Forest Craft Inspiration + Free Printables!
As summer slides into autumn, looking for new ways to keep the kids excited about nature is key… and when it’s too cool for paddling pools and beaches, here’s how you can encourage them to don their wellies and go on a forest craft scavenger hunt! Below, the fabulous Kathryn Coyle combines watercolour creativity with woodland treasures, to show you how you can have fun using your own forest finds to recreate your favourite forest friends!
You Will Need:
- Sketching pencils
- Watercolour paints
- Watercolour paper
- Paintbrushes
- Glue
- Your own forest finds!
- Alternatively you can download and print our ready-to-use templates [DOWNLOAD HERE]
Step-by-Step Forest Craft Squirrel:
Step 1:
Sketch out your outline on thick watercolour paper.
Step 2:
Add a first wash all over the body and face, then drop in darker tones while the first wash is still wet.
Step 3:
Paint the ears darker, but blend in to the top of the head.
Step 4:
Allow the washes to dry, then add a darker shadow over the back and paint in a suggestion of fur in places.
Step 5:
Using a smaller brush, paint the eye detail leaving some white of the paper showing, as the reflection.
Step 6:
Use a sharp pencil to draw in the whiskers and some detail around the mouth.
Step 7:
Now it’s time to add your foraged forest craft goodies to give this mischievous little squirrel a big bushy tail, plus a handful of forest finds of his own!
You can download the full printable instructions right here.
Step-by-step Forest Craft Stag:
Step 1:
Sketch out your outline on thick watercolour paper.
Step 2:
Add a first wash below the antlers.
Step 3:
Clean your brush, then add just clear water to blend down the face.
Step 4:
Using the wet on wet technique; drop in darker tones on the edges and down the
neck.
Step 5:
Mix up a different tone for the ears and shadow, and drop in to the wet wash below.
Step 6:
Allow to dry and, using a smaller brush, mix up a dark blue/purple for the eyes and nose, remembering to leave a fleck of white for the reflection. Use a sharp pencil to draw in the whiskers.
Step 7:
Now it’s time to add your foraged forest craft goodies, to give this gorgeous stag some equally envious antlers!
You can download the full printable instructions right here.
And if you’re keen to have a go at any of these projects, but watercolour’s really not your thing… then you can download the pre-prepared printable templates right here! All you need to do is print it out, and start sticking!
Looking for more art ideas? Check out the rest of our projects, articles and tutorials right here!
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