A young girl in a blue dress sitting at a table painting watercolor lemons with a water color palette beside her and two images of lemons and a watercolor octopus and a jar of water. In the middle of the photograph is a white see through square with black italic text saying lily and thistle and under is a black and white graphic of a moth and under that it says nature's art club.

Everything you need to make ART and NATURE STUDY a fun and DOABLE part of your family's life!

Three girls sitting at a dark wood table in dark wood and blue fabric padded chairs. On the table are purple octopus, lemon, and butterfly watercolor paintings with a jar of water and flowers in a vase. Also on the table are watercolor palettes. The girls are all painting a copy of the paintings.
A dark wood table with clear cups filled with crayons and crayons spread across the table. Three kids are sitting at the table with octopus and mouse and bug coloring pages in front of them. The boy in the middle is reaching into the cup of crayons

You know how important it is to get your children out in nature and you know the benefits of learning through art but the thought of actually doing it feels overwhelming.

You’re tired of spending hours trying to piece together your own nature study curriculum and you feel like you need to be an artist or some kind of expert to start.

You wish someone would just tell you exactly what you need, how to make it happen without a huge mess, and guide your family through each step. 

Girl in striped dress sitting on a mini rug in the grass. She is watercoloring in a mini booklet a chickadee bird on a branch. Next to her in the grass is a watercolor palette, a container of paint water, pipe cleaners, and a sharpie pen
Two young children exploring outdoors during a nature observation activity. A blonde child in a bright red shirt holds black binoculars up to their eyes while standing in a grassy yard, looking closely at something in the distance. Another child with short dark hair stands just behind, smiling and watching. The children are surrounded by green grass and plants, with a concrete walkway and weathered wooden fence in the background. A black binocular case with its strap lies on the grass nearby.

What if you were able to sit down with your children TODAY and create beautiful works of art while effortlessly learning about nature?

Imagine that instead of spending hours researching curriculum, you could dive right into a resource that keeps ALL of your kids active, happy, and engaged. No matter the age.

Imagine feeling calm and open to connecting with your children as you sit together in nature and create art… without worrying about a huge mess or searching for the perfect project.

Three kids sitting at a light wood table drawing in outlines of bugs or drawing their own bug. On the table is a watercolor palette, a jar of water, a book, pencils, paintbrushes, pens, a erasure, and a bug reference page. On the page is a watercolor painting of a big purple and light green beetle in the middle and small bugs around it that have different colors such as red and blue and green and yellow and black.
Two kids and one adult sitting at a dark brown table. Each kid has a watercolor drawing or outline in front of them and are painting and drawing on it. The adult is painting three butterflies with white and yellow and blue colors with a reference photo of the same painting. One girl is painting a purple octopus with a purple octopus reference photo. One boy is coloring various colors of bugs. Also on the table are two jars with crayons and watercolor palettes and a paper with writing and color swatches on it

BUT SO MANY THINGS GET IN THE WAY!

TIME

The days are busy and long and you feel EXHAUSTED. You want to include art and nature study into your life but there never seems to be enough time.

SUPPLIES

Gathering and organizing supplies feels like a COMPLICATED task. Not to mention that it feels like a huge mess to clean up afterwards.

SKILLS

Trying to find age-appropriate projects plus planning a lesson feels OVERWHELMING! There are too many options, you just don't know where to start.

Watercolor of a grey snail with a light and dark brown swirled shell. This is on a gray criss cross table cloth with a red and orange watercolor cake and a watercolor palette and a red paintbrush and a orange leaf branch
Watercolor painting of a light green frog with black splotches and a tan underside. This is on a gray criss cross tablecloth with orange leaf branch and a watercolor palette and a light blue paint tube and two orange watercolor cakes and a red paintbrush

That's why I created Nature's Art Club!

A young girl in a blue dress sitting at a table painting watercolor lemons with a water color palette beside her and two images of lemons and a watercolor octopus and a jar of water. In the middle of the photograph is a white see through square with black italic text saying lily and thistle and under is a black and white graphic of a moth and under that it says nature's art club.

You can learn and grow in both ART and NATURE STUDY and I can help!

