Autumn and winter trees are made from dried twigs and weeds. Leafed-out trees are made from clothesline wire and lichen. Twist wire into tree skeleton shape. See art books on “how to draw trees” for different tree skeletons and silhouettes. Cover wire trunk with paper mache mix and model to resemble bark. Tear off small clumps of lichen and glue to wire branches with Elmer’s glue. Drape some pieces over several branches.

Drill hole in base, glue tree in place. Use paper mache to build up base of tree and to model exposed roots.

BOTTLE BRUSH TREE

PLASTIC TREE KIT

EVERGREEN TREES

Small trees in the distance can be made by trimming bottle or test-tube brushes to the proper shape. Dip tree in green enamel paint, then sprinkle dyed sawdust on wet paint, or shake paint-wet tree in jar with dyed sawdust. Use paper mache mix to build proper trunk texture. Medium size trees can be made from an excellent “Tree Kit” manufactured by Aurora Plastics Co., of West Hempstead, New York, and available at most model railroad shops. This kit contains graduated sections that are stacked together and glued. It will help to touch up and vary the color. Oil paints will stick to the plastic. These trees are glued to your base with Pliobond.

Large evergreens can be made from golden yarrow gathered in fall and winter. The stalks are dyed a deep green and permitted to dry.

20 GAUGE WIRE

BRANCHES WIRED TOGETHER

Use Weldwood contact cement to glue a small diameter wire to under side of twig. Use tube to spread cement along twig. Hold wire with spring clothespin and run full length of wire into tube. Let cement dry for about 15 minutes, then press wire to under side of twig. Bend wire and stem into desired position. Use fine wire to fasten several twigs together into branches.

Using a wooden dowel at least ¼ in diameter (get at hardware store up to 3' long), drill small holes through from different angles. Then, by whittling or sanding, taper the dowel. Poke wire-wrapped branch ends into holes. Anchor with Pliobond. Let dry, then trim excess branch lengths from opposite side of trunk. Use paper mache mix to cover wooden dowel, shape and thicken branches and trunk, and model branch joints. Paint the paper mache with water colors, poster colors, or latex white with casein temperas.