Painting with a Fork

Paint a realistic tree using a plastic fork.

Materials

Heavy plastic shower curtain liner to cover table

Wax paper

Paper plate, coated

Washable craft paint – green, white, and yellow

Plastic fork

White card stock or watercolor paper for the background

Yellow and brown card stock for star and tree trunk

Fifteen ½” or ¼” pom poms; or sequins and beads

Tacky glue

Scissors

1. Cover table with shower curtain liner.

2. Make a sample tree for children to follow.

3. Using star pattern, trace star on yellow paper. Cut one star and set aside.

4. Using tree trunk pattern, trace trunk on brown paper. Cut one trunk and position

    it on lower edge of white background paper and glue. Place background paper

    on wax paper.

5. Pour green, yellow, and white paint on paper plate.

6. Leave space at top of tree for star. Load back of fork with green paint. To form

     tree, drag fork across background paper from center outward, having shorter

     branches at top and longer branches at bottom of tree. If needed, fill in white

     spaces with green paint.

7. Load small amount of white paint on fork, and add highlights to tree. Repeat

    with yellow paint. Dry thoroughly.

8. Position star at the top of tree and glue. Glue pom poms on tree.

*The paper may wrinkle slightly as it dries, giving the tree a dimensional effect.

For Young Children – Cut out the star and tree trunk for the kids. Mark space at top for star. Practice painting with a fork on scrap paper before painting the tree.

For Older Children – Older kids can read and follow the steps above. Practice painting with a fork before painting the tree.

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