Welcome to our list of the best hands-on art projects for kids, you can easily do at home, in the classroom, or with any group. These “doable” art activities use standard art supplies and showcase fun art techniques or a mini-lesson in art history. Make homemade paint or be inspired by a famous artist. Or go on a journey with process art. You will love these fun and simple art ideas that will develop kids’ creativity! Bonus, grab our free seven-day printable art challenge to get started.
PinHelpful Resources for Art Lessons
The art resources below make fabulous art lessons, quick activities, and creative art projects at home or in the classroom. You can easily use these free printables even if you aren’t an art teacher!
- Color Wheel Printable Pack
- Color Mixing Activity
- 7 Elements of Art
- Pop Art Ideas for Kids
- Homemade Paints for Kids
- Famous Artists for Kids
- Set Up an Art Cart for Kids
- Process Art Projects
- Drawing Prompts
Free Printable Mini Art Packs
- Famous Artist Portraits
- Famous Artwork Coloring Book
- Artist Word Search Puzzles
- Would You Rather Art Questions
- Artist Study Worksheets
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PinTop 10 Easy Art Ideas
Here are our suggestions if you only have time for one, two, or even three kids art projects. These easy art activities are some of our most popular art project ideas among readers! These art experiences are perfect for kids of all ages!
We encourage everyone to use these art projects for kids as a springboard for their own creativity. Use what we have done for inspiration for their next masterpiece, or follow along step by step.
COFFEE FILTER FLOWERS
Make beautiful art with simple household items! Explore the colorful world of science meets art with DIY coffee filter flowers. Why not also check out how to make a coffee filter rainbow!
POP ART
Learn about the Pop Art movement pioneered by artists like Andy Warhol with this Earth Day Pop Art activity. Also, try Easter Pop Art, and Pop Art Flowers! Find a free Pop Art Coloring Pages Book here.
FLOUR PAINT
Make your own homemade paint with flour, one of our most popular paint recipes! Then grab some art paper or one of our printable templates and get painting!
LOOK: 35 Easy Painting Ideas
SALT PAINTING
Add salt and glue to a watercolor painting and watch the magic happen! Also, check out our snowflake salt painting!
PICASSO PUMPKIN
What would it look like if famous artist Pablo Picasso painted a Jack O’Lantern? This has to be one of the kids’ most fun Halloween art activities!
Check out these other fun art projects inspired by Picasso, Picasso Turkey. Picasso Pumpkin and Picasso Heart, Picasso Self Portrait.
PUFFY PAINT
Puffy paint is easy to make yourself, or show your kiddos how to mix up this simple puffy paint recipe an grab some free coloring pages to test it out!
SNOWY NIGHT PAINTING
This winterysnowy night painting inspired by VincentVan Goghis perfect for exploring mixed media art with kids. Also, enjoy a starry night painting or a scarry night painting for Halloween
SELF PORTRAIT IDEAS
Not one art project, but here you will find seven self portrait ideas for kids. Teach your kiddos to create their own self portrait for mixed media art for all ages. From a fun self portrait with LEGO or playdough to an abstract art project. Great for beginners too!
WATERCOLOR GALAXY
Create your own watercolor galaxy art inspired by the beauty of our amazing Milky Way galaxy.
KANDINSKY TREES
Make a Kandinsky tree for each season using this free printable template featuring Kandinsky-inspired circle art!
More Art Projects For Kids
Feeling excited to start making art with your kiddos? Check out this collection of art projects! I hope you are because there are even more creative art activities your kids will love. Click on the links or images below to get the full instructions for each art project.
Click on the links for inexpensive art projects and free printables that offer hands-on learning and creating art experiences for kids!
Famous Artists
Learn from some of the most famous artists, and teach your kiddos to create their own masterpieces with our simple and doableart projects, from Piet Monet, Frida Kahlo, Jackson Pollock, and more. This is a great introduction to art history and art appreciation!
We have over 22+ famous artists (complete list) for your kids to be inspired by, both past and present, including people of color, women, and indigenous peoples.
Be inspired by Jean Michel Basquiat’s art, and create your own funky self-portraits withoil pastelsortape resist art technique.
Have some fun creating aface sculpturewith a simple dough, inspired by a photo of Salvador Dali.
Have fun with Frida Kahlo! Try aFrida Kahlo coloring,Frida Kahlo leaf art,Frida Kahlo collage, andFrida Kahlo winter artprojects!
Create your ownabstract art in the style of Hilma Af Klint.
Try this funtulip art activityinspired by one of Yayoi Kusama’s well known paintings.
Make your own comic strip inspiredEaster Bunny ArtorHalloween Pop Art in the style of Roy Lichtenstein.
Create your own “drawing” with shapes inspired by Henri Matisse with these art projects;leaf art,winter birds collageorChristmas tree collage.
Explore abstract art from squares and rectangles, inspired by Piet Mondrian, withMondrian buildings,Mondrian Christmas ornaments,Mondrian heartand Mondrian LEGO art projects.
Have a turn at creating your own Monet impressionist art with thisWater Lilly Bridge artactivity.
Create your own primitivewinter artwith Grandma Moses.
