Nature is all around, and can be the inspiration for some excellent creations in the classroom. How can a teacher bring these rich natural elements into the art class? As the author was exploring a hiking trail, he came across a large piece of bark from an old oak tree. A strong wind began to blow through the trees, the leaves began to rustle and for a minute, it was as if the trees had come magically to life. That was it! Trees that came to life! These elements of nature paved the way for an imaginative, cross-curricular lesson about textured trees with personality. The author's kindergarteners and first-graders had previously completed a unit on Henri Matisse, and his free-form shapes and collage technique, leading the way for the animated trees. He began the lesson by introducing the children to the newly found tree bark. In this activity, the students explored the visual and physical texture, and then investigated visual samples of trees and bark.