Give it a try and we’ll see you next time.
that artist woman
Here is a painted leaf project that is very easy to do. Sometimes when I try a new technique I try it over and over again finding lots of applications.
This is based on the tissue paper texture technique I described in this post.
This can easily be done with younger kids with only some assistance with the textured paper prep.
Please feel free to click on the picture to see the detail in these leaves.
Materials Required:
white tissue paper
watercolor paper or posterboard
gesso
leaf templates
scissors
tempera paint in Fall colors
glue
paper for mounting
You first need to prep the paper you will be using. Take some torn pieces of tissue, some gesso and either a paintbrush or a spreading tool like an old gift card.
Spread some gesso on the paper. lay down some tissue using your fingers to create some wrinkles in it. Cover this with another coat of gesso to keep the paper down.
For more detailed instructions check out my post here.
Print off some leaf templates or you can freehand these. Trace the leaf shapes onto the back of the paper.
Cut out. Try to use an odd number of leaves it will make for a better composition.
Paint with tempera or watercolor paint. Leaves tend to turn color from the edges first. You will often find leaves that are still green in the center. discuss this with the kids before painting. you want a variety of colors on each leaf.
You can also use some brown on the edges.
The colors run together a bit and pick up the texture from the tissue paper.
If you wish you can add some veining using some dark brown and white paint as well as a fine paint brush.
With younger kids you could use pencil crayons or fine markers to make it easier.
Glue down on some nice contrasting posterboard as a mount.
You can now put a sheet of wax paper over your work and lay a heavy book on top to help your piece dry flat.
Here is one with an oak leaf shape.
Give it a try and we’ll see you next time.
Tickets on sale now!
Santa Claus is coming to town! The Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center and the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center are joining together to present the HoHoHo Hike and Holiday Celebration. Children of all ages are invited to this holiday celebration on Saturday, December 2nd from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Kreher Preserve and Nature Center.
The KPNC will be transformed into Santa’s Workshop with nature-themed crafts, performances, cookies, and hot chocolate. There will be a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus! And the event will include the traditional hike and a fun “Santa-hunt”. Wear comfortable walking shoes and come celebrate the holiday season with the Clauses!
Posted on October 18, 2023 November 6, 2023
Environmental Education Building
Construction begins Monday on the new Kreher Preserve & Nature Center Environmental Education Building! To learn more about this incredible new resource for our community, please visit aub.ie/kpnc-eeb.
Construction will be ongoing until the summer of 2024, during which time a large portion of the KPNC’s main parking lot will be closed. The following diagram shows the suggested traffic flow through the portion of the parking lot that will remain open. All access to the KPNC will be routed down the gravel drive. Due to the increase in pedestrians, vehicle traffic down this drive will be limited to authorized vehicles, emergencies, and those with accessibility needs only.
In addition, our neighbors, Embrace Church, are partnering with us to provide additional parking. With fewer than half the normal parking spaces, you may find it easier to park at Embrace and walk down the powerline trail to the KPNC. Signs are in place to direct you to “additional parking.”
Please contact us if you have any questions or need help.
Posted on September 23, 2023 October 4, 2023
Nature Nightmares
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!!
October 27 & 28, 7:30 – 11 PM
Nature Nightmares is a haunted hike through the pitch-black forest of the KPNC – a hike like you’ve never experienced before. With evil creatures lurking in the shadows and frightening entities waiting for wary visitors, we dare you to come and conquer the darkness!
If you want to volunteer to be a scary actor or help coordinate the event, please sign up HERE.
Posted on September 23, 2023 September 24, 2023
Halloween Enchanted Forest
TICKETS NOW ON SALE!!
October 19, 20, & 21; 5:30 – 7 PM
This fun, family-friendly Halloween event takes you on a magical hike in our Enchanted Forest where you will be greeted by our costumed forest friends. These nature-inspired characters will entertain you on how they “trick or treat” other animals and plants in the forest.
Don your costumes and good walking shoes, and enjoy some early Halloween fun! Hot chocolate and s’mores kits will be available for sale. Remember to bring a flashlight.
