Are you looking for some fun and easy paint art projects to do with your kids? Look no further! In this blog post, I’m going to provide 10 easy art projects which are perfect for young hands. I use these in my summer art camp every year. From colorful bubble wrap paint stamping to rock painting.
Your kids will learn paint techniques, plus be inspired to combine them into other painting projects. These 10 paint projects are sure to get your kids excited to try them out.
You can easily set-up these activities whether you’re an experienced painter or a complete beginner. All you will need is a few basic paint supplies for kids. All of which involve easy-to-find supplies. You will love setting these activities up for your kids to try out.
If you don’t know me, I’m Spramani Elaun a homeschool mom blogger, art teacher, author, and owner of an art supply store called Nature of Art® For Kids. I have taught thousands of children how to paint, draw, and craft. You can learn more about my work by reading my blogs, sign up for me weekly art newsletter, or check out my books.
” OK, lets dive into the 10 Easy Paint Projects For Kids!
Painting
Kids love learning how to create artist brushstrokes. All you need are a couple of paintbrushes and any type of kids’ paints. The focus of introducing brush stroke painting is to set up your child for painting success.
Giving children some pointers on making lines and shapes can make their paintings come out much better. If you want to learn more about brushstrokes, check out this blog.
You just need some paints, paper, and paintbrushes. If you want to learn more about painting with children, check out my kids’ painting curriculum here.
Primary Color Mixing
Painting with primary colors is a lot of fun. Primary colors are red, yellow, and blue. When any two of these primary colors are combined, they create new secondary colors like orange, violet, or green.
This is basically the way artists study color theory. Just start with these three primary colors. Color mixing is a natural way for kids to learn the basics of color; it introduces color to them in a way that meets their level of understanding.
Mixing colors can be therapeutic for kids. It’s soothing, relaxing, and can relieve stress. You’d be surprised at how captivated, mesmerized, and quiet (because of their focus) your kids become with such a simple activity!
All you need are primary colors in any kid-friendly paint, paintbrushes, and you can mix away. If you want to read more about color theory for kids, go here.
If you want to order my Kids Color Theory book and Kids Color Theory curriculum, visit here.”
Stick & Rock Painting
Kids have so much fun collecting sticks and rocks from the outdoors. Combine that with paint, and you have a paint party! Rocks can be found in almost any landscape, or at a garden store.
Use any size or shape of rocks you find. Different shapes are much more interesting and fun to come up with creative designs. You will need to use craft or acrylic paint for better results.
If you want to read more about rock painting, read this blog. If you need to learn more about children’s paints, buy my book Kids Painting here.
Paint Roller Fun
Using a paint roller can make painting even more exciting! There are various sizes of paint rollers to choose from. Paint rollers can create interesting textures.
Using a paint roller is also an excellent way for children to develop their fine motor movement and use their big arm muscles. Kids can learn to roll lines, arches, and circular shapes with the roller.
When choosing paint use tempera and craft paints for rollers. Be sure you have plenty of paint so the roller can absorb lots of paint. Have two to three colors so kids can combine rolling marks and create fun texutred colorful marks.
So you will want to clean them after use to prevent any paint from drying and damaging the rollers. Use oversized paper or a canvas when painting with a roller.
Bubble Wrap Painting
I love using bubble wrap to show my students how to create fun background textures. It’s super easy and a good way to recycle bubble wrap from packages. All you have to do is paint the bubble wrap, then press down on paper and lift. It’s also a fun way to teach kids about texture. Read and watch my basic bubble wrap demo here.
Flower Prints
Making flower paint prints is easy and enjoyable! All you need to do is pick some flowers with large petals. Paint them with paint, then gently press them onto paper and lift to reveal a beautiful flower shape. It might take a few tries to perfect the technique, but the results are worth it. Try different sizes of flowers too.
You can use almost any type of kids’ paint for this activity. This creative project not only encourages artistic expression but also provides an opportunity to explore nature and integrate art and science.
Spray Bottle Painting
This is a very popular activity my art students love every summer during art camp. Typically I go to Walmart and find fun, colorful spray bottles. Fill them up with watercolor paint inside them. Use only watery paints, as you don’t clogged in the spray bottle. I like to use light primary colors so my students can also try to mix colors and create interesting new colors. It’s pretty messy, but the kids absolutely love this action painting!
Painted Papers
This painting project is inspired by my all-time favorite children’s storybook author and artist, Eric Carle. I just love his work and the legacy he left behind. His creations inspire many art-making projects that I do with my students. Painted paper can be done with different mediums like watercolor, gel paints, tempera, or acrylic paints (any paint).
So, what can you do with painted papers? There are so many possibilities! You can collage with them, draw on them, or even create shapes and animals like Eric Carle. The great thing about kids making painted paper is that it can be process-based. Learn more about what the process-based art method means for children here.
If you want to learn more about painting papers, read my full blog on: How-to PAINT PAPER like Eric Carle – Process-based lessons. This fun and engaging activity encourages creativity, exploration, and learning through art.
Wood Crafts
You can find unfinished wood craft shapes at your local craft store or order them online. Kids love painting on wood crafts. The fun thing about painting wood crafts is that no matter what you paint, it still looks good because of its shape.
Kids can sponge paint colors on wood crafts, and the results are always nice. The best paints to use are craft and acrylic paints, as they provide a long-lasting and appealing finish. I recommend using wood crafts for starting children out with painting. It’s less frustrating for them, and they are always satisfied with the results compared to just trying to paint a picture. What to read more about wood craft painting check out this blog here.
Splattering Paint
And finally, splattering paint! It’s not just a favorite among kids, they absolutely love it! This technique is inspired by the famous artist Jackson Pollock, who is well known for his paint flinging method.
You don’t need to be a pro to create amazing artwork with this technique, just flick the bristles of the paintbrush to make unique and stunning marks. Any type of paint works, and it leaves a fun, speckled effect on the paper or canvas surface.
This is not just an ordinary paint stroke, it’s a fun way to experiment with colorS and texture. It’s also a great opportunity to explore science and physics, discussing how the paint moves and interacts with the canvas or paper. If you’re interested in seeing more examples or learning additional techniques, check out my Painting Work Album here.
So bust out that paint and give splattering a try, it’s sure to get everyone’s attention and make for some unforgettable art projects!
In conclusion, these 10 easy paint projects are perfect for kids of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a simple activity to do on a lazy afternoon or plan to host a birthday party, these projects are sure to inspire your kids’ creativity and imagination.
You can find more resources, sign up for my weekly art newsletter or check out my books for additional inspiration. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive into these 10 easy paint projects and have some fun creating art with our kids!