Looking for ways to teach your kids about famous artists? Here are some simple hands-on art activities inspired by great artists to get you started!
These activities are fun for kids of all ages-- including toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary aged kids!
Teaching kids about famous artists doesn't have to be hard or complicated. If you're looking for easy-to-set-up art ideas that also help give your kids an appreciation of art, this list is for you!
RELATED: Need even more creative painting ideas? Here are my 15 favorite ways to paint with toddlers.
This list of art activities is for ALL AGES.
Have you ever studied famous artists? Who are some of your favorites?
My favorites include the following:
- Jackson Pollock
- Georgia O'Keeffe
- Wassily Kandinsky
- Michaelangelo
- Georges Seurat
- Paul Klee
These artists each have a very unique style and their techniques are simple to explain to young children, which is why I love to start with these ones when teaching about famous artists. Artcyclopedia indicates these 30 artists as the most popular of all time.
How do you introduce children to famous artists?
We are keeping our art time super simple. Introducing famous artists to kids doesn't have to be hard.
Each day we'll be doing the following THREE things as we introduce our kids to some of the great artists:
- Choosing ONE famous artist.
- Sharing a few simple facts about the artist by watching a short video.
- Doing an easy hands-on art activity inspired by the artist.
What are some hands-on art activities inspired by famous artists?
This week we'll be spotlighting a different artist each day over on Instagram (follow me HERE at @KristinaToddlerApproved) to see our art activities in action in our Instagram stories or HERE in our Art Instagram highlight).
Each day we'll update this post with the next activity idea. By the end of the week you will have 7 simple art activities you can try, inspired by famous artists.
7 Art Ideas Inspired by Famous Artists
1. Jackson Pollock Painting
Jackson Pollock is well known for his large abstract expressionist paintings. He used a creative drip technique to do action painting where his whole body got involved. His painting techniques inspire adults and kids of all ages to create in unique waysI
2. Wassily Kandinsky Circle Art
Wassily Kandinsky is known for starting the abstract art movement. One of his most famous paintings Color Study: Squares with Concentric Circles, is actually just a study about different color combinations as he painted.
Go HERE for the Kandinsky Circle Art instructions.
3. Michelangelo inspired Table Art
Michelangelo is a well known sculptor and painter. One of his famous painting jobs was the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The Pope asked him to paint it and he did an incredible job even though it required a lot of hard work.
4. Georges Seurat Inspired Q-Tip Painting
Georges Seurat was a French artist known for using a painting technique called pointillism. Pointillism is when you paint small dots to create areas of color close together that work together to make a larger image or pattern.
5. Paul Klee Inspired Shape Art
Paul Klee was a popular Swiss & German artist who created a large amount of artwork in his life. We enjoyed looking at his painting Castle and Sun and doing a shape art project inspired by his artwork.
6. Georgia O'Keefe Watercolor Resist Art
Georgia O'Keefe was an American artist best known for her large paintings of flowers, NY skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes. We enjoyed making our own Georgia O'Keefe inspired flower paintings.
Don't forget to come back tomorrow for our last Famous artist activity tomorrow.
Do you have any other favorite art activities for kids inspired by famous artists? Please share them with us!
You can download our Weekly Learn At Home Plans HERE and get simplified printable instructions for each of these Famous Artist inspired activities.
Love all of these! I am in the middle of an art theme with my 5-year old preschoolers. I was able to find some great child-friendly books about Matisse (Henri’s Scissors), Van Gogh (Vincent’s Colors), and Kandinsky (The Noisy Toolbox) but am having a hard time finding a way to introduce Picasso, Pollock and Warhol or Mondrian. Any ideas?
Awesome. I haven’t read it yet, but one book idea is Jackson Pollock Splashed Paint And Wasn’t Sorry. I also have Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail, but it’s for a bit older of an audience I think. I want to check out Picasso’s Trousers. I haven’t found any for the others yet.