can dream up.

After the postcards have dried, send them off to friends to share stories of your winter adventures.  For more activities that go with this project, check out the "With the Kids" section below.

 

With the Kids: Head out on a hike with the kiddos and find a cozy place to sit and draw trees, or if it is too chilly, take photos of your favorites as you hike.  Take special notice of any birds, bird nests or other structures that are usually hidden by leaves during the rest of the year. When you are back home, make this awesome Italian hot chocolate. After you've warmed up from your hike, invite your children to make up stories about their favorite tree from the walk.  How long has it been there? What is it's name? Who lives in the tree and what stories do they have to tell? Create a winter adventure group with friends and use the postcards to share stories and inspire each other to get out there and explore the beautiful snowy landscape.

 

~Sarah