This fall tree painting is a fun painting activity for kids to celebrate fall and all of the beautiful colors of the season! Painting with q-tips is a great way for kids to learn about creating texture and layering colors in art. I love the way the fall leaves really pop in this art project!
This is such a great art project to connect to the changing of the seasons and why the leaves start to turn colors as the weather cools down.
We love exploring different painting techniques. Take a look at my collection of painting ideas for kids for more fun and creative art projects to try!
For this project, I created a free printable template to make this art project even easier for you. This template is available to my email subscribers. Fill out the form below to get the free template.
After signing up you will receive a welcome email with your download link.
Painting with q-tips is always a fun activity for kids to explore! Take a look at my collection of q-tip painting ideas for more fun projects kids will love.
These q-tip painted pumpkins are adorable and a fun project idea for kids of all ages!
Create your own fall tree painting
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Supplies
- Branch printable printed on white cardstock
- Blue liquid watercolor
- Acrylic paint in black, red, orange, yellow and two shades of green
- Paintbrushes
- Paint palette and water dish
- Q-tips and elastic bands
Instructions
1. First, print out your tree branch template onto white cardstock. Older kids may want to try drawing out their own branches in their own style.
2. Using blue liquid watercolor paint your sky blue. Dilute your color with water and test it on a scrap piece of paper first to make sure it’s the shade you like.
If you don’t have liquid watercolor, you could use any blue watercolor you have. Just make sure to test the color out first on a scrap piece of paper.
3. Once your sky is dry, paint your tree branches with black acrylic paint. Using a smaller brush for this step will make it easier for kids to paint the smaller branches.
Let your tree branches dry completely.
4. Prepare your bundled q-tips with elastic bands. You want to use at least 9 q-tips bundled together for this step. I like to use both ends of the bundles for different colors.
Have kids dip their bundled q-tips into the red paint and start to paint on the red leaves. Since the red is going on first, it will get the most coverage, so paint it on all of the branches.
5. Move on to the orange leaves next. You don’t have to wait for the red paint to dry. Remind kids not to cover up all of the red leaves with orange.
Finally, add in the bright yellow leaves to really make the trees pop! Again don’t cover up all of the orange leaves with yellow.
6. Use two shades of green to paint in the grass at the bottom of the picture. Add in some fallen leaves with the red, orange and yellow paint over top of the grass.
I just love how the gorgeous fall colors look with the black tree branches and blue sky! Painting with q-tips is a fun activity for kids and is the perfect way to create leaves and texture with paint and explore a new painting technique.
If you are looking for more fall art projects take a look at my collection of creative fall painting ideas for kids! There are ideas for kids of all ages that use different types of art materials and techniques.
Take a look at our spring trees painting with bundled q-tips for another great art project idea!
Fill in the form below to get your free printable template!
After signing up you will receive a welcome email with your download link.
We love creating and exploring with different art supplies. If you are looking for more art projects to try, take a look at our ultimate collection of amazing art projects for kids!
More fall art projects kids will love
Apple Tree Painting with Cotton Balls
Easy Leaf Printing on Rocks Autumn Craft
Follow me on Pinterest for more amazing project ideas.
Pin this fall painting idea for later
Fall Tree Painting with Bundled Q-tips
Kids will have fun making this gorgeous fall tree painting using bundled q-tips!
Materials
- White cardstock
- Blue liquid watercolor
- Acrylic paint in black, red, orange, yellow and 2 shades of green
- Q-tips
Tools
- Paint palette
- Paintbrushes
- Elastic bands
Instructions
- Print out your template onto white cardstock. This template is great for younger kids, but some older kids might prefer to draw in their own branches.
- Paint the sky blue with liquid watercolor, diluting it with water in your paint palette. Remember to test out the blue color first on a scrap piece of paper.
- Once your sky is dry, paint the tree branches with black acrylic paint. Let the paint dry before moving on.
- Get your bundled q-tips ready. Use at least 9 q-tips per bundle and put them together with elastic bands.
- Start by painting in the red leaves with your q-tip bundle.
- Paint the orange leaves next. You don't need to wait for the red to dry first.
Remind kids not to cover up all of the red leaves with the orange. - Paint in the yellow leaves last to add in a pop of bright color!
- Use two shades of green to paint in the grass at the bottom of your picture.
- Finally, add in some fallen leaves with red, orange and yellow paint.
