Art projects encourage creativity and reduce stress, but sometimes it can feel a little overwhelming to plan them. That’s why we love easy art projects for kids! We partnered with some of our favorite Instagram art teachers to bring you this collection of simple art ideas. They use materials that are easy to find (you probably already have a lot of them on hand!) and don’t require a lot of art knowledge.
Take your cue from art teacher Caroline M., known on Instagram as @scs.artteacher: “Even basic black Sharpies provide endless creative possibilities! My goal is to provide an environment that supports curiosity, celebrates process over perfection, and is ultimately a welcoming space where every student’s creative voice and spirit will grow and flourish.”
Find easy art ideas for kids from Caroline below, along with other Instagram art teacher favorites Yvette Ackerman (@ackermans_amazing_artists) and Lauralee Chambers (@2art.chambers). Be sure to check out their pages for more photos, tutorials and tips, and more creative art projects for kids!
FREE PRINTABLES
Art Portfolio Template Bundle
The bundle contains art portfolio cover sheets for preschool to grade 5, as well as a template that works for any grade. It also includes an art project planning sheet and an artist study worksheet.
We Are Teachers
Easy Art Projects for Kids
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Play Dough Sculptures
Combine play dough with pipe cleaners, beads, feathers, and anything else you have on hand. This project is easy enough for preschool, but older kids will enjoy it too.
Learn more: Play Dough Sculptures
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Heart Scrap Collage
This is a terrific way to use up paper scraps! Kids can cut the paper into squares, or tear them instead for a more textured look. (If you have them on hand, mix in some buttons, beads, or other items too!)
Learn more: Heart Scrap Collage
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Nature Faces
Combine a nature walk with an art lesson. Pick up items like twigs, pebbles, leaves, pine cones, and more. Then, arrange them to form a face, experimenting until you find an arrangement you like.
Learn more: Nature Faces
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Foil Sculptures
All you need for this easy art project is a roll of aluminum foil. Encourage kids to make figures that stand on their own, in a variety of poses. Add an extra challenge by asking them to sculpt a figure capable of holding something, like a pencil.
Learn more: Foil Sculptures
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Mixed-Media Bird’s Nest
This project gives little ones a chance to practice their cutting skills to create strips of paper. Add some yarn, string, and feathers to complete your nest. Then, sculpt eggs from air-dry clay (art teachers love Crayola Model Magic) and place them in the middle.
Learn more: Mixed-Media Bird’s Nest
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Pumpkin Party Collage
Foam stickers add a pop of pizzazz to these wacky pumpkins. Kids will get a kick out of arranging their pumpkin’s face into a variety of expressions and placing their stickers wherever they like.
Learn more: Pumpkin Party Collage
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Shaving Cream Painting
Mix washable paint with shaving cream for a finger-painting experience like no other! Students will love the puffy textured finish when the paint dries, and you’ll enjoy how easy cleanup is!
Learn more: Shaving Cream Painting
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Sponge-Painted Bunnies
Use masking tape to stick a simple bunny silhouette template to the page. Then, squirt some paint onto sponges and dab, dab, dab until the rest of the page is covered. Remove the template, let the paint dry, and finish things off with a cotton-ball tail.
Learn more: Sponge-Painted Bunnies
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Squish Pumpkin
Teach little ones about symmetry with squish pumpkins! Fold a piece of paper in half, then use a generous amount of paint to create half a pumpkin on one side. Fold the paper over and press firmly, then open it up to see your finished symmetrical pumpkin.
Learn more: Squish Pumpkin
Courtesy of @scs.artteacher
Paper Weaving
Weaving with paper strips is always a hit with kids, and it’s such a good way to polish their fine motor skills! They’ll also get practice drawing lines with a ruler and cutting clean straight edges.
Learn more: Paper Weaving
Courtesy of @ackermans_amazing_artists
Clay Ladybug Dishes
Air-dry clay makes it a snap to create these little dishes. Shape shallow bowls and let them dry. Then, add color with craft paint, and finish with a clear shiny top coat.
