Looking to add an artsy spin to your nature study plans? I’ve got good news for you: we’re sharing easy ways to bring art and nature study together along with some great resources to help make it happen.
*This post contains referral links for recommended items; this means I could receive compensation if you take action through one of these links.*
Before we jump into these suggestions for combining art with nature study, keep in mind that you don’t have to do them all for your kids to reap the benefits of this fun pairing. While these suggestions all work together nicely, they can also serve as stand-alone approaches for bringing art and nature study together.
Easy Ways to Combine Art and Nature Study
1. Nature Journaling
Documenting your time outside through nature journaling is a quick and easy way to regularly combine art and nature study. To get started, simply bring along your nature journals and some colored pencils or a watercolor set and sketch or paint what you see. (Be sure you keep a journal along with your kids. It’s a beneficial experience for you and them!)
Not interested in bringing art supplies along on your outside adventures? Consider snapping photos of your observations and save the sketching and painting for when you return home.
Need help getting started with nature journaling? Be sure to check out the Nature Journaling courses included in your Masterpiece Society Studio membership.
2. Nature Books
Including nature books in your homeschool plans also makes it easy to combine art and nature study, especially when you don’t have much time to spend outside. The best part about this approach is that these books can serve to teach, inspire curiosity, or simply be used for reference.
Not sure what to look for when it comes to nature books? These are all wonderful sources of inspiration for seeing art in nature:
- Julia Rothman’s Nature Anatomy and Ocean Anatomy are great to have on hand. Presented in the reference format, her sketches make these nature books a go-to resource both for informational purposes and art instruction.
- Outside Your Window – We love how this sweet book goes season by season and explores nature through stunning illustrations and poetry.
- Drawn to Nature – This one features Clare Walker Leslie’s nature journals and explores nature through watercolors, notes, and field sketches.
In addition to reference-style books, titles like The Girl Who Drew Butterflies (about Maria Merian) and The Boy Who Drew Birds (about James Audubon) also provide wonderful examples of ways art can integrate into nature study. Helen Ahpornsiri’s Drawn from Nature is another book that does this beautifully. She uses leaves, petals, and seeds to create all the illustrations in this lovely book.
3. Nature Art
Lastly, you can bring art and nature study together through nature-themed art projects. From quick and easy projects like our seashell art to our Backyard Nature Mixed Media and Watercolor Whimsies courses, we’ve got plenty of nature-inspired art ideas for you!
And if you’re not looking for exclusively nature-themed courses, but want to sprinkle it in here and there? These seasonal mixed media courses provide a great mix of just-for-fun art and nature-inspired project ideas:
In conclusion, be encouraged! Bringing nature study and art together isn’t a fussy or complicated process. It’s just a matter of helping your kids see the beauty that’s there and celebrating it through art.
