Feather Brushes
Craft your own magical painting tools from sticks, wire, and real feathers.
The Set Up
There's something really special about painting with a tool you've made yourself. These feather brushes are simple to put together and they create the most incredible marks... soft, sweeping, completely unpredictable. Gather sticks for handles (we like ones about the length of a pencil, but anything goes), feathers in a range of sizes, and florist wire. The wire gives the brushes a magical feel and adds structure. Just wrap it around the stick and feathers to hold everything together. You'll want about five or so feathers per brush. Set out liquid watercolour in jars alongside oil pastels. You could use plain watercolour paper, or we've had paper crown bases ready for kids to paint on.
The Making
Let artists start by making their brushes, wrapping feathers onto sticks with wire, experimenting with different feather sizes and arrangements. It's fun to see the variety of brushes that come out of this... some carefully constructed, others wild and full. Once the brushes are ready, it's time to paint. The marks feather brushes make are gorgeous: light, wispy strokes that look completely different from anything a regular brush can do. Encourage artists to try sweeping motions, dabbing, dragging, and twirling. Layering liquid watercolour with oil pastel resist creates beautiful effects too.
Variations
Try using the feather brushes on fabric instead of paper for a completely different texture.
You could also pair this with the Peacock Still Life activity... paint the still life using the brushes you've just made!
Materials
• Sticks (roughly pencil length)
• Feathers, a variety of sizes
• Florist wire
• Liquid watercolour in jars
• Oil pastels
• Watercolour paper
• Optional: paper crown bases
• Scissors
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Feather Brushes
Craft your own magical painting tools from sticks, wire, and real feathers.
Bookmark
Creative Exploration
The Set Up
There's something really special about painting with a tool you've made yourself. These feather brushes are simple to put together and they create the most incredible marks... soft, sweeping, completely unpredictable. Gather sticks for handles (we like ones about the length of a pencil, but anything goes), feathers in a range of sizes, and florist wire. The wire gives the brushes a magical feel and adds structure. Just wrap it around the stick and feathers to hold everything together. You'll want about five or so feathers per brush. Set out liquid watercolour in jars alongside oil pastels. You could use plain watercolour paper, or we've had paper crown bases ready for kids to paint on.
The Making
Let artists start by making their brushes, wrapping feathers onto sticks with wire, experimenting with different feather sizes and arrangements. It's fun to see the variety of brushes that come out of this... some carefully constructed, others wild and full. Once the brushes are ready, it's time to paint. The marks feather brushes make are gorgeous: light, wispy strokes that look completely different from anything a regular brush can do. Encourage artists to try sweeping motions, dabbing, dragging, and twirling. Layering liquid watercolour with oil pastel resist creates beautiful effects too.
Variations
Try using the feather brushes on fabric instead of paper for a completely different texture.
You could also pair this with the Peacock Still Life activity... paint the still life using the brushes you've just made!
Materials
• Sticks (roughly pencil length)
• Feathers, a variety of sizes
• Florist wire
• Liquid watercolour in jars
• Oil pastels
• Watercolour paper
• Optional: paper crown bases
• Scissors
Back to Top
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Thoughts?
Would love to hear if youv'e tried this or have any ideas on how to make it even better!
