Did you know moss was one of the first plants on Earth? All moss cells are totipotent, which means each moss cell can regrow an entire moss plant. Moss plants are a great natural material for redesign and creative representation through art making because the cells allow movement and regrowth. However, moss species are often very specific to where they grow. Some species grow only on soil, while others are only on trees or rocks. Where do you find moss when you’re outside exploring? When creating moss art that we want to thrive, we must consider where and what it has originally grown on in order to successfully transfer and create with it. What are some materials or objects you could create moss art on?
Supplies
Option 1: Moss Collage
- Moss
(Be respectful of the moss and gather only what you need; be sure to leave some moss in place so it can regrow. Or you can buy dried moss at most garden centers. It will spring back to life once you start watering it). - Cotton
- Super glue
- Spray bottle with waterFertilizer
- Cornstarch
- Soil
- Pencil or chalk
- Surfaces for your moss art (wood or stone)
Instructions
Option 1: Moss Collage
Step 1: Prepare your art-making surface. Using a pencil or chalk — whatever works best for the surface you are using — write or draw the outline of what you want to be moss.
Step 2: Glue down the cotton. With the super glue (and help from an adult) attach pieces of cotton on your art surface where you want the moss to grow. Let the glue dry for 20 to 30 minutes and then wet the cotton with water.
Step 3: Make your soil mixture. Mix together soil, a bit of fertilizer, water and cornstarch (there are no specific measurements, it all depends on how much soil you need and the consistency you are looking to achieve). You will want this mixture to have a thick, paste-like mud consistency.
Step 4: Spread soil mixture onto the wet cotton-covered area(s) of your art piece. Cover the cotton with a thin to medium layer of soil. No cotton should be visible when you finish.
Step 5: Cover the soil with pieces of moss. Cut apart pieces of the moss you collected and collage it together to cover the soil and create your moss art. Be sure to press the moss down firmly to help it begin to attach to the soil.
Step 6: Water and maintain your collage daily.
Supplies
Option 2: Moss Painting
- 3 cups of moss (see moss note above)
- 2 cups yogurt or buttermilk
- 1 cup of water
- ½ teaspoon of sugar
- Corn syrup (optional)
- Blender
- Pencil or chalk
- Surfaces for your moss art (wood or stone)
- Spray bottle with water
Instructions
Option 2: Moss Painting
Step 1: Prepare your art-making surface. Using a pencil or chalk — whatever works best for the surface you are using — write or draw the outline of what you want to be moss.
Step 2: Mix your ingredients. Put all of your measured ingredients into a blender and blend well. You want your moss mixture to be the consistency of a milkshake.
Step 3: Paint your moss art. Using a paintbrush or a sponge paint three to four layers of your moss mixture inside the outlined area of your drawing. Make sure you end up with a good thick layer of the moss mixture on your art-making surface. Store excess moss paint in the refrigerator to use later.
Step 4: Water and maintain your art daily. With a spray bottle be sure to spray the surface of your moss art every other day. On the non-water days, add more of the moss paint to your artwork. Continue this process for the first few weeks, and then continue to water your moss art.
Explore more of our #PEMfromHome Drop-in Art Activity video tutorials on our youtube channel.
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