Art challenges are the perfect place to start when you need a little inspiration. Do you want to encourage creativity and artistic expression? Do your kiddos need a little support to get started or stay engaged once started? Is a blank sheet of paper a little scary or do you find you are just doing the same things over and over when you take out the art supplies? Our process art exploration has been the best. If you can relate to any of these questions…then you need our art challenges for kids!

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ART CHALLENGES TO DO WITH FRIENDS, STUDENTS, AND FAMILY

While we don’t want to dictate what our kiddos should make for “art” in the classroom or at home, sometimes we all need a little encouragement to get started! A simple prompt or a single word, or a specific material can really get the juices flowing without stifling creativity.

For example, what if you brought out junk mail and glue or a liquid matte gel medium (like cool glue) and made a collage? Then maybe you paint or stamp on top of that for a mixed media project…

START A NEW ART PROJECT

I know a blank page can be daunting. Do you know what I like to do? I like to start small; by that, I mean a small notepad, journal, or piece of paper. Go ahead and cut your paper in half or even quarters. Bigger isn’t always easier. Sometimes a bigger piece of paper simply feels harder to fill, especially if you want to finish a project quickly. Plus, you can get more detailed with a smaller work area and fewer supplies.

To get you started I’ve put together this absolutely FREE set of art challenges for kids (adults are welcome, too) that will put a little sparkle back into your art time or give you a few minutes to drink your coffee while it’s still hot!

FREE Creative art challenge for kids pack!

Also, grab our original 7 Day Art Challenge here for 2 weeks worth of art prompts!

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 brain, it helps them learn—and it’s also fun.


Art is a natural activity to support this essential interaction with the world. Kids need the freedom to explore and experiment. Art allows kids to practice a wide range of skills that are useful not only for life but also for learning.


These skills include the aesthetic, scientific, interpersonal, and practical interactions that can be discovered through the senses, intellect, and emotions.

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 important experiences. In other words, it’s good for them!

Specific skills include:

Fine motor skills. Grasping pencils, crayons, chalk, and paintbrushes.
Cognitive development. Cause and effect, problem-solving.
Math skills. Understanding concepts like shape, size, counting, and spatial reasoning.
Language skills. As children share their artwork and process, they develop language skills.

Make an Art Cart

The best art is when you have creative inspiration! An art cart keeps art supplies accessible and ready to use at a moment’s notice. See what’s on my personal art cart here.

What is an art cart?

An art cart for kids is a mobile and organized creative station designed to inspire and facilitate artistic expression. Typically equipped with an assortment of colorful and kid-friendly art supplies, the cart is compact and easy to move around, allowing kids to explore their imagination in various spaces. Wheels are great!

It may include items such as markers, crayons, colored pencils, paints, paper, glue, scissors, and other craft materials. The cart often features compartments or trays to keep the supplies neatly organized, making it convenient for young artists to access and put away their tools.

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Art Challenges Included

My first art challenge mini-pack was so well received that I wanted to put together more art challenges to share with you! Grab both for 14 days of art-filled projects.

Who are these art challenges for? Anyone! I believe there’s quite a large age range that can enjoy these art worksheets on various levels. Homeschool, classroom, weekends or vacations, or just free time…

Maybe you have a budding artist who craves new ideas… this is a great addition to an art cart! You can keep it simple with a pack of colored pencils or whatever is on hand or you can get crazy with mixed media. You can work directly on the sheet included in the mini pack or use an art journal instead.

TIP #1: Provide a diverse range of supplies (or keep it mess-free and simple). Gather a wide range of materials for your kids, like paint, colored pencils, chalk, play dough, markers, crayons, oil pastels, scissors, and stamps. Remember, if you want to use many wet materials such as watercolors and glue, consider a heavy-weight paper of 100 lbs. I like 140lb paper for watercolors!

TIP #2: If your kiddo loves just exploring a certain material, don’t worry about accomplishing a specific activity such as one of these art challenges. Instead, let them explore how they see fit! Be flexible. Instead of sitting down with a plan or expected outcome in mind, let your child explore, experiment, and use their imagination.

Remember that blank page I discussed earlier… and where do you start with it? Here’s an excellent place to let creativity fly.

IMAGINATION WORKOUT

Sometimes all you need is a single line to get started!

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THE STORY OF YOU

This is all about you! Whether you want to sketch or collage, tell your story!

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COLOR MIXING

Classic but important and a quick art activity to spark further masterpieces. Go ahead and grab the paints or watercolors for this one or try oil pastels…anything you can blend and mix!

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MOODS ND PORTRAITS

This doesn’t have to be a classic self-portrait, it can be all about lines and colors and patterns.

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LINE ART

Try out a variety of lines to create a work of art. Lines are one of the 7 most fundamental elements in art. Go ahead make some lines!

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ABSTRACT ART

Practice abstract…art that is! Get some inspiration below to create your own abstract art. Then go ahead and make your own circles in a journal and see what you can do!

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POP ART PERSON

Andy Warhol is the king of pop art. Make your own pop art portrait and check out these coloring pages we have for more pop art fun.

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There you go! 7 fantastic art challenges for kids (or adults) to get everyone in the mood. Go ahead and join the fun as well; why not? Whether your kiddos need more inspiration or you need a great screen-free project to pull out, art activities are always a hit in my book!

Artist-Inspired Art Challenge

Add a little art history to your art ideas with this artist-inspired art challenge that encourages exploring the works and ark styles of 12 famous artists!

Download the free printable art guide to your computer (not a smartphone) and follow the links to see each project. Pair this with our Art Camp guide shown below and create a quick and budget-friendly camp week for young artists.

Note: Get the full pack with complete instructions in our Famous Artists Bundle.

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Drawing Prompts for Kids

These free drawing prompts for kids are a bit more than a few words or a phrase on a piece of paper! Use the outlines and questions or suggestions to unleash your creativity!

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7 Elements of Art Guide

Ready to expand your art techniques? Make sure to learn the 7 different elements of art that are highly recognized and used by artists everywhere!

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More free art challenge mini-packs:

From process art techniques to projects inspired by famous artists to a free art camp guide… your kids can dive into all kinds of art ideas any time of the year.

Helpful Art Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources to help you introduce art more effectively to your kids or students and feel confident when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

Printable Famous Artist Bundle

You’ll find each of our famous artists featured in our Famous Artists Project Pack 👇  including tons of fantastic resources!

This bundle includes a variety of art packs to cover different areas of the art experience! Perfect for ages 5-12, with various activities to suit all age levels. Easy to use in the home or classroom.

PACKS INCLUDE:

  • Famous Artists Project Pack with 25+ artists to explore past and present, including women, people of color, and indigenous peoples.
  • Artists Challenge Pack: Various extra art projects, including a museum scavenger hunt and extras.
  • 7 Elements of Art Pack: Learn about and explore the 7 elements of art with handy information, tips, and fun projects to try.
  • Art and Playdough Pack: Make homemade playdough and use these art mats with kids of all ages featuring famous artists with simple information.
  • Art Techniques Pack: Learn watercolor, collage, and printmaking techniques for your art projects. Complete with information, tips, and activities to try!