Use this art challenge to fill your sketchbooks with nature-inspired art experiments and exploration. Like the sound of having crisp and bulging sketchbook pages packed full of your art studies and inspiration? By following an art challenge with ready-made ideas which you can then develop yourself, you will create an impressive nature art sketchbook. As with all Mixed Media Sparks art challenges, daily participation will help a lot for discovering and developing your art style in sketchbooks.
Which art techniques will this art challenge encourage?
Layering mixed media to create the textures and shapes found in nature
Creating pattern inspired by nature
Experimenting with different media to discover and record techniques
Learning how to develop an art style by focusing on one theme
What will I paint from nature?
Feel free to choose the images or precise aspects of nature you want to study. It is your sketchbook and art after all! The challenge will suit any nature-inspired theme. Remember, nature can also be included in townscape or portrait art as well: it doesn't have to be the sole focus of the painting or sketch.
Extra bonus for you:
You can also download the following for free, to help you on your journey:
A ready-made Nature Art Challenge schedule to download and keep handy, which lists your day's explorations.
Let the 2 week Nature Art Challenge begin!
Days 1 & 2
Do rough sketches of anything nature-related around you. Research anything from simple house plants, pets, cloud formations to powerful waterfalls. Just go for it. Whatever catches your eye, record it in your sketchbook using sketches in pencil, charcoal or pastels. See another blog post for examples of what I call scribble sketches.
Days 3 & 4
Build a collection of papers and materials that can be used for your sketchbook. Press flower petals and leave to dry. Collect images of nature that are relevant to your chosen subject (find in magazines, newspapers, print from internet). Stain diff types of paper with coffee, ink, watercolours in messy way.
Days 5 & 6
Sketch flowers or other elements of nature without looking at paper. Which features did you pick out first? Was it the pattern, colours, texture and detail that you instinctively went for? Fill pages with what inspired you the most.
Days 7 & 8
Develop your ideas by experimenting with different art materials. Experiment, explore and layer them to see what effects you can make. We want to fill your sketchbook with all sorts of experiments and mark making!
Days 9 & 10
Look for pattern in your chosen subjects. For example, the rough pattern on tree trunks, the spirals veins on leaves or the repetitive pattern of clouds in the sky.
Days 11 & 12
Create collages with your hand-stained/dyed paper and the images you collected on days 3 & 4. Layer your papers, paint, charcoal and build up a picture or group of pictures that show off your nature-inspired art.
Days 13 & 14
Have fun using your favourite techniques and your new-found nature subject. Take what you've discovered in your sketchbook so far (you could well be on the verge of exploding with inspiration!) and experiment further with these ideas.
Congrats!
If you've made it to the end well done! If you only managed one or two days, don't stress: anything you note in your sketchbooks is valuable and will come in handy at a later date even if it hasn't sparked any ideas at the moment.
If you have enjoyed this art challenge have made some art that you would like to share, I'd love to see it! Post your art challenge explorations on Instagram with hashtag #naturenurtureartchallenge