Art & Creativity
Grades:
Kindergarten

62 Kindergarten Art Projects To Spark Early Creativity

Don’t limit yourself to finger paints!

Examples of kindergarten art projects, including a rainbow finger painted heart in a plastic bag and snails made from rolled up paper.
By Jill Staake
Mar 24, 2023

There’s no better time to experiment with art than kindergarten! Kids this age are buzzing with creativity and always willing to try something new. These kindergarten art projects use every kind of media, so kids learn to paint, sculpt, draw, weave, and more. Plus, they’ll discover some famous artists along the way. Save all of your students’ work and put together an art show at the end of the year for parents and caregivers. Your little artists will be proud to show that they can do so much more than finger paint!

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1. Weave a wall hanging

Woven design created with yarn on cardboard, with dangling beads (KIndergarten Art Projects)

Give little fingers some fine motor practice as you teach them the basics of weaving. Add beads to embellish their creations!

Learn more: Meri Cherry/Kindergarten Weaving

2. Craft some circle-print art

Kindergarten art student's hand using a toilet paper tube dipped in paint to make colorful circles

Circles are one of the first shapes kids learn to identify, but they also play an important role in many types of art. Show kids some of the more famous circle art pieces, then create your own using empty toilet paper rolls and tempera paints.

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Learn more: Pocket of Preschool

3. Pile up paper tubes

Sculpture made from pieces of cardboard tubes painted pink

Don’t throw away those tubes after you print with them! Instead, pile them up to make unique sculptures.

Learn more: Art Bar

4. Roll up paper snails

3-D construction paper snails (Kindergarten Art Projects)

These sweet little snails are easy to make, especially when you use the free printable templates available at the link.

Learn more: Kindergarten Nation

5. Grow a fingerprint tree

Painted tree made from fingerprints and a tracing of a hand

OK, technically this one is finger painting, but it’s a little more sophisticated. Mix it up with fall colors to make this an autumn craft instead of spring.

Learn more: A Dab of Glue Will Do/Fingerprint Tree

6. Trace your hand

Tracing of a hand turned into a cat

Anyone can do a hand turkey. Visit the link to learn how to do hand cats, hand giraffes, hand dinos, and more!

Learn more: Artistro

7. Trace and paint the alphabet

Paper divided into squares and painted different colors, with a letter of the alphabet in each square (KIndergarten Art Projects)

Kindergarten is all about the ABCs, so this is a perfect kindergarten art project. Fold paper into squares and add a different color or pattern to each. Then paint alphabet letters over the top.

Learn more: Cassie Stephens/Kindergarten Alphabet Paintings

8. Capture a self-portrait in a shadow box

Cardboard box turned into a shadow box with student's portrait (Kindergarten Art)

Turn old cardboard boxes (cereal boxes are the perfect size) into shadow boxes with a photo of a student inside. Attach a transparency to the front and add fun details using Sharpies or chalk markers.

Learn more: Meri Cherry Art Studio/Self-Portrait Shadow Box

9. Get stately with watercolor castles

Six different drawings of castles are filled in with watercolor paint.

These castles use a fun technique where students draw designs and shapes with crayons and then paint over it with watercolors. Students will definitely be amazed to see the way the crayons resist the paint.

Learn more: Deep Space Sparkle/Watercolor Castle

10. Cut and paste color-wheel flowers

Paper flowers with petals in various shades of the color wheel

This might look like just another cute kindergarten art project, but really, the goal is to teach the color-wheel concept. Kids paste primary flower petals first, then fill in with secondary colors. They get good practice with scissor skills too.

Learn more: Deep Space Sparkle/Color Wheel Flowers

11. Put blocks to a new use

Colorful painting made using shape blocks (Kindergarten Art)

You might shudder at the idea of dipping your shape blocks in paint, but let’s face it: those sticky blocks were due for a good cleaning anyway. So go ahead and try this Paul Klee–inspired kindergarten art project, even if it is a wee bit messy.

Learn more: Learn, Play, Read

12. Find art in scribbles

Crayon scribbles turned into creatures by adding arms, legs, and faces

Show kids that even their scribbles are full of personality and life! Let kids experiment with a variety of media (crayons, markers, pastels, etc.), then turn their scribbles into creatures in a few simple steps.