As a mom of four littles, I know how overwhelming life can be and how many things beg for our attention. But, I've also seen the real difference studying nature and art has had on each of my children's (not to mention, my own) happiness.

I want to make it EASY for you to experience this for yourself. I want to give you EVERYTHING you need to make art and nature time a success in your home. It is truly my heart and my passion!

A hand drawn drawing of a yellow and black tortoise shown from the side on top of green grass. This is on a grey wood park table with various leaves on it.
Pencil drawn image of fox with yellow, brown, black, orange, and grey colors. On wood park table with leaf branches around it.

YOU HAVE QUESTIONS...

  • What is included in the Nature’s Art Club?
  • What skills and supplies will my family need before starting?
  • Painting, Drawing, and Nature Study feels like a lot.  Can any age really do this?

I know there can be a lot of questions, especially if you are completely new to this.  My team and I have tried to think of everything to make your time together in nature a success! Here’s what we have for you…

What's Included

WATERCOLOR PAINTING TUTORIALS

Multiple tutorials available for each season featuring subjects from nature that are provided in multiple formats. A downloadable PDF, an online step-by-step tutorial, and a video tutorial.

DRAWING TUTORIALS

Drawing tutorials of subjects in nature that are easy to follow for children and adults. Each lesson is broken down into simple terms in a follow along video tutorial format. We recommend these drawing lessons for ages 8+ but anyone can try!

COLORED PENCIL TUTORIALS

Colored pencil tutorials of subjects in nature that are easy to follow. Each lesson includes a reference photo and follow along video tutorial. We recommend these colored pencil lessons for ages 10+ but anyone can try!

BIRDING 101

NEW! Video tutorials designed to introduce you to the basic principles and practices of birding - the observation of birds in their natural habitats as a hobby. Each video highlights beautiful spots in nature, and gives instruction on how to watch and listen for birds at home.

NATURE JOURNALING 101

A printable nature journal is provided along with video lessons on how to get started! You'll also get our popular e-book A Gentle Guide to Nature Journaling. You'll learn how to get even the most hesitant participant excited about Nature.

NATURE ACTIVITIES & CRAFTS

Over 50 EASY nature activities and crafts to help you and your kids make meaningful memories together in nature. Simple no-supplies-needed games, activities like How to Make Animal Track Molds... guaranteed fun for all ages!

OUTLINES & COLORING PAGES

For each of our painting subjects, you'll have a watercolor outline to use for tracing onto your watercolor paper. (Great for fine motor skills!) Plus, you'll get a coloring page to print and reprint for non-painters.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL

Each painting subject comes with a full page of fun facts. We've also curated a collection of brief, educational videos to view and enjoy. Simply click and start learning together!

POEMS

14 heart-warming, original poems that go with a seasonal theme and subjects in nature. Perfect to read and even memorize with your kids and pair with their paintings.

SUPPLIES LIST

We've kept supplies to a minimum to make creating art easy and affordable for you! You'll generally use the same set of supplies for each project - plus we give you no-mess alternatives to avoid the stress of clean-up with little artists.

SUPPORT

You’ll also get an invitation to our private Nature’s Art Club Facebook group (not required) where you'll find support, meet other members from all over the world, participate in challenges & giveaways, and share your art and nature discoveries!

Watercolor painting a big purple and light green beetle in the middle and small bugs around it that have different colors such as red and blue and green and yellow and black. This is on a gray criss cross tablecloth with orange leaf branch and a watercolor palette
Whale watercolor of dark blue and light blue colors. This is on a gray criss cross table cloth with a red and orange watercolor cake and a watercolor palette and a red paintbrush and a orange leaf branch

Here's what others are saying...

A pencil drawing of a pointed shell with dark shading on the inside in the middle of a white paper. On wood park table with leaf branches around it.
A pencil drawing of a mini strawberry with a branch with dark shading on the inside in the middle of a white paper. On wood park table with leaf branches around it.

