# Straw-Blown Fall Tree Art > Kids paint a free-form background in red, orange and yellow liquid watercolors. Once it's dry, they blow drops of brown watercolor through a straw to grow a tree's trunk and branches. - URL: https://www.funlittles.com/fall-art-activities-kids-fall-tree-art/ - Ages: 3–7 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium - Time: prep 10 min, activity 30 min - Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class - Skills: fall-colors, process-art, fine-motor, breath-control - Cautions: ingestion-risk ## Materials (one batch) - 1 sheet Heavy/thick paper (e.g. watercolor paper) - Liquid watercolors in fall colors (red, orange, yellow) plus brown - 1 piece Paint brushes - 1 piece Drinking straws (household) - 1 piece Pipettes - Markers (optional) (household) ## Substitutions - Instead of paint brushes: Markers (For adding the colorful fall leaves in the second method, if you prefer.) ## Safety - Show kids how to blow OUT through the straw, not suck in, so they don't get a mouthful of paint. Practice blowing on a dry paper first. - Give each child their own straw. Don't share straws. - Lots of blowing can make little ones light-headed. Encourage short puffs and breaks. - Liquid watercolors can stain hands, clothes and tables. Cover the table and use smocks. - Adult supervises the pipettes and paint bottles with younger children. ## Before you start - Cover the table and set out straws, pipettes, paint brushes, liquid watercolors and heavy paper. ## Steps 1. Talk about fall colors: red, orange and yellow. 2. Paint a free-form background on thick paper with the fall-colored liquid watercolors. Mix them up and have fun. 3. Let the background dry completely. 4. Start the tree with a thick trunk of brown watercolor, using the straw itself. 5. Adult: place a tiny drop of brown liquid watercolor on the paper. 6. Blow through the straw to push the watercolor in the direction you want. Remember, you're making a tree. 7. Keep adding drops and blowing to grow more branches until you're done. 8. Let your fall tree dry and show it off. ## Tips - There's no pattern or coloring inside the lines here. It's just good old free-form painting with liquid watercolors, and the kids loved that. - If you are inclined, painting the background is a good chance to show kids brush strokes. - The background shouldn't take that long to dry, but it must be completely dry before you start the tree. - After a while the kids wanted to place the watercolor on the paper by themselves, so let them take over the drops. - Younger siblings will want in too. Our 3.5-year-old's straw-blown tree came out wild and abstract, and that's part of the fun. ## The original post by TurkeyMom (2014) ### {All our [**art activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/category/art-projects/) can be accessed here} Can't wait for the cool and crisp weather! Fall is my favorite season- apples, pumpkins, the pies! More importantly the reassuring feeling that the Holiday season is not too far away! To celebrate fall, we tried a ever so popular art activity. Take a look at these kid created gorgeous fall trees in their red, orange, yellow glory! We have already tried using straws for one of our art projects before- check out **[straw blown valentines day cards.](https://www.funlittles.com/homemade-cards-for-valentines-day/)** They also make a great tool for practicing those fine motor skills. Try out [**matches and straws fine motor activity.**](https://www.funlittles.com/fine-motor-activities-matches-and-straws/) **Materials** **** Set out straws, **[pipette](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IQTSE0/?tag=blmemo-20)****[s](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005IQTSE0/?tag=blmemo-20)****,** **[paint brushes](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IJBHOQ/?tag=blmemo-20)** **[liquid watercolors](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042SR5R2/?tag=blmemo-20)** along with some **[heavy paper](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001E01U6S/?tag=blmemo-20).** We tried 2 techniques to create this fall art activity. The first one based on *That Artist Woman's [**fall tree art**](http://www.thatartistwoman.org/p/fall-projects.html) post on the same topic. {Thanks!}* First we talked about fall colors and the kids used them to paint a background on thick paper using liquid watercolors. This was such a fantastic experience for them since there was no t pattern or coloring inside the lines. Just good old free form painting with liquid watercolors. The kids wanted to mix up all the fall colors and just have fun! If you are inclined this may be a good chance to show them brush strokes. The bright colors just shines through! Then let the colors dry which shouldn't take that long. Once completely dry on the same paper we started off the tree with a thick trunk using the straw itself. Then I'd place a tiny drop of brown liquid watercolor on the paper and the children would blow them in the direction they prefer keeping in mind that they are trying to create a tree. Of course after a while the kids wanted to place the watercolor by themselves on the paper. All that's left to do is to blow air through the straws pushing the watercolor as we go. At this point my 5 year old decided that she was done! Here is our super vibrant fall art project. Since all younger siblings by law are required to engage in the same art activity as their older siblings here is my 3.5 year old's take on straw blown fall tree. The other method is where the kid paints just the sky and the grass. Then we go over and straw blow the tree and finally add the colorful fall leaves details using a paint brush ( or a marker) if you prefer. Thanks for reading.