Learn more: Capturing Parenthood

13. Model textured clay turtles

Small simple turtles made from clay and shiny glaze (Kindergarten Art)

Break out the clay! These little turtles are easy to assemble, but it’s the shells that are the really fun part. Have kids use the sole of their shoe (stomp!) to create textures and patterns. If you don’t have a kiln, use air-dry clay, or even try this with Play-Doh.

Learn more: Cassie Stephens/Clay Turtles

14. Shape 3D yarn art

Purple yarn stiffened and shaped into a pattern, with a paper purple crayon at one end (Kindergarten Art)

Harold and the Purple Crayon is a perennial children’s favorite, so this kindergarten art project is sure to be a big hit. Make sculptures by dipping yarn in glue and attaching a paper purple crayon to the end.

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Yarn Sculptures

15. Blow through straws to make dreamy peacocks

Watercolor peacock with sequins and googly eyes (Kindergarten Art)

This beautiful kindergarten art project is easier than it looks! To make those rainbow feathers, just place a few drops of liquid watercolor onto watercolor paper or white construction paper. Students use straws to blow the paint around the paper. (Make this project COVID-safer by taking it outside and spacing kids out while they work.)

Learn more: The Pinterested Parent

16. Stack cardboard sculptures

Stacks of cardboard shapes with colorful paint poured over top

Here’s another way to turn recycled cardboard into a kindergarten art project. Cut cardboard into shapes and stack them up. Then drizzle thin paint carefully over the top to create mesmerizing patterns.

Learn more: Picklebums/Cardboard Sculptures

17. Craft a gumball machine

A white paper plate has different colored pom poms glued to it. Red cardstock completes the rest of the gumball machine (kindergarten art)

This gumball machine is so cute! We especially love how simple and affordable it is to re-create.

Learn more: Paper Plate Fun/Gumball Machine

18. Make junk robots

Robots are assembled from scraps of wood and other items like screws, dominoes, etc.

There are few things that kindergartners love more than robots. This is a great project for using those last bits of buttons, paper scraps, old toys, and stickers. You can make this project as complicated or as simple as you want.

Learn more: Mini Mad Things/Junk Robots

19. Mold Chihuly-inspired bowls

Coffee filter dyed with markers and shaped into a bowl

Show your students pictures of Dale Chihuly’s breathtaking glass art. Then grab coffee filters and markers to make your own colorful creations!

Learn more: Mrs. Harris’ Art Room/Coffee Filter Art

20. Float tissue paper water lilies

Paper pond colored with swirled paint, with tissue paper water lilies on top (Kindergarten Art)

Monet’s water lily paintings are instantly recognizable and easy for kids to connect with. Re-create the feeling of these famous paintings with this project, finished off with tissue paper water lilies.

Learn more: Arty Crafty Kids

21. Build a dino

A green dinosaur is constructed from various shapes. (kindergarten art)

Purchase some craft foam, then get to work cutting various shapes from it. Your students will enjoy building their own unique dinosaurs from those shapes. We especially love that they will be reviewing various shapes in the process!

Learn more: Little Family Fun/Build a Dinosaur

22. Channel Van Gogh with sunflowers

Collage of art projects depicting sunflowers, made in a variety of styles

Van Gogh is another terrific inspiration for kindergarten art students. Bring in a bouquet of live sunflowers, show them his sunflower paintings for inspiration, and let them create!

Learn more: NurtureStore/Sunflowers

23. Replace glitter with salt paint

Paintings hanging on a line, made from salt, glue, and paints (Kindergarten Art)

Some of you may be die-hard glitter fans, but for the rest of us, this kindergarten art project is a real sanity-saver. Students draw designs with glue, then dump coarse salt over the top. When it’s dry, they add watercolors for a pretty creation.

Learn more: An Artful Parent

24. Foil-print a moon painting

Child's hand using foil ball dipped in paint to create a moon painting

Crumpled foil dipped in paint is the secret to creating this cool textured moon print. Add it to a star-painted background to finish it off.

