plein air watercolors in the woods

On Wednesday, the kids and I took off to a small trail located just a block from the house with watercolor paper in hand.

We walked down the trail until the kids found an area that appealed to them and then set up "camp" and began to create watercolors.

Funny enough, our campsite was at the exact same place a huckleberry bush was located with some of their favorite berries to eat. There were also mushrooms growing on trees and in the ground that captivated their attention.

Each child found their own place to sit and create. I had give them some water-soluble pencils to lightly sketch their composition and then a plate with some watercolors in the primary colors plus brown and black (and a little white gouache) I had brought in tubes. A small dixie cup of water and a brush and they were lost in the wonders of creating their surroundings on paper.

Some of the kids made a decision to focus on small things they found on the forest floor like the pinecones,

mushrooms,

some new trees sprouting and sticks,

and the beautiful ferns surrounding us everywhere.

While others created wooded landscapes filled with some of the large tree stumps,

cedars and huckleberries,

and broken logs.

Amongst the painting, there was time to run around, laugh, and explore before heading back to the studio.

I think everyone agreed it was a wonderful way to spend a Wednesday morning creating art.