Four Seasons Handprint and Fingerprint Tree Art Project

Make this four-season art project with your kids (or students) today! 

Celebrate the beauty of the changing seasons with this fun and meaningful four-season tree art project. With the help of an adult, children use the shapes of their hands and arms to create a tree’s trunk and branches. Next, they decorate the four separate square canvases with fingerprint leaves in the colors of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The finished artwork can be displayed together as a colorful reminder of nature’s yearly cycle.

Create a four-season handprint tree with fingerprint art leaves and snow in seasonal colors with toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergarteners at home or in the classroom. This handprint tree craft is a fun art activity and keepsake gift that kids of all ages can help make. With each of the four seasons represented, making seasonal handprint art is a great way to teach young children about the changing seasons while making beautiful fingerprint and handprint art. You might also enjoy painting a colorful winter tree silhouette.

Update 2025: My husband and I still have the four-seasons handprint tree craft that my daughter and I made for her dad on Father’s Day in 2015, which we hung on our master bedroom wall. You can see it in the photos for this step-by-step art tutorial. He loves it, and I enjoy waking up to it every day because it’s perfect decor for all seasons. Every day, it reminds me of our child reaching for the sky, growing from an acorn to an oak. First published on May 18, 2015, this post is regularly updated to keep the content current. Make this four-season art project at home or in the classroom with step-by-step instructions and the video tutorial below.

Learn about the Changing Seasons While Creating Keepsake Art

This hands-on four-season art activity fosters creativity while helping children learn about the changing seasons. As they paint blossoms, lush green leaves, brilliant fall colors, and snowy winter branches, they can observe how trees change throughout the year and discuss the weather, wildlife, and seasonal traditions that make each season unique. Whether you’re creating this project at home, in the classroom, or as a part of a nature study lesson, it’s a wonderful way to combine art, science, and sensory play into a memorable keepsake.

Once finished, this four-season handprint tree is a unique fingerprint art, keepsake craft, and gift idea for mom, dad, or grandparents. Handprint and fingerprint art make a unique homemade gift idea for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, Christmas, or a birthday. It also makes a lovely piece of personalized DIY home decor that families can treasure forever. You might also enjoy this list of homemade gifts kids can make.

The Four Seasons

The four seasons are natural divisions of the year. Each season brings changes in weather, daylight, plants, animals, and the activities people enjoy. The meteorological seasons always begin on the first day of the month, making them easy to remember.

The astronomical seasons begin on the equinoxes and solstices, which usually occur around the 20th to 23rd of March, June, September, and December. Both systems are widely used, depending on the context.

The 4 seasonal changes are reflected in the changing colors of the leaves and blooms on the handprint tree, or in their absence in winter, when snow replaces the leaves on the branches. The exact dates of spring vary by location, but in the Northern Hemisphere, the seasons generally follow this pattern:

Spring (March, April, May):

Spring begins around the spring equinox on March 20 or 21 and ends around the summer solstice on June 20 or 21. It is a season of growth and renewal. Days lengthen, temperatures warm, flowers bloom, trees sprout new leaves, and many animals give birth. In the Northern Hemisphere, the spring months are March, April, and May. Learn more about the seasonal changes that occur in spring.

Summer (June, July, August):

Summer begins around June 20 or 21 on the summer solstice and ends around the autumnal equinox on September 22 or 23. In many parts of the world, it brings the longest days and the warmest temperatures of the year. Plants grow quickly, gardens yield fruits and vegetables, and people often spend more time outdoors enjoying their favorite activities. In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer months are June, July, and August. Learn more about the seasonal changes in the summer.

Autumn or Fall (September, October, November)

Autumn begins around September 22 or 23, at the fall equinox, and ends around the winter solstice on December 21 or 22. Daylight gradually decreases, temperatures cool, leaves change color and fall from the trees, and farmers harvest crops before winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, the autumn months are September, October, and November. Learn more about the seasonal changes that occur in the fall.

Winter (December, January, February):

Winter begins around December 21 or 22 and ends around the spring equinox on March 20 or 21. It brings the shortest days and the coldest temperatures of the year in most regions. Some animals hibernate, others migrate, and evergreen trees remain green while many deciduous trees go dormant until spring. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter months are December, January, and February. Learn more about the seasonal changes that happen in winter.

The Seasons are Reversed in the Southern Hemisphere:

The Southern Hemisphere experiences the opposite seasons. Because Earth’s axis is tilted, they are reversed. When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, and vice versa. Spring and fall (autumn) are also reversed.