Posted on September 11, 2023 September 20, 2023
Friday Fall Fun, Sept 15th
Come join us this coming Friday, September 15th, for an evening of family fun. Beginning at 4:30pm, we will have our AUsome Amphibians and Reptiles show where participants will have the opportunity to see and interact with these beautiful animals. Then at 6:30pm there will be a concert with Drü Be Stone. Drü Be Stone blends the familiarity of Americana and Folk with the groove of Soul and R&B to create modern music that evokes the songs of yesterday. Both events are $5 per person, tickets can be bought at the door. AUsome Amphibians and Reptiles tickets can also be purchased online through our Marketplace.
Posted on August 31, 2023 September 20, 2023
Fun Fall Family Events
With September beginning, we are thinking about all things fall at the KPNC. Our fall programming includes:
- AUSome Amphibians and Reptiles: September 15, October 27, and November 17 at 4:30pm
- Fall session of Tree Tots and Forest Friends beginning September 7/8
- Science on Saturday, Hummingbirds: September 9 at 10:00am
- In the Garden with Cyndi: September 10 at 1:00pm
- Fall Camp: October 9, October 16, and November 10 8:00am-3:00pm
- Halloween Enchanted Forest: October 19-21 (Tickets on Sale Soon)
- Nature Nightmares: October 27-28 (Tickets on Sale Soon)
Tickets for these events can be found on our Marketplace
Posted on July 29, 2023
Fall program registration opens Aug. 1
On Tuesday, August 1st at 8:00am, registration will open up for our fall programs including Fall Tree Tots, Fall Forest Friends, and Nature Explorers. In addition, we will open up registration to our members for our Science on Saturday: Hummingbird program on Sept 9. You can register for any and all of these on our Marketplace.
Posted on July 20, 2023
Science on Saturday July 22: Urban Trees
10:00am: Urban Trees with Dr. Georgios Arseniou
Urban forests include all trees, shrubs, and greenspaces in public and private areas in cities. Therefore, we are all surrounded by urban trees which affect the quality of our daily lives. Urban trees provide very important benefits to human communities e.g., biodiversity, shading, air pollutant uptake, recreation, water purification, beautification of neighborhoods etc. In this class students will learn about the value of urban trees through fun hands-on activities. More specifically, students will learn how trees provide habitat for animals and other plants.
Tickets are $5 ($4 for members), and available online or at the door.
Posted on June 22, 2023
KPNC Photo Contest
Posted on June 12, 2023
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How to Paint an Acrylic Leaf Painting Tutorial
**This DIY blog post is sponsored by Michaels . All thoughts, opinions, ideas, and content creation are my own. Thank you Michaels for sponsoring this fun acrylic leaf painting how-to tutorial!**
It’s time to have fun and paint all the leaves together! Before I go into all the how-to steps and details, I have to be honest. Painting on canvas literally makes me soo nervous. Please say I’m not the only one 😉 I literally have a collection of them laying around in my studio. Well this year has been all about going out of my comfort zone and trying new things. So, let’s finally do this together and have fun!
This acrylic leaf painting was inspired by my love for plants and the color pink! I thought this project would be perfect especially since summer is right around the corner!
Supplies:
Water, Paint Tray , Canvas , Paint brushes ( wash brush for the background + round brush (size 6) and angle brush (size 1/4) for the leaves), and Acrylic paints (2 shades of green (dark + light) and a bright color for the background).
Okay.. ready, set, go! Grab your art supplies because it’s time to paint all the leaves!
Step One: Paint the entire canvas , including the edges, to create the background using your bright acrylic paint.
Step Two: After the canvas has fully dried, use the round brush to paint a leaf with the darker shade of green.
Step Three (painting leaves): Using the tip of the brush, create the stem with a light upstroke. Then paint a leaf at the top of the stem. Paint leaves by starting with a light stroke, then transitioning into a heavy stroke using the belly of the brush. Reshape the leaves to smooth out the edges as needed.
Step Four: Paint the leaves as shown starting at the corners and along the sides of the canvas.
Step Five: Paint another style leaf by painting longer leaf strokes using the angle brush and the lighter shade of green.
Step Six: Add a different look by painting some overlapping leaves and reshaping the tips of some leaves as needed.
Tip: Feel free to change the direction of the leaves by reshaping them. Make sure to alternate the colors when overlapping the leaves.
Step Seven: Continue to paint more leaves to fill the edges.