Learn more: Clay Ladybug Dishes
Courtesy of @ackermans_amazing_artists
Candy Sushi
What kid doesn’t love a chance to play with their food—especially when it’s candy?! When they’ve finished arranging candy to look like sushi, they can snack on their art treats.
Learn more: Candy Sushi
Courtesy of @ackermans_amazing_artists
Fish in Coral
Kids can draw their own fish for this project, or use coloring pages instead. Create a coral home for your paper fish with pipe cleaners in a base of clay.
Learn more: Fish in Coral
Courtesy of @ackermans_amazing_artists
Pressed-Clay Ornaments
This rustic craft is another fun way to use items you find in nature. Press shells, twigs, or leaves into air-dry clay to make impressions. When the clay is dry, use paint to accent the shapes.
Learn more: Pressed-Clay Ornaments
Courtesy of @ackermans_amazing_artists
Collage Wreath
Assemble a wreath for any season using upcycled pages from magazines, newspapers, or books. Add color with markers or paint, and include natural items like twigs or pine cones if you like.
Learn more: Collage Wreath
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Bean Mosaic
Pick up a variety of dried beans at the grocery store, then let kids have fun playing around with patterns and designs. When they find one they like, press the beans into place in a disc of flattened air-dry clay.
Learn more: Bean Mosaic
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Line Art
“I always share that lines are an artist’s alphabet and when we put them together, they don’t make words … they make pictures! Both tell stories,” says Lauralee Chambers.
“Model each line one at a time first and they can follow together. Make sure every learner can see your lines. Use words that they can relate to and ask them what each line could be turned into.”
Learn more: Line Art
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Model Earth
Celebrate Earth Day or tie your art project into an earth science lesson with this simple project. Use foam balls for the base, then add layers of blue and green air-dry clay to form the oceans and continents.
Learn more: Model Earth
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Cellophane Stained-Glass Art
Press scraps of colored cellophane to clear adhesive contact paper, then top with a second sheet of contact paper to seal. Finish with a frame of black construction paper, then display your art in a sunny window for a stained-glass effect. (No clear cellophane? Try tissue paper instead!)
Learn more: Cellophane Stained-Glass Art
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Foam Sticker Stamps
Turn inexpensive foam stickers into stamps! Press them to a larger surface (Lauralee’s students used the caps from medicine bottles). Then, swipe a marker over the sticker a few times and stamp it firmly onto the page. Wipe the stamp off with a baby wipe to switch to a new color.
Learn more: Foam Sticker Stamps
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Beaded Whiskers Bunny
How cute are these bunnies with their colorful whiskers? You could use this general idea with any whiskered animal: cats, dogs, mice, and more.
Learn more: Beaded Whiskers Bunny
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Rainbow Tunnels
Explore color theory with this 3D paper art project that doubles as a “leprechaun trap.” Fold the two ends of each paper strip to create a “foot” that makes it easy to glue the tunnel parts into place.
Learn more: Rainbow Tunnels
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Painted Pumpkins
Painting pumpkins is much easier than carving them, but even paint can be a bit messy. That’s why art teachers love Kwik Stix paint sticks! They keep the mess contained so kids can focus on the creative task at hand.
Learn more: Painted Pumpkins
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Diffusing Paper Art
Art teachers also love Roylco products, including their diffusing paper. It has a fabric-like feel, making it fun to display in embroidery hoops. (You can get a similar effect by trying this project with coffee filters instead.)
Learn more: Diffusing Paper Art
We Are Teachers
Painted rocks
Kids love painting rocks so why not make it school-themed? Show students some of these examples to copy or let them come up with some of their own, then spread them around the school grounds.
Learn more: Painted Rock Ideas
Get your free art portfolio printable bundle!
We Are Teachers
Click the button below and fill out the form on this page to receive our free printable bundle with art portfolio cover sheets for every grade, as well as an art project planning sheet and an artist study worksheet.
What are your favorite easy art projects to do with the kids in your classroom? Come and share your ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
