Trees coming alive, birds singing, and flowers poking through the earth! Add in a fun and colorful flower painting project, perfect for a fresh spring day! Kids will love to paint these fun bright flowers with their own homemade stamps, inspired by famous artist, Alma Thomas.
ALMA THOMAS FLOWERS FOR SPRING ART
WHO IS ALMA THOMAS?
Alma Thomas was an African American artist born in Georgia. In 1907 her family moved to Washington, D.C., seeking relief from the racial violence in the South.
Thomas was a creative child who always had an interest in art. As a girl, Thomas dreamed of being an architect and building bridges but there were few women architects a century ago.
Instead, she began a 35 year career teaching art in public schools in Washington D.C. Thomas began to paint seriously from 1960, when she retired from her career as an art teacher.
Thomas was the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, and she exhibited her paintings at the White House three times.
Her style of painting included large abstract paintings filled with bright colors and patterns that often celebrated the beauty of the natural world. This type of artwork is called expressionism.
“Through color, I have sought to concentrate on beauty and happiness, rather than on man’s inhumanity to man,” she once said.
Use various items to stamp your own colorful and happy flower designs on the canvas in the style of Alma Thomas. Let’s get started!
MORE FUN ALMA THOMAS ART PROJECTS…
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE PRINTABLE ART PROJECT!
FLOWER PAINTING
Follow our flower painting ideas below or experiment with your own!
SUPPLIES:
- Canvas
- Acrylic paints
- Cotton swabs
- Wine cork (or other items for stamping)
- Paint tray
INSTRUCTIONS:
STEP 1: Paint the background of your canvas and let it dry. We used blue and green paint for ours.
Hint: Put a squirt of paint on your canvas and wipe it over with a paper towel.
STEP 2: Add some paint to a palette or kids’ paint tray. Dip the cork into the paint and stamp a circle on the canvas.
STEP 3. Use the side of the cork or another object to stamp petals around the circle to make a flower design.
STEP 4. Alternatively, use a cotton swab to create a flower with rings of colored dots.
Keep adding rings of dot paint until you like the design of your flower.
STEP 5: Add painted stems and leaves to your flowers.
WHY STUDY FAMOUS ARTISTS?
Studying the artwork of the masters not only influences your artistic style but even improves your skills and decisions when creating your own original work.
It is great for kids to be exposed to different styles of art, experiment with different mediums, and techniques through our famous artist art projects.
Kids may even find an artist or artists whose work they really like and will inspire them to do more of their own art work.
Why is learning about art from the past important?
- Kids who are exposed to art have an appreciation for beauty!
- Kids who study art history feel a connection to the past!
- Art discussions develop critical thinking skills!
- Kids who study art learn about diversity at a young age!
- Art history can inspire curiosity!
MORE FUN FLOWER ACTIVITIES
Click on the link for all our flower activities for kids! Here’s just a few ideas…
Helpful Art Resources To Get You Started
Here are a few resources to help you introduce art more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
Printable Famous Artist Bundle
You’ll find many 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!