Life BEFORE joining Nature’s Art Club:

  • You’re overwhelmed by doing art with your kids and aren’t sure where to start. 
  • You don’t know what supplies you should buy and if they are appropriate for your family.
  • You dread the clean up after art time and don’t want to deal with the mess.
  • You’re tired of coming up with ideas to get your kids away from screens and out in nature, exploring.
  • It feels impossible to find an activity that everyone in the family can do and enjoy.
  • You are longing for a creative outlet to bring YOU joy.

Life AFTER joining Nature’s Art Club:

  • You feel confident using the tools and guidance in Nature’s Art and your kids are painting and drawing better than you ever imagined!
  • Your kids are engaged and interested in nature in a whole new way. You’ve already made happy memories thanks to the guidance and easy activities in Nature’s Art.
  • You’re now the “fun mom” equipped with easy to do art projects and activities (and shhh, your kids are learning so much too!)
  • You love the recommended supplies because they work for the entire family and you’ve learned how to keep them organized to avoid a mess.
  • You feel excited and surprised because YOU are learning new art skills too and getting some much needed self-care.
Homeschool nature study workspace showing a child drawing a snake from observation beside a framed insect specimen collection. The child holds a yellow pencil over an open nature-study book containing a detailed pencil drawing of a coiled snake. A large display below contains preserved specimens of butterflies, moths, dragonflies, bees or wasps, a praying mantis, and other insects in different sizes, shapes, and colors. A small specimen jar, green and purple pencils, papers, a clear storage container, and green botanical-patterned notebooks are arranged across a teal-covered table. The activity combines careful observation, nature study, scientific illustration, and hands-on art.
Child exploring a rocky shoreline during an outdoor nature study activity, bending over to photograph small natural objects with a smartphone. The child wears a gray-and-white striped long-sleeve shirt, dark shorts, sunglasses, and black-and-blue water shoes. On a large dark rock in front of the child are several shells and a small brown marine object arranged for close observation and photography. Additional white shells lie among the surrounding pebbles. The shoreline is covered with smooth stones, large dark rocks, patches of green seaweed, and other coastal materials in bright sunlight. A colorful coats rests on the rocks beside the child.

Tell me more about what's in
Nature's Art Club...

A dark wood table and a girl is painting a purple octopus on a paper with a gold paintbrush. Also on the table is a smaller copy of the purple octopus. Also on the table is a small watercolor palette.

Watercolor Tutorials
with Traceable Templates

Our video tutorials for painting 24+ subjects from nature include a watercolor template to use for tracing onto your watercolor paper. This way you can get right to painting without having to worry about the separate skill of drawing.

A pencil drawing of a acorn with dark shading on the inside in the middle of a white paper. On wood park table with leaf branches around it.

Drawing Nature Lessons
for Beginners

We are offering basic drawing lessons with an emphasis on drawing objects in nature! Hannah will take you step-by-step through the drawing journey and give you tools to help you and your children feel successful and proud. Anyone can draw, let us show you how!

Pencil drawn image of fox with yellow, brown, black, orange, and grey colors. On wood park table with leaf branches around it.

Colored Pencil Drawing Lessons​

Featuring our new author, and nature biologist, Anna Stunkel, we are offering colored pencil tutorials. Anna will take you step-by-step through colored pencil lessons to create your own vibrant drawings. It will help you all to take your drawing skills to the next level and connect with nature through art.

Overhead outdoor photograph of an open nature journal, watercolor palette, drawing tools, water bottle, and rinse bowl arranged directly on sunlit green grass. The open sketchbook lies toward the left and center. Its left page contains a detailed watercolor painting of a brown sparrow perched on a branch, with a dark brown and black head, warm rusty-brown wing feathers, lighter beige breast, and thin brown legs. Handwritten nature observations surround the bird painting, and large decorative green letters at the bottom spell “Brown Sparrow.” The right journal page is mostly blank cream paper. A blue-and-white pencil rests vertically near the center fold, and a black pen lies diagonally across the blank page. A white plastic watercolor palette overlaps the lower right portion of the sketchbook and contains small rectangular pans of yellow, green, blue, brown, red, orange, and other pigments, along with stained mixing wells containing gray, green, orange, blue, and reddish paint. A clear plastic water bottle with a white cap and blue label stands on the grass at upper right. A white bowl containing cloudy rinse water sits at lower right with a paintbrush resting across it. Bright sunlight creates crisp shadows from the pens, palette, grass blades, and bottle.

