Natural Painting

I was interested in using simple, accessible techniques to create my own paper, 'brushes' and paints. I tried to make it as eco friendly as possible by RECYCLING, REUSING and FORAGING. These techniques could be used by young children and adults alike. They get people using their hands, being creative whilst having fun exploring the natural environment.

I will show you how to make new paper out of scrap, 'ink'/'paint' from flowers and explore what a paint brush could actually be. It doesn't require any boiling the only chemical I used was vinegar and the only electronic I used was a hand blender (I did try by hand but the results weren't as effective!)

I hope you enjoy reading this, learning from my mistakes and ultimately giving it a go yourself!

Supplies

THINGS YOU NEED TO MAKE THE PAPER
Sweet tub lid or similar

Scissors

Mesh

Duck tape

Blender (I used a hand blender)

A bowl

Scrap paper (doesn't matter if it has ink on it)

THINGS YOU NEED TO MAKE THE PAINT

Forage in your environment for flowers, leaves, grass etc.

If you want black dye you an use ash or charcoal

Little pots

Vinegar

THINGS YOU NEED TO MAKE THE PAINT BRUSHES

Sticks or such - these are for the handles

For this you can add what ever you can find in your garden I used: leaves, pine cones, feathers and moss

Step 1: Tear Up the Paper and Add Water

So to start of with I would get a big bowl and just start tearing up you paper into pieces. You need a lot more than you think I used about 20 pieces of paper which made me about 4 pieces of paper. It is thicker than normal paper that is why you need so much. Then add it into a blender and add water add a bit more water than where the paper comes up to. It doesn't matter whether the water is warm or cold.

Step 2: What Not to Do

Originally I soaked the torn paper and used my hands my hands to mix it like the photo shows. This method doesn't work as your fingers cant get the paper fine enough. I also started to add my paper onto a sweet tub lid, this didn't work because you need lots of holes to drain the water so this wasn't hugely successful!

Step 3: Make Paper Frame

Using the sweet lid or similar cut out the middle circle leaving a couple of CM's round the outside. Cut a piece of mesh to size and tape it in position.

Step 4: Blend and Make

Once you have added the water blend until smooth. Fill a bowl 1/2 way with water, float your mesh frame on top. Carefully, pour some of the paper mixture onto the frame, as it's submerged in the water it spreads fairly evenly. Once you are happy with your frame lift it up and allow to drain. I used a sponge to try and clear some of the water out too. Then flip the paper out of the frame onto something flat and leave somewhere to dry for 24 hours or more.

Step 5: Making the Paint Colours

Forage your surroundings for flowers and foliage of different colour's. Making these are a bit of a trial and error. You add the flower into a pot, snip into small pieces, then add water or vinegar and stir. I thought blue would be hard to create as we had no blue plant material. Although when I added vinegar to a red nasturtium and painted with it the colour began changing! From pink to purple to blue. So clearly some chemistry going on here! Just play and see what you can create.

Step 6: Making Your Paint Brushes

Since I'd made my own paper and paints I wasn't just going to use a regular paint brush. I foraged for feathers, pine cones, leaves and anything else I thought might work. I attached materials together with an elastic band. They create some really interesting lines and textures, I especially liked the pine cone and feathers.

Step 7: Painting!

Next to put it all into practice! As I was trying to be as eco friendly as I could with this project I decided to reflect that in the painting itself. I painted the Earth in our hands.

I hope you enjoyed looking through my project and fancy having a go yourself!