Seven Species of Israel Family Trees
Create your family tree using one of the trees of Israel’s Seven Species!
SUPPLIES NEEDED
There are a number of ways you can create your family tree. If you prefer working with watercolors, you will need the following supplies:
- Watercolor paper
- Watercolor pencils, crayons, markers and/or paints
- Paper towels to help clean up any drips that might occur!
- The names, years of birth and or death of people in your family
- Family photos (optional)
- Picture frame (optional)
- Sample photos of the Seven Species of Israel which we have provided for you HERE. You can find many more online by doing an image search!
*If you don’t have watercolors, don’t worry!
You can also use regular paper and any pencils, crayons or markers you have available.
IDEAS TO HELP YOU CHOOSE WHICH TREE TO DRAW
- For a pomegranate tree, you may want to write your family members names in the pomegranates because they are big and round and oh so pretty!
- Fig trees have big beautiful leaves that would work great for names and personal information.
- There are several different types of olive trees, some have long narrow leaves, others have round plump leaves. All of which will work well and look nice in your artwork.
- Date trees are wild and cool and will give height to your picture. The leaves are long, thin and wispy, so they may be difficult to use when writing names and details of your family. You may want to use these trees for decorative use, or write your family names in dates and your family name in the trunk of the tree.
You are the artist, and this is YOUR family tree, so the choices are all yours!
STEPS TO CREATE YOUR SEVEN SPECIES OF ISRAEL FAMILY TREES
1. Once you decide which of the trees will be used to fill in your family information, begin drawing what you see in the picture you selected to print. This is an observational drawing, so feel comfortable adding whatever you like from the picture you have selected. Add your family details where you think they will look best!
2. In the background of your photo, you can draw the remaining trees that you did not use as your family tree. If you do, remember that they should be smaller because they a “farther” away.
3. After you have finished drawing and filling in the family information, begin drawing your wheat and/or barley fields on your ground. This will add nice texture and fill in your landscape with the only 2 Species that grow in fields on the ground!
4. Now it’s time to begin adding your watercolor paints!
- If you use watercolor pencils, crayons, or markers, you should draw/color first and then slowly add your water to turn the dry colors to paint.
- Be sure to keep your paper flat so the paint does not drip!
- If one color bleeds into the neighboring color, simply use a paper towel or a q-tip to wipe it away. You can add more color to that spot.
- Please note that the watercolor paints can be applied directly over the oil pastel/ or inked family information. Remember, everything written in ink/sharpie marker, regular pencils or colored pencils will stay the same and NOT turn to paint.
If you are not using watercolors just fill in your drawing with whatever colors you have to make your family tree vibrant and fun!
5. When choosing how to create your sky these are some things to consider:
In Israel the sun is big and bright. Israel has the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the mountains in the North, along the glorious shorelines, through the mountains surrounding Yerushalayim Shel Zahav, and all the way down to the southern tip of Eilat you will see sunrises in the most beautiful serene pastel colors to the most glorious peaceful sunsets with pinks, yellows, oranges and fiery reds to palest of blues to deep blues, and all shades of purple.
6. Pick a place to create the title of your artwork: “(Your Family Name) Family Tree”. Some people write it along the ground, some in the sky, Some choose to write in the tree trunk, others in the branches of the trees. Get creative!
7. Sign your artwork with your name and date on the front or the back.
ENJOY!
CLICK HERE FOR YOUR DOWNLOADABLE PDF »
THE 7 SPECIES FRUIT & TREES AND EXAMPLES OF OTHER ISRAELI FRUIT TREES
Have your artwork featured in our online Israel in My Art gallery! Sign your artwork with your first name and last initial and email it to Stefie@IsraelForever.org
Painting as a part of a class or art group? Send us your selfies and group pics for a shoutout throughout our global Jewish community who loves sharing the Israel connection with their fellow Virtual Citizens of Israel around the world. Follow us social media and you can either post your pic online and tag us in your post or email it directly to Stefie@IsraelForever.org.
Help your students find unique ways you to incorporate the Israeli flag and the flag of the country in which you reside into your drawings as well, so that the world can see the vast number of nationalities of our IFF artists!
Stefanie Jo Heideman, founder of Art Escapades, is an art educator who believes that art is not supposed to be competitive, but rather a peaceful, relaxing experience for one to engage in and enjoy. As the Arts and Education Specialist for Israel Forever, Stefie is able to weave her love of Israel into her projects and lesson plans for individuals of all ages and stages of life.
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Deepen your roots by bringing Israel in your art today!
Create your family tree using one of the trees of Israel’s Seven Species!
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