As the weather starts warming up and the sun shines longer and longer each day, getting outdoors as much as you can will be a great way to pass the time. People are now setting up their patio furniture, getting their gardens prepared, and enjoying many other activities in the comfort of their own backyard to get a change of scenery and keep their hands busy outdoors. For all my art-loving friends and followers out there, remember that creativity can take on a different dimension outside of the house! Whether it is pencil lead sketched in a notebook, or some fun and messy painting, I fully believe that art should be taken outdoors whenever possible.  Here are some great art activities that can be completed outdoors, fun for people of all ages. 

 

Pour Painting

Pour painting is a great way to create beautiful, unique pieces of art for those aspiring artists who may not be confident in their ability to hand paint figures. The craze has really caught on over the last few years, as it is easy for people of all ages to complete. All you need is an assortment of acrylic paints, a pouring medium to help keep the colours separate, and a canvas or surface to pour the mixture on to. There are many different techniques to try, and you may find you like one over the other, or enjoy trying each one to produce different styles for each work of art you complete. 

 

Spin Art

Another fun, popular trend that has taken off over the last year of this pandemic is spin art. This style can have as much or as little technique as you want. Simply pour paint in different directions over your canvas, attach it to your power drill and SPIN. If you don't have use of a power drill, or want to opt for a different way to spin your masterpiece, take some space in your backyard and toss your canvas, paint side up, like a frisbee! The movement will cause the paint to shift, just as it would on a drill (not as fast, but same idea).

 

DIY Tin Can Lanterns

Light up your backyard for the warm summer nights with some DIY tin can lanterns. Not only is this craft simple and fun, it can add a vintage feel to your outdoor decor and can be done easily with few supplies needed. Collect any larger cans you were looking to recycle, of all different sizes (coffee can, stewed tomatoes, and soup all come in varying sizes). Fill the cans with water and freeze overnight to help prevent the can from bending during the design process. While you wait, draw up your own unique designs on paper that fits around your can. Once the water inside the cans has frozen, attach your design template, grab a hammer and nail and start nailing holes into your can, creating your own unique pattern. Paint the cans however you like, and add a simple tea light to have your lanterns glowing through the night. 

 

Painting Wood

If you are an experienced artist with good freehand skills, or have access to some fun templates, painting on wood is a great way to brighten up your space and make it one of a kind, and unique to you. While front door “welcome” signs are what we typically see when walking through the neighbourhood, you can do one better and paint your wood fence, or any wood furniture that is currently taking up space on your property. Maybe you want to keep it simple with a different stain, but if you're up for it, painting a nice mural could be a great, fun summer art project. Benches, picnic tables, or wooden patio loungers can also be used as your unique canvas for some at-home, outdoor, summer art projects. 

 

Tie-Dye

One of the many summer projects that caught on during the pandemic: Tie-dying our clothes! This is not only a great way to get outside and have some fun this summer, it also provides an excellent opportunity to bring some life back into old clothes that we may not be wearing anymore. Try out banding your clothing together in various ways to get differing designs, and use a variety of colours and methods of dying and see exactly what you can create. 

 

Rock Art

Lastly, an old time favourite and excellent art activity to not only do outdoors, but one that also helps make your outdoor garden or decor more interesting is rock art. Take a walk and collect any bigger rocks that you can find to bring them home and paint to display outdoors. Paint your own one of a kind design on your rock, or get inspired with these ideas from others. Place your rocks throughout your property, or if you are feeling generous, give them to friends, or drop them back where you found them for others to find and take home as a treasure of their own.