The Carter Blog
Carter ARTicles
Ready for our outdoor close-up!
Jun 25, 2025
Have you ever been overwhelmed visiting a museum with kids? Don't know where to start? At the Carter, we have an entire team dedicated to making connecting to art an easy and fun part of every visit. From hands-on activities to creative conversations, there are so many ways for families to engage with the collection at the Carter or at home! One of my favorite artists to help families, and really visitors of all ages, discover is Georgia O’Keeffe. Grab your family and join in on the fun!
Every day we see bits of nature all around us, whether it’s going to the park or even around our homes. But have you ever taken the time to really look at flowers and leaves as closely as you can? Artists like O’Keeffe did! She loved making beautiful and colorful paintings during her career. Did you know that she created around 200 paintings just about flowers? That’s so many! In her artwork, she made the flower petals so big that you can see every detail.
Let’s take a closer look at the humongous petals in O’Keeffe’s painting at the Carter, Red Cannas. They’re so large! Don’t they look so soft and delicate? At first look, I see that the flower is mostly red, but do you see any other hidden colors? Make sure to share with your family or friends what you have found.
Summer, fall, winter, or spring, there are so many exciting things to see outside. Let’s explore our surroundings and create together! This is what you will need:
Materials
- Collection of items found on your outdoor adventure (leaves/rocks/flowers) or photos of your chosen item
- Paper (8.5 x 11 in.)
- Pencils or pens for drawing
- Crayons or colored pencils for coloring
- Tape (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Start by visiting a park or exploring your backyard! Spend some time observing the nature around you. What kind of objects can you find? I’ve found this pretty leaf ! When you’ve found the item you want to draw, either collect it or snap a picture with a camera. If you take a photo, make sure you get really close so that you can zoom in to see the small details.
Step 2: Place the item you collected or the photo you took next to you at your art-making station and, with some paper and a pencil, draw what you see. Try to draw your object super big just like Georgia O’Keeffe!
Step 3: Next, use some crayons or colored pencils to fill your drawing with all sorts of colors! Experiment by using bold, bright colors to create textures the way Georgia O’Keeffe did!
Step 5: When you’ve completed your artwork, step back to see what you’ve done. Is there anyone you want to show your art to? How are you going to display your artwork? Could you make your own art gallery at home? Is there anyone you would like to do this activity with?
Bonus points! If you collected your nature item from outside, make sure to return it to where you found it after you’ve finished creating your art!
Beat the heat this summer but still get your fill of the outdoors by exploring O’Keeffe paintings of nature in the Carter collection!