Paint a colorful landscape in the style of Bronwyn Bancroft.
Enjoy an owl art project, inspired by Kenojuak Ashevak’s Preening Owl.
Use the printable Mona Lisa to make your own mixed-media art .
Consider blending colors with pastels when you create Georgia O’Keeffe-inspiredskull, flower art,leaf art,orpoinsettia art!
Create your own cubist art inspired by Picasso with a Picasso Faces art project.
Create your own version offamous artist,Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”.
Create a fun and unique collage with aLorna Simpson art project.
Go a bit crazy with a Jackson Pollock inspired splatter painting, crazy hair painting or marble painting.
Handprint Art
Make a unique and personalized piece of artwork with these easy handprint craft ideas.
Create a personalized handprint wreath with your kiddos that symbolizes diversity and hope in celebration of Black History Month.
Try this sun handprint craft for a simple summertime theme art activity.
Make a handprint collage with a group of handprints from your family or class for an unique piece of art.
Create this easy winter handprint art with simple materials.
Make a handprint keepsake to welcome in the new year with this fun and easy New Years handprint idea.
Create a Witch’s handprint broom or spooky Halloween handprint art for Halloween.
What’s nicer than a fresh bouquet of flowers? How about a homemade handprint flowers bouquet!
PinPainting
Whether you have a kiddo who is a budding Picasso or want to keep a little one busy for the afternoon with washable acrylic paints, painting makes for a fantastic and sensory-rich art experience for kids of all ages!
You can even make your own paint with one of our homemade paint recipes. Better yet, show your kiddos how to mix up their own paint.
Straws instead of paintbrushes?Absolutely with blow painting.
Or what about bubble painting!
Our tape resistsnowflake paintingis easy to set up and fun to do with kids.
Get STOMPING, stamping or printmaking with dinosaur painting that uses toy dinosaurs as paintbrushes.
Mess-free painting in a bag with this leaf painting art activity. Also, try apple painting in a bag!
Magnet painting is a fantastic way to explore magnetism and create a unique piece of art.
Take your art project outdoors the next time it rains! It’s calledrain painting!
Grab a handful of pinecones for a fantastic pinecone painting activity.
Dot painting is a great way to develop your child’s fine motor skills. Plus, it’s fun!
PinTry water gun painting for a fantastic water art project with accessible materials.
String painting or pulled string art is easy to do with a few simple supplies.
Try sensory painting with this easy natural scented spice painting activity.
We love baking soda experiments; now make fizzing art with baking soda paint!
Process Art
Process art focuses on the creative process rather than the final product or outcome. These types of art projects will be open-ended, flexible, and sometimes even a bit messy! Here are some of our favorite process art activities for developing creativity in kids.
Read more about the many benefits of doing Process Art Projects!
Try fly swatter painting for a fun alternative to a paint brush.
Painting with marbles is a lot of fun.
Make colorful tie dye paper.
Pinecone painting is great for fall art.
Use a magnet to create a colorful artwork.
Try blow painting with straws or even bubble painting for a cool effect.
Create relaxing Zentangle patterns with one of our free printable templates.
Make funky 3D paper sculptures.
String painting is easy to do.
Try reverse coloring for a fun process art activity.
LEGO Art
Feel inspired and take your LEGO building time in a new direction with easy LEGO art projects. Yes, you really can use basic LEGO bricks you already have to experiment, imagine and create mess-free art. Plus, introduce kids to new art concepts in the process!
Create your own self-portrait from basic bricks.
Get arty with a fall inspired apple tree mosaic.
Build a monochromatic LEGO mosaic.
Explore the seasons with a fall tree mosaic or winter tree mosaic.
Have fun painting with LEGO.
Create Mondrian inspired abstract art with LEGO bricks.
Learn about symmetry as you build these symmetrical shapes.
STEAM ACTIVITIES
STEM + Art = STEAM! When kids combine STEM and art, they can really explore their creative side from painting to sculpture! Theseeasy art projectsincorporate art and science for a truly fun experience. Great for preschoolers to elementary who may not be keen on art and crafts.
Read more about What STEAM is, what STEAM means, and why STEAM is important!
Try this simple to set up water drop painting STEAM activity for kids.
Explore solubility with coffee filter flowers.
Simple physics creates this fun salad spinner art.
Make paper towel art.
Try baking soda painting for a fizzy chemical reaction.
What makes a glow in the dark jellyfish?
Explore shadows with Lego sun prints.
Make this fun marbled paper with oil.
Art Projects By Topic
We have many collections of art projects grouped by themes too!
- Flowers
- Apples
- Leaves
- Pumpkins
Holiday & Seasonal Art Projects
Additionally, you’ll find a variety of art projects for kids grouped by season or holiday!
- Valentine’s Day
- St Patrick’s Day
- Spring
- Easter
- Earth Day
- Fall
- Halloween
- Thanksgiving
- Winter
- Christmas
- Christmas Ornaments
Printable Famous Artist Pack
You’ll find each of our famous artists featured in our Famous Artists Project Pack 👇 including a bonus Andy Warhol Coloring Book!
25+ artists and growing with unique projects not available on the website!
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