Southern Hemisphere Seasons:

• Spring: September, October, November
• Summer: December, January, February
• Autumn/Fall: March, April, May
• Winter: June, July, August

Why Do We Have Seasons?

The four seasons occur because Earth is tilted on its axis as it orbits the Sun. Because Earth’s axis is tilted approximately 23.5 degrees, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun, it receives more direct sunlight and experiences longer days. This brings warmer temperatures and marks the start of summer.

At the same time, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, receiving less direct sunlight and experiencing the shorter days of winter. About six months later, Earth reaches the opposite side of its orbit. The Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun and experiences summer. In contrast, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun and experiences winter.

Spring and Autumn fall between these extremes; hence the name “equinox.” On the equinoxes, day and night are nearly equal in length worldwide. During the spring and autumn months, neither hemisphere is strongly tilted toward or away from the Sun. However, temperatures and the amount of daily sunlight slowly begin to shift as one season transitions into the next.

As daylight and the Sun’s angle shift with each passing season, so do temperatures, weather patterns, plant growth, and animal behavior. Trees bud and bloom in spring as the sun renews the Earth, gardens flourish, and temperatures soar in summer, leaves change color and fall gently to the ground in autumn, while many plants and animals rest or adapt in winter. These predictable changes create the natural rhythms that have shaped life on Earth for millions of years.

How to Make a Four Seasons Fingerprint Handprint Tree:

Make a handprint-and-fingerprint tree painting, with one of the four seasons in each corner, in this keepsake art activity. The instructions below show how to paint a four-season tree on four separate six-inch-square art canvases. Alternatively, you can use four larger squares (with the larger hand and arm of an elementary school-aged child, teen, or adult), rectangular art canvases, rectangular or square wooden canvases, cardstock, or a large piece of art paper divided into four sections to create a similar seasonal tree painting.

The step-by-step directions below teach how to make fingerprint leaves to decorate each seasonal corner of the handprint tree painting. Alternatively, you can use an art sponge, bits of cotton balls, a cotton swab (cotton bud), or a pencil eraser instead of finger prints to make the different colors of seasonal leaves on the handprint tree and the snow in the winter corner.

If you are doing this four-season art activity with young children, such as toddlers, preschoolers, or kindergarteners, I recommend completing it in stages. For example, my two-year-old daughter and I worked on this handprint-and-fingerprint tree together for about 10 to 20 minutes over five days. Scroll down for the craft supply list and all the DIY details to make this gorgeous four-season art idea.

Related: Fingerprint Art Magnets

Four Seasons Tree Craft Art Supplies:

• Choose one of the following (or one of the options mentioned above):
  • Four six-inch square art canvases. (My daughter and I used 6X6-inch square art canvases for this 4-season art project, but wooden canvases also work.)
  • Four six-inch square wooden canvas panel boards for painting.
• Acrylic paints in seasonal colors.
  • Gold and copper metallic paint for some fall leaves (optional).
• A pencil for tracing the hand and lower arm.
• Paper plate, paint pallet, or glass cutting mat to hold acrylic paint.
• Paintbrushes (this set includes a variety of paintbrushes and a foam brush).
• Choose one of the following to seal and protect 4-season painting (optional but recommended):
  • Mod Podge and a foam brush.
  • DecoArt Sealant and a foam brush.
  • Spray varnish.
• Art apron or smock (optional but recommended to keep young children’s clothes paint-free).

Related: Best Art Supplies for Kids and Why Young Artists Should Use Them

Four Seasons Tree Painting Handprint and Fingerprint Craft Video Tutorial:

The video tutorial below shows how to make a four-season tree painting using a child’s handprint and fingerprints to represent spring, summer, fall, and winter. Scroll past the video for step-by-step instructions.

Related: Fingerprint Flower Glass Magnets 

Four Seasons Fingerprint Tree Art Step-by-Step Instructions:

To keep this four-season art project fun for kids, it’s best to work on one step per day, but you can paint your four-season art however you wish. Scroll past the instructions to see my project tips for making this handprint craft with toddlers, preschoolers, or kindergarteners. Scroll down for instructions on making this gorgeous four-season art project with kids.

