Art projects don’t need to be limited by your supplies—find inspiration all around you by using materials provided by Qatar’s natural beauty or by recycling or “upcycling” discarded objects.
Here, I’ve made a wall hanging out of dried tree branches that my daughter found next to our house.
Materials
- Dried tree branches
- Scissors
- Towel
- Sandpaper
- Paintbrush
- Any liquid paint (not watercolour)
- Jute twine
Instructions
- Collect six to ten pieces of tree branches similar in width. One piece should be slightly longer and thicker—this will be the main branch that the others will hang from
- Decide the shape of your wall hanging, then break down the rest of the tree branches to fit your design. Here, I made a V-shaped hanging by breaking the branches into pairs of similar length, with one long piece in the middle. Alternatively, you can keep them the same length or arrange them from shortest to longest. The pattern is up to you! (Tip: For a cleaner break, have a parent use scissors to notch the wood at the point you want to break)
- Smooth down any sharp edges with a piece of sandpaper, then use a damp towel to wipe off any dirt or sand
- Choose at least two paint colours. Paint no more than a quarter of the end of each branch. The other end should be bare. The natural wood texture is what gives this art its character
- Cut a piece of twine to approximately four times the length of the thickest branch. Wrap several times around one end of the main branch, then secure tightly with a knot. Repeat on the other end, leaving at least two branch lengths of twine in between. This will be how you hang your final piece on the wall
- After the smaller branches are dry, wrap the unpainted ends several times with the twine. Tie with a knot and attach to the main branch according to your chosen design
- Find a location in your room or house to display your new wall hanging and enjoy!
Get Creative: What else can you find to upcycle into a similar style of wall hanging?
Alleine is a film art director and the co-owner and creator of Watermelon Ink, a local upcycling company known for its quirky bespoke art projects. Check them out at watermelon.ink
