Painting helps elementary and middle school children express themselves and develop skills that support learning in and out of the classroom. With easy access to free art lessons for kids, parents and teachers can encourage creativity at this vital stage in a child’s development. So what creative painting projects can children enjoy throughout the year? Here are some of our top recommendations for age-appropriate art lessons.
Fun Painting Projects Kids Can Enjoy All Year
Each season offers new inspiration that lets children experiment and develop their skills in new ways. The following seasonally themed painting projects will help children develop their creativity all year long.
Spring – Outdoor Painting Inspired by Nature
Spring is an ideal time for children to work on their painting skills outdoors. As new leaves emerge and fresh flowers spring up, they can pay close attention to new colors and new patterns. For a springtime painting project, you can encourage children to paint what they see around them, like trees, flowers, clouds, birds and other animals. Materials can be as simple as paper or canvas, brushes and washable paints. Younger children can focus on broad shapes and colors, while more experienced artists can add detail and perspective.
Summer – Abstract Painting, Bold and Bright
Warm days and bright sunshine can inspire many children to paint with bold colors. A summer creative project could use an abstract style that’s characterized by warm colors like red, orange and yellow. Rather than taking a conventional approach, you can teach young kids to paint using a more experimental style that is emotionally expressive. For younger children, this project is also a great opportunity to practice color mixing in a fun way.
Fall – Pumpkins and Leaves Painting Project
Fall provides an opportunity to paint upon objects, rather than on paper or canvas. Using pumpkins, leaves, rocks and other items, students can become comfortable with different shapes, textures and colors with a hands-on approach to painting. First, you can spend time examining and handling materials to support observation skills and sensory awareness. After familiarizing themselves with the objects, children can apply washable paint and see how it behaves on these new surfaces.
Winter – Painting Snowy Landscapes
With children often spending more time indoors during wintertime, it presents a great opportunity to create art at home. Winter scenes in colors of white, blue and brown suit the mood of the season, while giving kids a chance to practice layered painting techniques. For children ready to create more detailed compositions, you could introduce them to Impressionist painters like Claude Monet, and encourage them to observe nature and capture light and color in winter landscapes.
Fun Painting Projects for Elementary and Middle School Kids
Looking to access a comprehensive series of engaging art projects for children? Golden Road Arts creates art tutorials to help parents and teachers promote painting, sculpting and other creative techniques. To reach us, call (503) 718-7097 or access our free art lessons online.