This seasonal tree craft is a perfect art project for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and even school-aged children. Step-by-step directions to create this handprint craft with all four seasons represented are posted below:

1. Paint each canvas square a different color for each of the four seasons:

• Start by choosing an acrylic paint color to paint the background of each seasonal square.
• The photograph above shows a light green background for spring, light blue for summer, coral for fall, and dark, bright blue for winter. Choose whatever colors you like.
  • In the video, you will notice that the autumn seasonal square was initially yellow.
  • I wanted my daughter to create several yellow-and-gold fall fingerprint leaves, so I repainted the background of the fall square with coral acrylic paint before she added the autumn fingerprint leaves.
• Invite children to paint each canvas with a paintbrush in the color of their choice, and feel free to join the fun!
  • The DIY handprint art video tutorial above shows my daughter and me painting the square art canvases.
• Please allow the background paint color for each of the four seasonal canvases to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

2. Place art canvases into a single square shape to represent the four seasons:

• When the background color for each square canvas is completely dry, put all four seasons of the canvas squares together into a single square shape as follows:
  • Place spring in the upper-left corner, summer in the upper-right corner, fall in the lower-right corner, and winter in the lower-left corner.
  • In other words, place the four seasons in a clockwise circle, starting with spring on the top left and ending with winter on the bottom left.
  • Arranging the fingerprint tree art in the order described above makes it possible to create fingerprint art with snow and autumn leaves on the ground of the handprint tree art.
  • Alternatively, to achieve the same effect, you can arrange the four season squares counterclockwise, starting with spring in the upper right and ending with winter in the lower right.

3. Trace your child’s hand to make the handprint tree art:

• Put your child’s right or left hand and forearm in the middle of all four art canvas squares.
• Please ensure your child’s fingers are spread wide across as many individual squares as you can manage, and that their arm divides the lower two canvases, as shown in the quick video tutorial above.
• Finally, use a pencil to trace your child’s right or left hand and forearm to create the framework for your four-seasons handprint tree art.
• The photos and video show the handprint tree I made with my daughter’s right hand and lower arm.

4. Paint the handprint tree:

• Use a paintbrush to paint the handprint tree in the color of your choice.
  • First, I painted the tree with brown acrylic paint (espresso).
  • Then I added thin lines with a smaller detail brush in darker brown acrylic paint (cinnamon) to make it look like tree bark and add texture to the trunk.
    • The exact paint colors I used are in parentheses. The brand of acrylic paint you use may not use the same color names.
• Depending on your child’s age, this step may best be completed by a parent, a teacher, or a caregiver. Because my daughter was two when we created this seasonal handprint tree art project, I chose to paint the tree myself.
  • In other words, I opted to paint it for my toddler and recruited her to help me paint the fingerprint art leaves and snow for each of the four seasons in the next step.
• Please look at how I painted the handprint tree in the photo below and the handprint art video tutorial.

Related: Handprint Art Jewelry Dish and Ring Bowl

5. Invite children to use their fingertips to paint leaves or snow for each of the four seasons to complete the fingerprint tree art:

• Use two to ten seasonal colors for each square or corner of the fingerprint tree painting.
  • Using more than two colors creates more texture and depth.
  • It does not matter which colors you use to make fingerprint art leaves for this four-season handprint tree, as long as you like them, and they remind you of the season’s colors.
  • In the next section, I provide the colors we used for the four-season fingerprint tree in the photos and video tutorial to help you decide which ones to use.
• To maintain the fingerprint tree’s round shape for the top two squares (spring and summer), instead of letting your toddler or preschooler put fingerprint leaves everywhere, use a piece of paper with a semicircle cutout taped to the canvas square, as shown in the video.
• Paint one seasonal square at a time with the instructions below:
  • Pour a small amount of each acrylic paint color onto a paper plate, glass cutting mat, or another non-stick paint palette for each seasonal square.
  • Invite children to dip their fingers into the colors to create each seasonal square one at a time as follows:
    • Spring blooms and leaves for the spring square canvas.
    • Summer leaves for the summer square art canvas.
    • Fall leaves for the fall square canvas.
    • Snow for the winter square art canvas.
  • Don’t be concerned if your children mix the paint while painting each seasonal square on their fingertips.
    • Mixing paints will create a mottled leaf effect that looks gorgeous.
    • Look at the photos of our four-season art to see how my daughter mixed paint colors on her fingers to create the fingerprint leaves.
  • Add fingerprint art to the sides of the fall and winter seasonal canvas squares to give your fingerprint tree art a lovely 3-D effect.

Four Season Fingerprint Art Tree Paint Colors:

In the following sections, I list the paint colors I used on a glass plate to make fingerprint leaves and snow, to help you determine which colors to use for your fingerprint tree. You may not have the same paint colors we used, or the type of acrylic paint you use may be different from ours, which is perfectly fine. 2 or 3 colors for each season will work.

