Inspired by the work of artist Mary Nohl, this collaborative class project from the Cardinal MW PM class features driftwood pieces collected by the children, bringing a meaningful connection to nature and their shared experiences.

Each piece was carefully wrapped in yarn inspired by the colors of Lake Michigan-soft blues, sandy neutrals, and hints of green-using process-based techniques that encouraged creativity and exploration.

The finished pieces were then strung together to form a beautiful wall-hung tapestry, blending natural textures with vibrant color while celebrating teamwork, creativity, and a sense of place.

Approximate dimensions: 18"x24"

Featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show and created by the Cardinal MWF AM class, this collaborative fiber art piece takes it's inspiration from Lake Michigan and the artist Mary Nohl.

This piece captures the beauty of Lake Michigan through wet felting techniques. Students layered and felted soft wool fibers to form a rich, textured lakeside scene, then added strands of yarn to represent the movement and energy of the waves.

The piece was further refined through dry felting and thoughtfully mounted on a natural piece of driftwood, bringing together texture, color, and a connection to the lakeshore in a unique and tactile work of art.

Approximate dimensions: 12"x14"

This collaborative artwork by the Cardinal MWF AM class features a large wooden circle representing a hive, filled with individual honeycomb shapes designed by each child.

Using process art techniques, students decorated their sections with thumbprints, gold accents, and stamping to create rich texture and variation within the shared composition.

The result is a vibrant, unified piece that celebrates teamwork.

Approximate dimensions: 24" across

In this collaborative artwork each child in Cardinal T/Th AM class stamped their individual handprint in shades of red and tan.

With the addition of simple beaks and eyes, these handprints were transformed into a flock of cardinals soaring together across the page.

The result is a piece that celebrates creativity and teamwork. Each child's name is featured under their individual handprint.

Approximate dimensions: 22"x18"

This vibrant framed collage showcases a rainbow mandala created from individual watercolor paintings by each student in the Cardinal T/Th PM class.

Every piece contributes its own color and texture, coming together in a harmonious circular design that symbolizes unity, balance, and creativity.

The finished artwork reflects both the uniqueness of each child and the beauty of collaboration as their work forms one bright, joyful whole.

Approximate dimensions: 15"x12"

Featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show and inspired by the colorful interior windows in the home of the artist Mary Nohl, this collaborative Chickadee MWF AM class art project features a hand-drawn tree brought to life with each of our classroom birds-nuthatch, cardinal, chickadee, and goldfinch-outlined in bold black puff paint.

On the reverse side, students carefully collaged colorful tissue paper squares, creating a glowing stained glass effect when light shines through. The finished piece celebrates creativity, teamwork, and classroom identity, transforming simple materials into a bright and meaningful work of art.

Approximate dimensions: 37"x 14"

This collaborative classroom project from the Chickadee K4 PM class, featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show, students wove yarn and fabric strips through the branches of a naturally Y-shaped tree limb, transforming it into a vibrant mixed-media sculpture.

Inspired by the shifting colors of Lake Michigan and the imaginative spirit of artist Mary Nohl, the children selected blues, greens, and sandy neutrals to echo the lakeshore landscape.

The woven textures bring movement, color, and softness to the organic form of the branch, creating a piece that reflects creativity, exploration, and a deep connection to nature and place.

Approximate dimensions: 78" tall x 45" wide

A vibrant canvas showcasing process-based art created by the Chickadee MWF AM class.

Using tempera paints, the children explored color, texture, and movement, allowing creativity to guide their work. The piece is finished with tree cookie stamping, adding natural patterns and an organic touch that highlights both experimentation and connection to nature.

Approximate dimensions: 22"x18"

This collaborative class project by the Chickadee T/Th am class brings together colorful painted handprints from each child, celebrating their creativity and individuality.

Each handprint is paired with a small photo of its artist, carefully placed beneath a glass gem to create a playful bubble effect.

The result is a joyful and personal piece that captures a moment in time-highlighting both the uniqueness of every child and the sense of connection within the class.

Approximate dimensions: 22"x18"

The Goldfinch 4K PM class created this vibrant, Matisse-inspired collaborative collage by cutting bold, colorful shapes influenced by the natural world. Using their imaginations, the children designed an original abstract composition filled with elements they love-blades of grass, rocks, anthills, waves from Lake Michigan, trees, sunshine, and more waiting to be discovered upon closer look. Inspired by Henri Matisse's technique of "painting with scissors," students explored cutting directly into paper to form simplified, organic shapes reminiscent of leaves and plant life. The result is a joyful celebration of creativity, nature, and artistic exploration. Note: While the artwork itself is original, the signatures shown are copies. The students' original signatures will be included on the piece gifted to their teachers.

Approximate dimensions: 20"x14"

Inspired by the work of the artist Mary Nohl and featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show, this collaborative Goldfinch K4 AM project features a weighted metal bucket anchoring a long wood branch, from which a vibrant school of fish appears to swim.

Each fish was created using process art methods, with children exploring stamping and painting techniques to design their own unique patterns and colors. The natural driftwood combined with the lively, expressive fish creates a beautiful balance of texture and movement, celebrating creativity, individuality, and a shared underwater-inspired vision.

This piece features work by Avery, Louie, Lily B. Quinn, and Skylar.

