A watering can (or watering pot) is a portable container, usually with a handle and a funnel, used to water plants by hand. It has been in use since at least 79 A.D. and has since seen many improvements in design. Apart from watering plants, it has varied uses, as it is a fairly versatile tool.
The capacity of the container can be anywhere from small (for indoor household plants) to large (for general garden use). It is usually made of metal, ceramic or plastic. At the end of the spout, a “rose” (a device, like a cap, with small holes) can be placed to break up the stream of water into droplets, to avoid excessive water pressure on the soil or on delicate plants.
Inspiration
Here are some popular paintings containing watering cans. Our main inspiration was Beatrix Potter’s illustration found in her lovely book The Tales of Peter Rabbit.
Georges Seurat (1883)
A Girl with a Watering Can is an 1876 Impressionist painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The work was apparently painted in Claude Monet’s famous garden at Argenteuil, and may portray one of the girls in Renoir’s neighborhood in a blue dress holding a watering can.
The painting is exhibited at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Supplies Needed:
- Heavyweight paper or watercolor paper
- Pencil or crayons
- Paintbrush
- Water Container
- Watercolors
My little artists created their own watering cans inspired by various paintings and illustrations containing a watering can. Why not try your hand at creating your own watering can using a variety of materials such as crayons, colored pencils or paint. Unsure where to start? Use my draw along video found below for inspiration.
Have fun exploring and creating!
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