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.

Pin

Choose Hands-On Art Activities

What are some good art projects? We love the art activities below for a few good reasons!

Easy art projects provide the perfect opportunity to connect with your kiddos and are suitable for children of all ages. Good art activities can be as much fun with your three-year-old (working together) as with your 12-year-old (although a great independent project too)!

Doable art ideas use standard art supplies for inexpensive creative art on a budget!

The best art projects for kids are playful and engaging; these creative art activities below offer lots of learning opportunities from art techniques to art history!

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.

Why Do Art with Kids?

Kids are naturally curious. They observe, explore, and imitate, trying to figure out how things work and how to control themselves and their environments. This freedom of exploration helps kids form connections in their brains; it helps them learn—and it’s also fun!

Art allows kids to practice a wide range of skills that are useful not only for life but also for learning. These include the aesthetic, scientific, interpersonal, and practical interactions that can be discovered through the senses, intellect, and emotions.

Read on for the many benefits of art projects for kids from young kids to elementary students and beyond!

Making and appreciating art involves emotional and mental faculties!

Art, whether making it, learning about it, or simply looking at it – offers a wide range of essential experiences. In other words, it’s good for them!

Benefits of Doing Art With Kids

Creativity and Imagination: Art projects encourage children to explore their creativity and use their imagination. It allows them to express themselves in unique and original ways, fostering a sense of individuality.

Cognitive Development: Engaging in art helps improve cognitive skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making. It also enhances visual-spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination.

Emotional Expression: Art provides a safe and non-verbal outlet for children to express their emotions and feelings. It can help them cope with difficult emotions and process their experiences.

Self-Confidence: Completing art projects gives children a sense of accomplishment and boosts their self-esteem. They can take pride in their creations and feel more confident in their abilities.

Communication Skills: Art encourages children to communicate visually, which can be especially beneficial for those who struggle with verbal expression. It also aids in developing storytelling skills.

Motor Skills: Through art, children develop fine motor skills as they handle various art materials like pencils, brushes, and scissors. This can be particularly helpful for younger children in their physical development.

Social Skills: Art projects often involve collaboration and sharing of ideas. Working together on a creative task fosters teamwork and social interaction among children.

Cultural Awareness/Art Appreciation: Art allows children to learn about different cultures, traditions, and historical periods by exploring various artistic styles and techniques. Additionally, exploring art also can include famous artists past and present!

Stress Relief: Art can be therapeutic and relaxing for children. Engaging in creative activities can reduce stress and anxiety, promoting emotional well-being.

Enjoyment and Fun: Art projects are enjoyable and fun for most children. They offer a break from routine activities, allowing them to engage in something they genuinely like.

Free Printable Art Challenge

Our free art challenge printable features 7 easy but unique ideas. Before you get started, determine which supplies you already have and which ones you still need. Many art supplies can be used interchangeably. Find additional art challenges and drawing prompts here.

Tip: Do you have older kids who can help younger kids with these challenges? This is a great way for families to connect. These challenges also work well for early finishers or part of teacher sub plans!

Helpful 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!

Go ahead and stock up on acrylic paint, watercolor paints, paint brushes, mixed media and watercolor paper, and more…Look at our art cart for 50+ favorite art supplies!

Top 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!

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!

Pin
Coffee Filter Flowers

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.

Pin
Earth Day Pop Art

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

Pin
Flour Paint

SALT PAINTING

Add salt and glue to a watercolor painting and watch the magic happen! Also, check out our snowflake salt painting!

Pin
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.

Pin
Picasso Jack O’Lantern

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!

Pin
Puffy Paint

SNOWY NIGHT PAINTING

This wintery snowy night painting inspired by Vincent Van Gogh is perfect for exploring mixed media art with kids. Also, enjoy a starry night painting or a scarry night painting for Halloween

Pin
Snowy Night

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!

Pin
Self Portrait Ideas

WATERCOLOR GALAXY

Create your own watercolor galaxy art inspired by the beauty of our amazing Milky Way galaxy.

Pin
Watercolor Galaxy

KANDINSKY TREES

Make a Kandinsky tree for each season using this free printable template featuring Kandinsky-inspired circle art!

Pin
Kandinsky Trees

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.

FAMOUS ARTISTS

Learn from some of the most famous artists, and teach your kiddos to create their own masterpieces with our simple and doable art 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.

Click on the links for inexpensive art projects and free printables that offer hands-on learning and creating art experiences for kids!

Be inspired by Jean Michel Basquiat’s art, and create your own funky self-portraits with oil pastels or tape resist art technique.

Have some fun creating a face sculpture with a simple dough, inspired by a photo of Salvador Dali.

Have fun with Frida Kahlo! Try a Frida Kahlo coloringFrida Kahlo leaf artFrida Kahlo collage, and Frida Kahlo winter art projects!

Pin
Frida’s Flowers

Create your own abstract art in the style of Hilma Af Klint.

Try this fun tulip art activity inspired by one of Yayoi Kusama’s well known paintings.

Make your own comic strip inspired Easter Bunny Art or Halloween Pop Art in the style of Roy Lichtenstein.

Create your own “drawing” with shapes inspired by Henri Matisse with these art projects; leaf artwinter birds collage or Christmas tree collage.

Explore abstract art from squares and rectangles, inspired by Piet Mondrian, with Mondrian buildingsMondrian Christmas ornamentsMondrian heart and Mondrian LEGO art projects.

Pin
Mondrian Art

Have a turn at creating your own Monet impressionist art with this Water Lilly Bridge art activity.

Create your own primitive winter art with 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-inspired skull, flower artleaf art, or poinsettia art!

Create your own cubist art inspired by Picasso with a Picasso Faces art project.

Create your own version of famous artist, Edvard Munch’s “The Scream”.

Create a fun and unique collage with a Lorna Simpson art project.

Go a bit crazy with a Jackson Pollock inspired splatter painting, crazy hair painting or marble painting.

Pin
Crazy Hair 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!

Pin
Handprint Art

PAINTING

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 resist snowflake painting is easy to set up and fun to do with kids.

Get STOMPING, stamping or printmaking with dinosaur painting that uses toy dinosaurs as paintbrushes.

Pin

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 called rain 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!

Pin
Turtle Dot Painting

Try 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!

Fizzy Paint Summer STEAMPin
Baking Soda Paint

PROCESS ART PROJECTS

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! These easy art projects incorporate 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!

Fun Art & Craft Activities With A Holiday Theme

Additionally, you’ll find a variety of art projects for kids grouped by season or holiday!

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!

Pin