Approximate dimensions: 70"x18"

Inspired by the work of the artist Mary Nohl and featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show, this collaborative Goldfinch K4 AM project features a weighted metal bucket anchoring a long wood branch, from which a vibrant school of fish appears to swim.

Each fish was created using process art methods, with children exploring stamping and painting techniques to design their own unique patterns and colors. The natural driftwood combined with the lively, expressive fish creates a beautiful balance of texture and movement, celebrating creativity, individuality, and a shared underwater-inspired vision.

This piece features work by Lily K., Ryker, Rhys, Stevie, Charlotte, and Aubrey.

Approximate dimensions: 78"x24"

Inspired by the work of the artist Mary Nohl and featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show, this collaborative Goldfinch K4 AM project features a weighted metal bucket anchoring a long wood branch, from which a vibrant school of fish appears to swim.

Each fish was created using process art methods, with children exploring stamping and painting techniques to design their own unique patterns and colors. The natural driftwood combined with the lively, expressive fish creates a beautiful balance of texture and movement, celebrating creativity, individuality, and a shared underwater-inspired vision.

This piece features work by Forrest, Maeve, Ruth, Hadley, and Mia.

Approximate dimensions: 72"x24"

The Goldfinch K4 AM class created a tree for each season using bubble wrap stamps. The children worked in groups to create how they imagined the same tree would look for summer, fall, winter and spring.

Approximate dimensions: 9"x12" each

This temperature hanging was created by the Goldfinch K4 AM class one strand of yarn at a time, with each yarn representing the temperature for that day of class.

The Goldfinches learned what each temperature felt like to their body, how sun and wind made a difference, practiced writing numbers, and predicted the next day's temperature.

The completed project will be a representation of the entire year's temperatures at Nature School!

Note: This is an ongoing project through the end the the year. When complete, the yarn will be trimmed to shape and a hanger added, so pickup will be on the last day of school.

This collaborative classroom art project was inspired by the art of Mary Nohl and created by the Goldfinch K4 AM students using driftwood foraged along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

The natural pieces were thoughtfully arranged and strung together to form a balanced mobile, then accented with colorful wooden beads chosen by the children to add rhythm, color, and movement. The piece is finished with a wooden fish cutout, bringing a playful focal point that ties the natural materials and lake-inspired theme together.

The finished mobile reflects exploration, creativity, and a deep connection to the natural environment.

Approximate dimensions: 17"x24"

This process-based collage by the Goldfinch K4 PM class, featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show, captures the beauty and movement of Lake Michigan through layers of student-created art.

Children explored watercolor techniques to paint papers in a range of blue hues, then tore and arranged them to form the flowing surface of the lake. A finishing touch of shimmering glitter paint adds light and sparkle, evoking sunlight dancing across the water.

The piece celebrates creativity, texture, and the natural wonder of a place familiar and meaningful to the class.

Mounted on paper board for stability.

Approximate dimensions: 28"x20"

This collaborative classroom artwork by the Nuthatch TWTh PM class features driftwood carefully selected by the students and thoughtfully assembled into a hanging composition.

Inspired by the imaginative work of artist Mary Nohl, the natural forms of the wood are enhanced with glass beads chosen and strung by the children in shades reminiscent of Lake Michigan. The shimmering beads catch the light, adding color and movement while honoring the organic beauty of the materials.

The finished piece, featured in the 2026 Nature School Art Show, reflects creativity, exploration, and a shared appreciation for nature and artistic expression.

Approximate dimensions: 44"x28"

This painted canvas captures a serene Lake Michigan sunset, complete with softly glowing skies and sailboats drifting across the water.

To extend the scene, each student in the Nuthatch TWTh AM class created a collage paper fish, painting and decorating them in colors of their own choosing.

The individually designed fish were then added to the composition, creating a lively contrast to the peaceful horizon and celebrating both imagination and collaboration.

Approximate dimensions: 24"x18"

A one-of-a-kind keepsake created by the Nuthatch TWTh PM Class of 2026, this sweet wildflower artwork captures a moment in time you'll never get back.

Each "bloom" began as a tiny fingerprint and was transformed into a field of wildflowers, just like the children who made them: unique, growing, and full of life.

This piece is both meaningful and timeless. Perfect for a playroom, bedroom, or family space. A heartfelt reminder of this special season and the little hands that made it.

Approximate dimensions: 15"x12"

The Goldfinch K4 PM class collected driftwood along the shores of Lake Michigan and transformed their natural findings into a collaborative hanging mobile.

Inspired by the whimsical work of artist Mary Nohl, students carefully assembled the driftwood into a flowing composition, interspersing it with colorful wooden beads to add rhythm, contrast, and movement.

The finished piece reflects both the beauty of found natural materials and the creativity of the children, celebrating exploration, imagination, and connection to place.

Approximate dimensions: 58"x25"

Whooo Loves Owls? We Do!

Each Chickadee K4 student carefully drew and colored their favorite owl on an individual sheet of paper, showcasing their creativity and unique artistic style. Every owl was then thoughtfully arranged and glued onto a shared canvas to create one collaborative masterpiece. Once completed, the artwork was framed to celebrate the imagination, teamwork, and individuality of the K4 Chickadee class. This special project highlights how many unique ideas can come together to make something beautiful as a group.

Approximate dimensions: 22"x18"