To make four-season fingerprint tree art, you only need a smattering of colors in seasonal tones you like. However, as shown in the photographs, using multiple seasonal colors to paint each corner of the painting gives the fingerprint leaves more depth and texture, making the handprint tree look beautiful.

Spring Corner of Four Seasons Fingerprint Tree art:

• Acrylic paint colors to make fingerprint spring blooms and vernal leaves on the handprint tree to represent spring:
  • Pink blast
  • Pink chiffon
  • Light pink
  • Leaf green
  • Apple tart
  • Kelly green
• To maintain the tree’s shape, use a piece of paper with a semicircle cutout taped to the spring square, as shown in the video tutorial.
• Invite children to dip their fingers in the spring paint color dollops on a paper plate or another palette.
• Next, invite them to make fingerprint tree leaves in spring colors by pressing their fingers into paint on the canvas (or paper).

Summer fingerprint art for the four seasons tree Craft:

• Acrylic paint colors to make fingerprint leaves to represent summer:
  • Green paint
  • Kelly green
  • Christmas green
  • Vineyard green (olive tone)
  • Celery (light green)
  • Apple tart (bright green)
  • Bright yellow
• To maintain the tree’s shape, use a piece of paper with a semicircle cut out and taped to the summer corner. (Once again, the video shows this step in action.)
• Invite your child to dip their fingers in the summer paint colors.
• Then, create summer leaves on the handprint tree with their colored fingerprints.

Winter fingerprint paint colors for handprint tree art:

• Acrylic paint color for snow on the winter square canvas: white.
• Invite your child to dip their fingertips in white paint on a paper plate (or use a paintbrush to paint onto their fingertips).
• Then, ask them to create fingerprint art snow by dotting their fingers onto the canvas.
• Make fingerprint art snow on the branch of the handprint tree, falling from the sky and on the ground below your four-season handprint tree.
• Add fingerprint art snow on the bottom and sides to give the winter art canvas a three-dimensional look.

Fall fingerprint tree paint colors for handprint tree Craft:

• Acrylic colors for the autumn corner of the fingerprint tree painting:
  • Dark yellow
  • Buttercream
  • Tangerine (bright orange)
  • Orange
  • Cinnamon (dark brown)
  • Espresso (brown)
  • Wine
  • Metallic copper
  • Metallic gold
• Invite your toddler, preschooler, or kindergartener to dip their fingertips in autumn paint colors.
• Next, invite them to press their colored fingertips onto the canvas to create fingerprint art that resembles falling autumn leaves.
• As shown in the photos, ensure your child makes dots with their fingertips with the autumn colors on the lower portion of the canvas.
  • This will give the 4-season art project the appearance of fall leaves on the ground.
• Put a few fingerprint fall leaves on the bottom and sides of the canvas to give the fingerprint tree painting a 3D effect.
• Allow the Four Seasons fingerprint tree art to dry before moving on to the next step.

6. Apply a Top Coat to Preserve, Seal, and Protect Four Seasons Handprint Tree Art (optional):

• This step is optional but recommended.
• Seal and protect the four-season handprint art tree painting using one of the following methods:
  • Spray an acrylic varnish.
  • As shown in the video tutorial, use a foam brush to apply Mod Podge or another acrylic paint sealer to your handprint tree to seal and protect it.
    • If you choose a liquid sealant that needs to be painted on, as I did, I recommend using foam brushes to avoid ruining your paintbrushes.
    • Use long top-to-bottom strokes.
    • Mod Podge goes on milky and dries clear, as shown in the video tutorial.
    • Work quickly; it gets sticky.
• After applying the varnish or sealant, allow each of the four seasons of fingerprint tree art to dry completely.

7. Hang the four-season hanprint tree painting, or give it to someone as a gift:

• Hang the four-season handprint tree with fingerprint leaves and snow as follows:
  • As described in step two, arrange your four-season handprint tree with spring and summer on top and winter and fall on the bottom.
  • Use a small nail, wire brad, or screw with an anchor (if needed) to hang each square.
  • Please ensure there is one-half to one inch of space between each seasonal art canvas square to give the handprint tree a three-dimensional look and to allow visibility of the fingerprint leaves and snow on the sides of each canvas, as shown in the photograph below.
    • I recommend using a ruler or a measuring tape.
    • Then mark the wall with a pencil with a small dot for each nail, brad, or screw.
    • This will ensure each seasonal square of the handprint and fingerprint tree is hung evenly.
• Alternatively, you can gift this handprint keepsake craft to a family member, such as Mom, Dad, Grandma, or Grandpa.
  • This four-season handprint tree is a perfect homemade gift kids can help make for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, Christmas, or a Birthday.

