Discover three paintings that were inspired by nature. Learn different drawing and painting techniques, and then make your own outdoor scene using paints made from materials found at home.
Helen Matilda Kingman, American, 1830–1912; Landscape, 1845; oil on canvas; 22 7/8 x 29 1/4 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch 79:1968
Franz Marc, German, 1880–1916; The Little Mountain Goats, 1913–1914; oil on canvas; 23 7/8 x 16 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Bequest of Morton D. May 912:1983
David Johnson, American, 1827–1908; Study of a Cedar, c.1867; oil on canvas; 20 x 14 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, James D. Burke Art Acquisition Fund 105:2017
Nature Paintings
Make your own nature scene using paints made from materials found at home. Gather materials such as those listed below to get started.
Suggested materials
Watercolor paper or construction paper, baking soda or corn starch, water, food dye, container to mix and hold the paints, brushes, rag or paper towel, pencil
Homemade paint recipe
For each color of paint, you will need:
1 tablespoon baking soda or corn starch
4–5 drops food dye
1 tablespoon water
Mix baking soda or corn starch, food dye, and water in a muffin pan or other small container.
For more vibrant colors, add more food dye. If the paints are too runny, add more corn starch or baking soda to thicken the paint.
You may want to begin by making paint in the three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. To make secondary colors, mix red and yellow food dye to make orange, red and blue to make purple, and yellow and blue to make green.
Instructions for making your nature painting
Take a sheet of watercolor paper, construction paper, or any thick, nonglossy paper. Sketch or lightly draw the main areas or features of your nature or outdoor scene, such as a skyline, an outline of a tree, or rolling hills. Don’t worry about including the smaller details at this stage. Make sure to have a container of water and a rag or paper towel handy to rinse the brush as you go back and forth between different colors to paint your outdoor scene. Paint the large areas in the background first, such as sky, mountains, or hillsides. Paint the foreground, the areas in the front, last. This allows the areas that have already been painted to dry, and you are less likely to smear any parts of the painting or get your hands messy.