Nature Journaling Classes
and Resources

Nature journaling is a powerful tool for both scientific and self discovery! You can give your children (and yourself!) the gift of seeing the world in a new and beautiful way. Hannah has taught in-person nature journaling classes to hundreds of children and adults. She helps simplify nature study and will show you how to get even the most reluctant child excited about getting out to explore and record the natural world around them.

Young child participating in an outdoor sensory nature activity while wearing a white cloth blindfold over their eyes. The child, dressed in a dark short-sleeved shirt, light-colored pants, and boots, reaches out with one hand to gently touch the thin trunk and leafy hanging branches of a small tree. Fresh green leaves and small buds cover the branches. The child stands on dark mulch in a landscaped area surrounded by large gray rocks, grass, and other plants in bright sunlight. Another person’s feet are partially visible near the tree in the background.

Nature Games, Crafts,
and Activities

One of the best ways to get kids (and adults) into nature is to make it a game! The Nature's Art Club includes over 50 (and counting) games, activities, and crafts. We've done the mental prep for you, so you can just read and execute. We can't wait for you to see how excited your kids will be about nature time!

A kid sitting at a dark wood table coloring with crayons in a black and white graphic drawing of a octopus. Also on the table are two clear cups with crayons in them and various crayons spread out on the table. On the other side of the table, a hand is reaching over and picking up more crayons

Coloring Pages

Painting can sometimes feel overwhelming (especially with littles) so we have provided a beautiful illustrated coloring page for each of the watercolor projects in the Club. This is a perfect activity to do while watching the videos provided or listening to a read-aloud. Littles can color while the older kids paint, or color all together. Great for coloring enthusiasts of all ages!

A woman sitting outside painting in a book. In the book is three different angle of a black and white chickadee bird with text around the bird on the first page. Also on her lap is a watercolor palette

Birding 101

NEW! Learn birding basics from our favorite wildlife biologist, artist, naturalist, and environmental educator - Anna Stunkel! We have wonderful, new video tutorials to introduce our Nature's Art Club members to several birding activities. You will learn how to use binoculars, identify birds by sight and sound, bird sketching, migration, and lots more!

Butterfly watercolor lesson materials displayed with an iPad, Butterfly black and white outline printable worksheets, and a video painting demonstration.

Poetry, Videos, & So Much More!

There are SO MANY more resources just waiting for you in Nature's Art Club: original poetry, educational video links, observation worksheets, loose parts lists, paintable bird calendar, phenology wheel template and tutorial....the list goes on and on! And we are adding more all of the time! Our goal is to give you EVERYTHING you need to make art and nature time a huge success!

MEET THE TEAM

Circular portrait of a smiling woman in a pink shirt seated at a table with butterfly artwork and a watercolor color chart.

Hannah Stevenson is the artist and curator of all that you’ll see in Nature’s Art Club. She’s an artist, teacher, cheerleader, and mom to four. She’s passionate about helping families connect through art and nature.  She writes about creativity, nature, intentional education, and mindful family life at LilyandThistle.com. She also makes paper dolls!

A circle of a woman in a light blue shirt with a dark sage green ball cap and black glasses holding black binoculars
Anna is a wildlife biologist, artist, naturalist, and environmental educator. She has worked in a variety of settings including state parks, nature centers, remote seabird islands, mountaintops, and the Costa Rican rainforest and now she gets to share her incredible knowledge here with us in Nature’s Art Club! She will be sharing more about her expertise with colored pencil drawings, nature journaling, nature activities, and more!
Smiling man wearing glasses and a light blue shirt seated at a table.
B. Bugs Anderson is a recovering lawyer who has loved writing poems and short stories for many years. “Bugs” is a nickname that came from a time in the 1950s when everyone had one, e.g. Wally, Dobie, Jughead, Fonzie and Opie. Since making up his first poem in the third grade, B. Bugs has loved the beauty, absurdity, humor, wonder and profundity that can be expressed in a few, well-chosen words. Now, as part of the Lily & Thistle team, he gets to indulge in something he has dreamed of doing for decades.