Learn more: A Dab of Glue Will Do/Moon Prints

25. Bend pipe cleaners into masterpieces

Pipe cleaners bent into creative shapes and pushed into styrofoam blocks (Kindergarten Art)

Chances are good you’ve got a ton of random pipe cleaners lying around somewhere. Gather them up, along with some Styrofoam packing material, and set kids loose to create wild and crazy sculptures. They can add beads and any other materials you have lying around too. (Try these glittery pipe cleaners for extra pizzazz.)

Learn more: Picklebums/Pipe Cleaner Sculptures

26. Build a glass-free mosaic

Child's hands placing colorful dyed corn kernels onto shapes made of glue

Real glass mosaics are best reserved for high school students, but this version makes a great kindergarten art project! Visit the link below to learn how to dye corn kernels any color you can imagine.

Learn more: Pre-K Pages

27. Cut out newspaper cats

Cute cats made from shapes cut out of newspaper and magazines (Kindergarten Art)

Work on scissors skills by cutting basic shapes out of newspapers and magazines. Then have kids assemble them however they like to create cute kitty cats!

Learn more: Arty Crafty Kids

28. Tackle textures with trees

Children holding paintings of tree trunks, divided into sections with different colors and textures in each

Introduce the idea of texture by studying tree bark with all its whorls and swirls. Next, have kids draw simple trees full of patterns in crayon and then have them fill in the background with watercolors.

Learn more: Mrs. Harris’ Art Room/Textured Trees

29. Create a scribbler

A large piece of white paper has marker scribbles all over it. A paper roll has markers taped to it.

We love that this can be done on short notice since all you will need are markers, duct tape, paper rolls, and paper. Add to the fun by unrolling a huge sheet of white paper like this one on the floor then letting the kids go wild with their “scribblers.”

Learn more: The Craft Train/Paper Roll Scribblers

30. Bring chalk back with exploding hearts

Black construction paper with heart shapes outlined by chalk pastels

Classrooms may not have much chalk lying around anymore, but chalk pastels are still great for art projects. Use them to create these surprisingly simple “exploding hearts.”

Learn more: Elements of the Art Room/Chalk Hearts

31. Craft 3D yarn letters

Blue and green letters created by dipping yarn in glue and laying it on wax paper

Here’s another alphabet idea for your kindergarten art students. Grab some yarn (the multicolored skeins create the coolest look), glue, and wax paper. Dip the yarn into the glue and lay the glue-drenched pieces of yarn on wax paper to create letters, numbers, or any shape you like.

Learn more: Premeditated Leftovers

32. Slide pastel art into mini photo albums

Child sliding pastel art into mini photo album pages (Kindergarten Art)

Kids love to experiment with different art supplies. Let them create a variety of pastel pages, then slide them into mini photo albums to display and share.

Learn more: Meri Cherry Art Studio/Mini Art Books

33. Embrace wrinkles with this crumpled-art project

Crumpled pieces of paper dyed in colorful hues with watercolors

Crumpling paper is a lot of fun, but kids will be surprised to see they can use that technique to make interesting art! All you need is white construction paper and watercolors to make this unique kindergarten art project.

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Crumpled Paper Art

34. Finger-paint a mess-free (!) rainbow

A rainbow of paints inside a sealed plastic bag, with a heart shape drawn on it (Kindergarten Art)

Finger painting without the mess? Yes, please! This kindergarten art project keeps the paints confined to a plastic bag, so kids can create over and over again anywhere they like.

Learn more: Powerful Mothering

35. Try another low-mess take on watercolors

Pastel abstract art made with markers and water spray bottle

Here’s another idea for keeping the painting mess to a minimum. Draw on plastic bags with washable markers, then spray them with water and press a piece of paper over the top. Instant easy art!

Learn more: Team Cartwright

36. Use balloons as stamps

Earth shapes are made from blue and green paint dipped onto a balloon and pressed onto paper.

This is the perfect kindergarten art project for Earth Day, but it could be done anytime. It doesn’t require a lot of preparation since all you will need is blue and green paint, some balloons, and paper.