Related: The Best Fingerprint Art Ideas for Kids

Four Season Handprint Craft Project Tips:

Splitting the handprint project into several different days makes it much easier to complete the entire project with a toddler. Here’s how my daughter and I made this beautiful four-season handprint craft:

• When my daughter and I made this four-seasons handprint tree art, we completed step one on the first day and then put the seasonal handprint project away for another day.
• The next time we worked on our four-season art project, we traced my daughter’s handprint and painted the handprint tree (Steps Two and Three above).
• Finally, we spent four days creating the four seasons of fingerprint tree art.
  • In other words, we worked on making the fingerprint art for one seasonal square at a time. (Learn how we did it in Step Four.)
• We had loads of fun making this handprint art project together, breaking the steps up this way.

Related: Best Flower Art Projects for Kids

Why You’ll Love This Four-Seasons Tree Craft

This four-season tree craft offers a fun activity for children, toddlers, and up. Children create a handprint tree, using their fingerprints to represent the changing leaves and blossoms of each season. The result is a colorful keepsake that also teaches kids about nature’s yearly cycle. Here are a few reasons families and teachers love this activity:

1. Encourages creativity:

Every handprint tree is one of a kind. Children can experiment with fingerprint art, colors, patterns, and designs to create a unique work of art that is uniquely theirs.

2. Teaches the seasons:

As children paint spring blossoms, green summer leaves, colorful autumn foliage, and snowy winter branches, they gain a deeper understanding of how trees and the natural world change throughout the year.

3. Builds fine-motor skills:

Making handprints, pressing fingerprints onto the canvas to create seasonal leaves and snow, and painting small finishing details strengthen hand muscles, improve finger control, and support the fine motor skills children need for writing and other everyday tasks.

4. Explores colors:

This project offers a wonderful opportunity for children to explore seasonal colors. Children can mix paints to create fresh spring greens, bright summer shades, warm autumn hues, and cool winter tones while learning about primary and secondary colors.

5. Supports sensory learning:

Painting with hands and fingertips offers a rich sensory experience. Feeling the smooth paint and creating varied textures help children engage with the process while encouraging curiosity and exploration.

6. Inspires conversations about nature:

Use the project as a starting point to discuss weather, wildlife, flowers, changing leaves, migration, hibernation, and seasonal activities for both animals and humans. It’s an easy way to connect art with science and outdoor learning.

7. Makes a meaningful keepsake:

Because each tree begins with a child’s handprint, the finished artwork becomes a treasured keepsake. It also makes a thoughtful, handmade gift for parents, grandparents, caregivers, or teachers. You can even make a four-season apple tree! Alternatively, you can make this apple tree craft.

8. Perfect for home or classroom:

This easy craft works well for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, elementary students, homeschoolers like us, and mixed-age groups. Create all four seasons in one sitting or complete one canvas for each new season to build excitement throughout the year.

4 Seasons Project Kids Can Help Make:

A four-season handprint-and-fingerprint tree is more than a beautiful piece of art. It is a playful and creative way for young children to explore nature’s rhythms while creating something they will treasure for years to come. Each fingerprint adds color, texture, and personality, making every tree as unique as the child who created it.

Display the finished canvases together to celebrate the changing seasons throughout the year, or give them as a heartfelt, handmade gift to parents, grandparents, or teachers. However you choose to enjoy this art activity for kids, it offers a wonderful opportunity to slow down, create art together, and notice the ever-changing beauty of the natural world, one fingerprint at a time.

Give fingerprint tree art to parents, grandparents, or extended family as a keepsake craft they can treasure. Or hang it somewhere and enjoy the beautiful DIY home decor. Check out this gorgeous collection of homemade gifts kids can make for more handmade gift ideas. (photo below) You may also enjoy this family gift guide featuring DIY and ready-made ideas for everyone on your list!

Please visit our About page to learn more about Rhythms of Play. For more information about this website and the author and photographer of this four-season art project, please visit the home page for Rhythms of Play or the author page, Nell Regan Kartychok.

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• Easy Fingerprint Snowman
• Fingerprint Love Bug Cards for Every Occasion
• Best Fingerprint Art Ideas for Kids (photo below)

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