Aspen Trees - Ages 3 and up

'I hope that my work will encourage self expression in others and stimulate the search for beauty and creative excitement in the great world around us' - Ansel Adams

One of our favorite art lessons is inspired by the great photographer, Ansel Adams. Ansel Easton Adams (February 20, 1902 – April 22, 1984) was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black and white photographs of the American West and primarily Yosemite National Park. To view a great collection of Adams work go to http://www.anseladams.com/

This water color resist painting lesson takes it's primary inspiration from Ansel Adam's photographs of aspens in New Mexico.

Here are the steps to create this artwork as shown above:

• Children tear masking tape and put strips of it on watercolor paper to make tree trunks. Tiny pieces of tape can be used for branches. For youngest children, have strips of tape already available.
• Use a brush to wipe water across the paper and the tape.
• Now paint the background with color. Children can choose colors to make a day or evening background.
• When paint is dry, remove the tape. The white spaces are the tree trunks.
• Add some tiny brown or black lines on the tree trunks. If you want leaves on your trees, use a sponge dipped into your watercolors to sponge on leaves.