Learn more: I Heart Arts N Crafts/Balloon Stamping Earth

37. Pull yarn through paint

Child dragging a piece of paint-covered yarn across a piece of paper spattered with with colorful paint

Yarn painting has become popular for all ages recently, and it’s easy to see why. This easy project creates cool abstract art that’s fun and satisfying to make.

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Yarn Painting

38. Point the way with cotton swabs

Kindergarten art student using a cotton swab to paint a field of simple wildflowers

Not only is painting with cotton swabs (aka Q-Tips) lots of fun, it also introduces little ones to the concept of pointillism. Bonus: no paintbrushes to clean up at the end!

Learn more: Projects With Kids

39. Hang a shape garland

Colorful painted triangles, squares, and circles strung on garlands

Fill your room with kid-made art! Paint and cut out colorful shapes, then string them on garlands to decorate your classroom.

Learn more: NurtureStore/Shape Garlands

40. Put together Mondrian squares

Wood craft sticks painted in vibrant colors and arranged in squares

Mondrian is another artist whose work is very appealing to young kids. Create Mondrian-inspired squares by decorating and assembling individual wood craft sticks.

Learn more: Preschool Powol Packets

41. Color some big crayons

Students holding colorful oversized paper crayons with smiley faces (Kindergarten Art)

In addition to teaching color-blending techniques, this kindergarten art project opens up discussions about the ways unique crayons work together to create a complete picture.

Learn more: Elements of the Art Room/Crayon Craft

42. Make bubble wrap magic

Red paper umbrella surrounded by raindrops made by printing with bubble wrap pressed in blue paint

Bubble wrap is a perennial favorite for little fingers, but students will have to hold off on popping for at least a little while when you tackle this kindergarten art project. Glue umbrellas to construction paper, then use bubble wrap to “paint” the raindrops!

Learn more: 123 Homeschool 4 Me

43. Assemble a leaf person

Variety of fall leaves put together to make a figure of a person

Leaf people are the new stick people! Take a nature walk to gather leaves; this is fun in fall but works in spring and summer too. Grab twigs, pine cones, and flowers for accents, if you like. Then paste them together to create a whole leaf family.

Learn more: My Mommy Style

44. Try this trick to make crepe-paper art even easier

Kindergarten art student holding tissue paper art project

Crepe paper has been a star in kindergarten art projects for years, but it definitely results in sticky glue fingers. Try this: Use a mini paint tray and a mini roller to roll on the glue! Fingers stay clean and dry, plus you’ll avoid messy glue puddles. You’re welcome!

Learn more: Hello, Wonderful/Crepe Paper Art

45. Print paw-some footprint art

Child's hand holding a plastic cat figuring, using it to make paint white paw prints on a sheet of black paper

Combine story time with creativity in this kindergarten art project! As you read the story, have students grab an animal figurine, dip the paws in paint, and have their animal act the story out on construction paper, leaving a trail of prints across the page.

Learn more: Fun-a-Day

46. Turn paper bags into jellyfish

Painted paper lunch bags turned into jellyfish with googly eyes and the bottom edges trimmed into strips

Put those scissor skills to good use with these wiggly paper bag jellyfish! All you need is brown paper lunch bags, googly eyes (the bigger, the better!), and watercolor paint. For extra fun, use some decorative scissors with this kindergarten art project.

Learn more: No Time for Flash Cards

47. Sculpt the cutest pinch-pot kitties

Simple clay cat figurines; text reads Kinder Kitties by Deep Space Sparkle

This kindergarten art project will take some patience, trial-and-error, and grown-up assistance, but the results are pretty terrific. No kiln? Use oven-bake clay and tempera paint, then add a shiny finish with gloss glaze.

Learn more: Deep Space Sparkle/Pinch Pot Kitties

48. Give a thumb’s up to these cute bugs

A drawing of a mason jar is filled with bugs and creatures that are made from thumbprints. (kindergarten art)

These sweet little bugs are just so adorable! Read a book like The Big Book of Bugs before having your little artists get to work on their thumbprint creatures.

Learn more: Toot’s Mom Is Tired/Thumbprint Bugs

49. Construct a paper quilt

Colorful paper quilt squares made with circle designs (Kindergarten Art)

Quilting is an art form in itself. In this kindergarten art project, kids draw a patterned circle, then cut it into fours and paste it onto a square. Assemble all the squares for the final finished project.

