Looking for fun summer art projects and crafts for kids? Whether you need easy indoor activities for a hot day, outdoor art projects for the backyard, or creative summer crafts inspired by famous artists, you’ll find plenty of ideas here. Plus, check out our 5 Day Art Camp plan!
These summer art activities are designed for preschoolers, kindergarteners, elementary students, and even older kids. Most projects use simple supplies you already have at home or in the classroom, and many include free printable templates.
From painting and drawing to nature art, ocean crafts, and famous artist projects, these summer activities make it easy to keep kids creating all season long.
Need a Quick Summer Art Activity?
Start here! Short on time? Try one of these easy ways to get kids creating today.
- 🎨 Print our Free Summer Coloring Pages
- 🖍 Grab these fun Drawing Prompts for creative inspiration
- 🍓 Create Mixed Media Strawberry Art
- 🍉 Try Kusama Watermelon Art
- 🌊 Paint a Hokusai Wave
- 🍦 Create Ice Cream Art with 3 famous artists
- 🎨 Set up a simple art cart and let kids choose their own materials
Summer Art Activities
Summer is the perfect season for bright colors, sunshine, and creative projects. These favorite summer art activities combine famous artists and seasonal themes with simple supplies and lots of creativity.
Lichtenstein Pop Art Sunrise
Create a bold sunrise inspired by Roy Lichtenstein’s pop art style.
Mixed Media Strawberry Art
Combine painting, collage, and drawing techniques to create colorful strawberry artwork.
Kusama Watermelon Art
Explore Yayoi Kusama’s famous dot style with a fun watermelon-themed project.
Warhol Popsicle Art
Use bright colors and repetition to create popsicle artwork inspired by Andy Warhol.
Ice Cream Art (Mixed Famous Artists)
Create ice cream artwork inspired by several famous artists and art styles.
Van Gogh Lemon Still Life
Practice observation and drawing skills with a colorful summer still-life project.
Escher Eye Art
Explore reflection, imagination, and perspective with this unique drawing activity.
Sun Handprint Art
Celebrate summer sunshine with a cheerful handprint craft.
Painted Watermelon Rocks
Turn ordinary rocks into colorful watermelon-inspired creations.
Sunflower Art
Create bright sunflower artwork inspired by Vincent Van Gogh.
Laurel Burch Cat Art
Create colorful cats inspired by the famous artist Laurel Burch.
Summer Zentangle Fruit Art
Get into the zone with doodles, lines, and marks, and learn about the relaxing zentangle method.
Firework Printing
Get into the zone with doodles, lines, and marks, and learn about the relaxing zentangle method.
Free Summer Art Planner
Want help organizing summer art projects week?
Grab the FREE Art Planner that includes:
- 5-Day Summer Art Camp Overview
- Supply Checklist
- Art Camp Planning Sheet
- Easy Camp Setup Guide
Use it to gather supplies, organize your schedule, and prepare for a creative week of art.
Outdoor Summer Art Projects
Take creativity outside with these hands-on summer art activities.
Ice Cube Painting
Create colorful artwork using frozen paint cubes for a cool summer activity.
Bubble Painting
Blow bubbles and create unique works of art at the same time.
Water Gun Painting
Add movement and excitement to painting with simple water toys.
Rain Painting
Let nature become part of the creative process.
Sun Prints
Use sunlight to create beautiful silhouette artwork outdoors.
Nature Paintbrushes
Make paintbrushes from sticks, flowers, leaves, and other natural materials.
Nature Weaving
Combine natural treasures with simple weaving techniques for a unique art project.
Fly Swatter Painting
A fun process art activity that encourages creativity and movement.
Splatter Painting
Explore action painting inspired by Jackson Pollock.
Tie Dye Paper Towels
Explore action painting inspired by Jackson Pollock.
Fizzing Sidewalk Paint
Combine science and art with colorful fizzing reactions.
👉Looking for more outdoor creativity? Explore our complete collection of Outdoor Art Activities for Kids.
Ocean Art and Craft Projects
Bring the beach home with easy ocean-themed art projects and crafts.
Shark Newspaper Craft
A fun and easy shark craft that is perfect for Shark Week.
Fish Painting
Create colorful fish artwork inspired by Jackson Pollock’s action painting style.
Coral Reef Art
Use texture and color to create a vibrant underwater scene.
Black Glue Jellyfish Art
Create a striking ocean scene with black glue and watercolors.
Narwhal Collage Craft
Learn about narwhals while creating a colorful ocean craft.
Ocean Salt Painting
This cool ocean theme craft is very easy to make with just a few simple materials from the kitchen.
Ocean Wave Process Art
Explore process art with blow painting and straws to create unique ocean wave art
3D Ocean Paper Craft
Older kids, teens, and tweens will enjoy this cretaive 3d ocean paper craft.
👉Looking for more ocean-themed projects? Explore our Ocean Art and Craft Activities collection.
Create a Summer Art Cart
Stock a small cart or bin with:
✔ Markers & crayons
✔ Colored pencils
✔ Watercolors
✔ Paper & sketchbooks
✔ Glue & scissors
✔ Recycled materials
✔ Coloring pages
✔ Drawing prompts
💡 When supplies are easy to grab, kids are more likely to create independently throughout the summer.
Summer Art Projects FAQ
What are easy summer art projects for kids? Some of the easiest summer art projects include handprint sun art, painted rocks, bubble painting, tissue paper flowers, watercolor projects, and outdoor process art activities.
What can kids make during summer break? Kids can create outdoor art, ocean crafts, famous artist projects, flower crafts, and nature-inspired artwork using simple supplies.
How do you keep kids creative during summer? Offer open-ended art activities, process art projects, outdoor creativity, and themed challenges that encourage experimentation and self-expression.
What supplies are useful for summer art projects? Construction paper, paint, markers, watercolor supplies, glue, coffee filters, recycled materials, and natural objects can be used for dozens of summer art activities.
Printable DIY Summer Art Camp
Ready for a complete done-for-you art camp experience?
This printable 5-Day Summer Art Camp includes:
- Artist information pages
- Step-by-step projects
- Process art invitations
- Creative games and challenges
- Sketchbook prompts
- Art-themed snack ideas
- Gallery celebration activities
- Printable planning resources
- Homemade Paint Recipes (simple supplies)
Perfect for summer learning, homeschool programs, classrooms, camps, libraries, and creative family fun.