WHAT IF YOU MADE ART AND NATURE PART OF YOUR LIFE AGAIN?

The skills you’ll learn in Nature’s Art Club will start you on the path. Don’t wait to get started!

Girl sitting on green grass with a dark blue hoodie and black pants. Next to her is a colorful woven rug, a green backpack, and a paper with a black liner pen and paintbrushes on it
A boy crouching on pine floor with a rug under him. He has a dark blue shirt with light tan pants and black and camo boots. He has a book which is small and open and he is painting in it. On the side is a watercolor palette, and a white tin with a paintbrush in it

Begin Your Journey with Nature's Art Club Today!

Hurry, while the DISCOUNTED PRICING is still available!

Annual Membership Plan

(SAVE $100 as an annual member – that’s 4 months free!)

Monthly Membership Plan

(Pay month-to-month, cancel at anytime)

A peek inside our Facebook community

A dark wood table with dark wood chairs. There are three girls and a woman sitting at the table. One girl has is wearing a dark gray long sleeve shirt with a deer on it, another is wearing a light gray dress, and the third girl is wearing a white shirt with a sleeveless black dress over it and dark purple beanie. There is a also a woman at the end of the table only showing her arm. In front of each person is a butterfly watercolor outline. All the girls have three butterflies on theirs that they are coloring in. The woman's paper is empty except for a yellow and black butterfly that she is painting. All the girls are painting and also on the table are watercolor palettes, a white paint tray, four jars with paint water in them, a computer, a page with text on it and a graphic with a snail and a butterfly, and a reference picture with three butterflies including a light yellow one, a yellow and black one, and a blue one
A boy in a dark gray shirt sitting at a dark brown table. He is watercoloring a rainbow colored turkey with green grass on the bottom. Under this is a book titled wild animals. Also on the table is a white surface, two watercolor palettes, and a cup with paint water. On top of this image is text saying Trying our first project. So happy my 6yo boy loves it. Art has become stressful recently for him as he's grown more critical of himself. Showing him on this facebook page other kids' art on this alongside their parent's art was very reassuring to him that its okay if his doesn't look like mama's art. He is now talking to himself like Hannah does in the video. Describing his color choices and techniques as he paints. Just said "what a lovely day for painting."
5
6
Three pictures covering over half of the screen. The top picture is a big picture with a wood table with a black computer with a screen that has a maroon red background with white text on it and a picture of a watercolor of different colors of fall leaves on a blue background. Also on the table outside fo the computer is watercolor painting of fall leaves with a light blue background, a watercolor palette, another of the same painting, a plastic water bottle, and a open notebook. The bottom left picture is smaller with a boy wearing a green ball cap and a blue shirt smiling and holding a paper. The bottom right picture is a small picture of the watercolor leaves painting with the leaves being orange and green and yellow and light blue colors. The text on the top of all of these pictures says My 2 sons aged 12 and 14 did their first lesson today! We had some technical difficulties at first, but then we figured it out! Next time will go smoother. We are learning watercoloring for our handicraft in our homeschool this year. They are doing nature's art club twice a week a brush drawing drawing course twice a week. Success!
A picture of a girl in a purple dress and a yellow headband tracing leaf design on a window. Next to her is a boy in a black shirt also tracing a leaf design on a window. On the top of this picture over a white strip is text saying did our first watercolor! Impressed with my 4 year olds tracing. A good motor skills exercise! I knew my 6 year old would freak out when he messed up or didn't follow perfectly so I tried to prep him beforehand to be ok with differences and told him it was going to be fairly challenging. I was glad that in that video you addressed how all of those imperfections are welcomed!
Two pictures separated by a white line. The picture on the left is of four kids sitting around a dark wood table. In front of them are papers and they are watercoloring on those papers. Also on the table is a jar of paintbrushes, a watercolor palette, jars of water, and papers. There is also a white stand made out of swirled wires with a pink book on it, and a black laptop. On the right is a picture of two papers with printed butterfly outlines each have three butterflies on them. The top butterfly on each paper is colored yellow, the middle one is colored yellow and blue and red, and the bottom one is colored blue and gray. Under these papers is another paper with images of a watercolor tutorial and text. The text on the top of these two images says finally started our watercolour journey today. Very enjoyable
A dark wood table with a watercolor painting of a turkey shown from the side with red, brown, yellow, and gray colors. There is also another watercolor painting of three acorns on top of one another that are light brown, dark brown, and green. Also on the table is a watercolor palette, two sharpie pens, a ruler, and a paper towel

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I access the Nature’s Art Club?