Learn more: Shine Brite Zamorano

50. Eat your art

Rainbow-striped bread slice surrounded by pink and yellow silicone cupcake liners

Painting on white bread has been around for a while, but the soggy finished product isn’t really that appetizing. This project solves that problem by mixing powdered sugar with food coloring to create a thick paste. It’s fun to paint with, and the resulting bread art is a sweet treat!

Learn more: Kids Craft Room

51. Paint with bubbles

Notecards made with bubble paint prints in pink and green

Kids are forever blowing bubbles, so add tempera paint and create beautiful art prints!

Learn more: Early Learning Ideas

52. Learn about symmetry with smush art

This is a tried-and-true kindergarten art project for a good reason: It’s fun and slightly magical. Your students will love to see how those tiny drops of paint are transformed into symmetrical art patterns.

53. Twist and paint paper plates

Paper plates painted with a variety of colorful designs

Process art puts more emphasis on the process of creating rather than the results themselves. This active art activity needs only paint and paper plates and reveals all sorts of interesting results.

Learn more: Buggy and Buddy/Painted Plates

54. Scoop up ice cream cone art

Paper ice cream cones topped with shaving cream dyed green

Who doesn’t scream for ice cream? Mix shaving cream with glue and paint to create scoops of fun. Add mix-ins like cinnamon for scented creations, or stir in beads to represent chocolate chips. So many options! (Just make sure they’re not trying to eat this particular project.)

Learn more: Crafty Morning

55. Draw a half self-portrait

Paper divided in half, with one half showing photo of a child, the other half a crayon drawing of the child

Some students shy away from drawing, as they fear they don’t have the skills. That’s what makes this mixed-media project so cool. Half the piece is constructed from a photo that the students then use to help draw the remaining half.

Learn more: Art Is a Way

56. Practice circles with paper piggies

Bulletin board titled Pigs, displaying artwork of pigs made from circles

These round little piggies give kindergartners the perfect chance to practice drawing circles. All you need is watercolor paper, a black marker, and watercolor paints. Oink oink!

Learn more: Apex Art

57. Design circle chicks

Three strips of white paper are shown. The first has a pencil and a roll of tape that is to be traced to make a a circle. The second has a black outline of 3 chicks. The last shows them colored. (kindergarten art)

These little chicks are just so adorable and easy to create. Have students trace a small circular item with black marker, then have them personalize their chicks!

Learn more: Art Projects for Kids/Super Easy Drawing

58. Design butterfly wings

Young students adding beads, pom poms, and other embellishments to black paper butterflies

Look at photos of real butterflies, then create your own patterned wings. This is a good chance to talk about symmetry in art and nature.

Learn more: Hello, Wonderful/Butterfly Art

59. Fly colorful windsocks

Colorful paper windsocks hanging in a display case

Windsocks are a staple art project and full of versatility. Create the paper bases and decorate them however you like. The streamers can be made of ribbon, yarn, paper, or anything else you can dream up!

Learn more: Art Is Basic

60. Cut up your art

Red, orange, and yellow crayon design cut into pieces and glued on black paper

This kindergarten art project is fun as it encourages kids to look at their creations in a different way. (Plus, scissors skills!)

Learn more: Gift of Curiosity

61. Paint a field of wildflowers

Collage of wildflower pictures made by dabbing paint on black paper and adding chalk stems

This flower-inspired project touches on impressionism in a way that five-year-old kids can grasp. All you need is black paper, chalk for the stems, and paint for the flowers.

Learn more: Fine Lines

62. Create a tree-inspired 3D sculpture

Twigs held upright with clay and strung with colorful plastic beads

Head outside to the school playground where your students can forage for the sticks and twigs they want to use in this kindergarten project. Back inside the classroom, they stick the twigs into clay and decorate them with colorful beads. (Bonus: This is a great way to work in fine-motor-skill practice!)

Learn more: Mair Town Kindergarten

Keep the creativity going with these 25 Fun Kindergarten Writing & Storytelling Prompts!

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Young kids are absolutely full of creativity, and these kindergarten art projects give them so many new ways to express it all!