Spring is the season when many trees are in bloom! You might find different kinds of blossoming trees in your neighborhood. Native red maple trees have deep red blossoms, dogwood trees have large white or pink petals and crabapple trees have delicate blossoms that can range from white to delicate pink to a deep rose color. Some spring trees bloom before they leaf out (like red maples), others are starting to show leaves when they blossom (like crabapples). Take a close look at the buds on the trees around you to explore what’s happening during this miraculous time of year! Join us and paint your own blooming spring tree using cotton swabs.
Supplies
- Paint
- Paper
- Pencil
- Cotton swabs
- Paint palette
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare your materials. Separate paint colors on your palette. Gather a handful of cotton swabs.
Step 2: Draw an outline of the tree you want to paint in pencil.
Step 3: Start painting your tree. Dip a cotton swab into your first color of paint. Dot the outline of your tree with your paint-dipped cotton swab.
TIP: The cotton swab can soak up enough paint for several dots before you have to go back to your paint palette. Continue dotting around the outline, then begin to fill in your tree.
TIP: It is OK to overlap or layer your dots. Repeat these steps with all of your paint colors.
TIP: When painting the leaves, you can group together a few cotton swabs to create a different sized, layered look.
TIP: Using different shades of the same color can add depth to your painting.
To watch this process visit youtube.com/PeabodyEssexMuseum
Show Us!
We want to see your tree paintings. Share your photos online using #PEMpod or #peabodyessex