How to Draw and Paint Watercolor Folk Art Trees

This easy watercolor folk art tree project teaches children how to use line, pattern, scale and watercolor techniques and includes a free drawing guide and video tutorial.

I posted a photo of these easy watercolor and line folk art trees last year on Instagram and so many of you requested a handout. It took me this long, but I finally created a handout (for this lesson) and a video too!

This is just the perfect type of lesson: easy, technique rich and beautiful.

To create this project, give each student:

– A piece of watercolor paper (not essential but the watercolor paint will look more vibrant on watercolor paper than sulphite paper)

– Black waterproof marker

– Watercolor paints.

The October Project Guide is chock full of Fall themed lessons, drawing guides, technique tips and video tutorials. Download this handy drawing guide before you get started on your folk art trees:

HOW TO DRAW AND PAINT FOLK ART TREES

Begin by drawing the tree trunks with a black Sharpie or waterproof marker.

Draw larger trees near the bottom of the paper and draw smaller trees behind the larger ones OR draw a row of trees like I did in the video.

Next, draw various lines to create the branches of the trees.

Try experimenting with different line designs for each tree (refer to handout for ideas).

Finally, use watercolor paints to create a halo of color around the tree branches.

How do you stop watercolor colors from bleeding together?

Leave a small amount of dry paper between colors or allow one painted section to dry before adding the next.

Make sure to allow for space between each halo OR paint a few and then add in more after the first trees dry. This approach takes longer.

If you create this lesson in your art room, I’d love to see it! You can join The Deep Space Sparkle Facebook Page right HERE and post and tag us in your photos.

A Complete Year of Seasonal Art Lessons

Bringing the seasons and holidays into your art room shouldn’t mean putting the rest of your curriculum on hold.

Inside The Sparklers’ Club, the Four Seasons Mini Curriculum gives you 64 technique-rich, ready-to-teach seasonal lessons spanning PreK–7 that are designed to complement the art program you already have.

So when fall leaves, pumpkins, winter celebrations and other seasonal moments roll around, you have engaging lessons ready to go without sacrificing the skills and techniques you want your students building throughout the year.

→ Join The Sparklers’ Club waitlist to receive an invitation when enrollment opens.

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