Art of the Wild

Get a virtual look at five visually stunning National Parks in the United States, from Alaska to Florida. Notice how different each landscape is in color and texture. Which is your favorite?

Fascinated by the water? Take a deep breath and go on a virtual dive with these four videos, then check out the photos of eight different National Marine Sanctuaries. If you were to create a piece of art inspired by one of these sanctuaries, which would it be and why?

Check out these six awesome environmental artists who are still alive and working today! Some of them create artwork that looks like something from another world. Have you ever seen art like this before? Is that what you imagine when you think of art? Why or why not?

Learn more about Andy Goldsworthy, a famous environmental artist who uses stone, leaves, wood, and even ice in his work. He's also our inspiration for today's Create activity! Watch him at work in this video.

There any many ways to create art with nature. One famous art movement was called Land Art. Check out this article from Super Simple to see how they made art inspired by Andy Goldsworthy, too!

Artist Jim Denevan has been using the beach for his canvas for more than 20 years. He creates enormous, science-inspired artworks in the sand, where they remain only until the tide comes in. Head to the shore with him in this video from Great Big Story.

Start by finding five or more types of natural materials from your backyard, along your street, or even in your kitchen. You can use leaves, flowers, grass, dirt, food like beans or fruits, sticks, rocks and more. The possibilities are endless, and you can use the same material more than once to create a design that uses repetition—so be sure to collect enough.

Once you have your materials, organize them into a unique and interesting design. Many artists like to use a circular shape so that the viewer’s eye easily travels around the whole piece of art, but what yours looks like is totally up to you.You don't have to glue your design down or even put it on an actual piece of paper—arrange it where you like and take a photo to capture your work, like Andy Goldsworthy does!

What inspires you in nature? With permission from an adult, take a walk outside and identify at least 10 things you see that inspire you. Try to find 10 natural elements or materials like plants, clouds, puddles, or rocks!

Think about why they inspire you. Is it the shape? Do they remind you of something else or make you feel a certain emotion? Can you make another piece of art inspired by what you found?

Consider making a drawing, creating a piece of land art, or even taking a photo of whatever inspired you most. Talk with a family member or friend about the item you found most inspiring and why.