Training Happy Hearts: Planning and Preparing for our First Art-n-Nature Hike on the Element of Line

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Planning and Preparing for our First Art-n-Nature Hike on the Element of Line

A month ago today, we went on our first Art-n-Nature hike.

Exploring the art element, Line, with a trailside watercolor resist.

Planning was not difficult.

I thought briefly about what art projects might be easy and effective to do along the trail in order to emphasize the element of “line” while also allowing the children to experiment with both traditional and natural art media. I decided on two main projects:

a watercolor resist using leaves as inspiration

an Andy Goldsworthy-inspired art piece using found objects

Then, I wrote up an invitation, which I posted on our closed Art-Nature Hikes Facebook page. (In case you’d like to start your own Art-n-Nature club, borrowing some of our ideas, I have uploaded the template from our first hike announcement here. Please feel free to use it in creating your own Art-n-Hike invitations.)

Finally, I packed a backpack with:

snacks and lunch
water bottles (for drinking and for doing our watercolor resist)
a first aid kit
a baggie of index cards
a black Sharpie
some recycled plastic containers and lids
some blue watercolor paint and some small plastic containers
a few paintbrushes
some dark wax crayons and oil pastels
a white oil pastel
paper
some print outs of images I found by googling “Andy Goldothy” and “line”

These things done, we were all set to enjoy hiking with friends, while pausing to explore the art element line and the wonder of God’s beautiful creation. Early next week, I will share a report of our experience – which was an idyllic day along the trail!