You will have access to everything in the Nature’s Art Club directly in Teachable. Teachable is an easy-to-use online learning portal that keeps track of your progress so you can easily start and stop at any time.  You can access this course at the Lily & Thistle Teachable Creative Studio (https://lily-and-thistle-studio.teachable.com/courses/).

What kind of art supplies will I need to get?

I’ve spent months researching the best supplies at the best price point for beginners. I will give you a complete list with links for your convenience and suggestions of where to buy to get the best deals.  I use the same set of supplies for all of the projects to make it easy, but also offer up options for the younger artists so you don’t feel like you are investing a ton in art supplies.

Can I use this with my whole family?

Yes!  Each membership to the Nature’s Art Club is intended for one subscription per family.  Simply login to the Nature’s Art Club on Teachable and begin to walk through the watercolor painting lesson with your kids, print out the additional materials, or learn more from the educational content provided.

What age group is this for?

The Nature’s Art Club can be adapted for all ages and stages!  When creating this product we tried to imagine a mother sitting with her children around the kitchen table.  The mother we imagined has an 12 year old and an 8 year old who really want to learn to paint and draw but also a 5 year old who is happy to color with crayons. She can decide to join in or to just let each child do their own thing.  All of the items provided in the subscription can satisfy the needs of children at different stages of life – even teenagers (watercolor tutorials, drawing classes, templates to trace, coloring pages, etc.).  She can also ask a child to share some of the included fun facts and they can watch the video links provided or they can all read the nature poem together.  When they feel like going outside, there are also many nature journaling activities that everyone in the family can do together.

What is the time commitment required each week?

There are no required time commitments in the Nature’s Art Club.  You can use it weekly, every other week, monthly, or however often you want.  I would suggest giving yourself about 30 minutes to an hour to paint, draw, or color.  The activities can be done in as little as 15 minutes. Use what works for you and make it last as long as you’d like. We’ve also curated a guided syllabus if you are interested in a little more structure.

Do I need art, painting, or drawing experience to enroll?

NO – and that’s the beauty of all of my courses!  I make sure that everyone can be successful, no matter their art background.  I provide templates for almost all of the painting projects and guide you through each step in the both the painting and drawing courses.  If you already have some art experience these resources are also for you!  You’ll further your education and provide an exploration of more drawing and watercolor techniques!

What kind of support will I get?

After signing up, you will get instant access to the Nature’s Art Club private Facebook group (though FaceBook participation is NOT required).  Here you can ask questions, post discoveries and share with the private community.  You can also always reach out to me via email if you have any pressing questions or concerns. I am here to help and cheer you on!

What is the refund policy?

We would never want you to be unhappy!  If you are not satisfied with the Nature’s Art Club, please contact us within the first 30 days and we will provide you with a full refund.

Can I use this for a class or co-op?

Yes – this is the perfect resource for a class or co-op!  There are pricing plans available for small, medium, and large groups.  Small groups are one login access for use up to 5 families.  Medium groups are one login access for use up to 15 families.  Large groups are one login access for use up to 30 families.  Your purchase is a one-time payment for 12-months of curriculum.  Each year you would purchase a new curriculum package as this is a not an auto renewal.  Please reach out to support@lilyandthistle.com  and we can help you get access and get started.  This curriculum would be perfect for homeschooling co-ops and other homeschooling groups.

Watercolor painting of three yellow daffodils with bright green stems and brown bulbs. This is on a gray criss cross tablecloth with orange leaf branch and a watercolor palette
A watercolor of a gray rabbit on a green floor with a light blue background. This is on a gray criss cross tablecloth with orange leaf branch and a watercolor palette and two orange watercolor cakes and a red paintbrush

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