Parents looking for a fun way to spend a summer vacation day with their children can try a seasonal collage project. This art activity will help your child learn about basic art processes such as drawing and collage, as well as bringing in a mini-science lesson on nature and weather.
Materials Needed for the Summer Collage Project
Gather the necessary materials prior to beginning this project. Make sure to use only non-toxic, age safe arts and crafts items. The manufacturer’s label will include what ages the specific materials are appropriate for.
- Cardboard (try reusing the side of a moving, packing or electronics box)
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Markers
- Tissue paper
- Construction paper
- Optional: Felt or craft foam
Steps for Kids to Create Collage Art
Before starting the summer collage, take a trip outside to view the summer landscape. Ask your child to look around her and tell you what she sees. Talk about plant-life, weather patterns such as sunshine and clouds, the colors of nature and wild-life.
- Discuss landscape art. Explain to your child, if she does not yet know, that a landscape is a painting or picture of the outdoors. Add in art concepts and the proper vocabulary such as foreground (the front of a painting/artwork), middle ground (the middle), background (the back area), and horizon line (the line that divides the ground and the sky). Ask your child a few questions about perspective to help her better understand this concept. Have her look at objects near and far, and then tell you which one looks bigger.
- Give your child a bold marker and ask her to draw a basic landscape design. Include objects seen outside such as trees, flowers, or even a small creek.
- Cut and/or tear pieces of construction and tissue paper to collage the landscape together. Use a variety of greens for the grass, browns for trees and plants, and blues for the sky.
- Glue the cut and torn paper onto the cardboard.
- Optional: Cut and glue pieces of felt or craft foam to give the collage added texture.
Art Activity Extensions
Try some of these options for a special flare:
- Create collages that represent different times of day. Make a vibrant sunset landscape using pinks, purples, yellows, and oranges in the sky.
- Use a sprinkle of glitter, over glue, to add some extra sparkle. Make the collage a family project.
- Have the entire clan work on the project. Add in cut photos of each family member to the landscape scene.
A sunny summer landscape collage is a creative way to spend a hot day. Gather an array of papers and cut or tear your way to a unique family craft project.
Erica Loop - I am a mother and a professional Arts Educator, teaching visual arts programs to children ages three and up in both museum and school ...
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