Elementary Art Projects & Creative Lessons for Kids

Welcome to Art is Basic, a blog full of elementary art lessons, easy art projects, and teaching ideas for K-5 classrooms. Browse hundreds of engaging activities designed to inspire young artists.

Abstract collage with vintage photo, "Life" text, colorful paint splashes, and a photo of pink flowers. Obey the Impulse to explore the layers and discover hidden meanings within this vibrant piece.

Obey the Impulse Collage

Obey the Impulse, July 2010

August 3, 2010

At Clay Camp for Kids, a clay figure with a hat lies on a tray, resembling a person with four limbs and facial features.

Clay Camp for Kids– Week Four– Clay People

These are my examples above. I think I’m going to paint them and make an assemblage out of them. grades K-3 figures One child’s elf figure I made this little guy and put him in a bowl to…

July 26, 2010
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Person walking on a city street with the prettiness of a large bunch of colorful balloons on a sunny day.

Balloon Prettiness

Balloons in Madison, July 2010

July 26, 2010

A red wagon with sunflowers and a brown paper bag on a sidewalk; a person strolling by in sandals and jeans, adding to the scene's prettiness.

Wagon of Sunflowers, July 2010 This photograph I took at the Farmer’s Market in Madison. This wagon was just sitting there unattended while the owner went to go purchase some more vegetables. It just is a nice…

July 26, 2010

A clay sculpture of birds in a nest perched on the edge of a small clay bowl with a flat background.

Clay Camp for Kids– Week Three– Birds in a Nest

Here are some of the things we have been working on during clay camp for kids. The kids are going into kindergarten-6th grade. Week 3 I taught the little ones (entering K-3) how to make pinch pots for…

July 26, 2010

Drawing of a blue bird with a single visible eye, beak, and part of a wing on a postcard background created by mixed media artists.

Drawing Lab for Mixed Media Artists

I purchased Carla Sonheim’s drawing book, because I’m always interested in looking at new drawing books or new mixed media art books and this is a combination of both. She has a lot of drawing exercises on her…

July 23, 2010
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A child proudly holds up a colorful, striped knitted object in a classroom setting, showcasing their creation from Weaving Wonders Camp.

Weaving Wonders Camp Part 4

Part 4 of my Weaving Wonders Camp: Some of the kids tried finger weaving or finger knitting. It was too hard for the youngest kids to figure out, but 3rd grade seems about the right age to start. …

July 22, 2010

Handmade white clay sculpture resembling a wide-mouthed creature with ears and small appendages, crafted during Week Two of Clay Camp for Kids, on a wooden surface.

Clay Monsters for Elementary Art

We are having a great time at the summer Clay Camp for kids that I taught. The second week we made clay monsters. To make a monster, first, start by making a pinch pot. Next, gently squish the…

July 22, 2010

A child uses colorful paper strips to create a woven pattern on a table, showcasing the magic of Weaving Wonders.

Weaving Wonders Part 3

Paper Weaving. One of the projects I did with the kids for my Weaving Wonders Camp was Paper Weaving. Paper weaving is, of course, one of the first and most basic types of weaving. Kids in kindergarten,…

July 22, 2010
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Bohemian Shadows: zendoodling

When I taught middle school art, one of the sketchbook assignments I had the kids complete was a page of doodling. They looked very much these. Bohemian Shadows blog gives a nice tutorial for this type of doodling.…

July 22, 2010

A collage featuring a vintage photograph of four people surrounded by abstract shapes and patterns with a retro flair.

Collage July 2010, July 2010, mixed media, photographs

July 21, 2010
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Collage

07-10 Collage, made in July 2010, mixed media, collage, photo and fibers

July 21, 2010
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A street vendor stall displaying the prettiness of colorful tie-dye shirts and fabrics under a traffic light.

Tie Dye Prettiness

A beautiful tie dye stand at the Farmer’s Market.

July 20, 2010

Handmade pottery bowl resembling a large leaf, with intricate veins and edges, created during a Kids Clay Camp, resting on a wooden surface.

Clay Camp for Kids- Week One

This summer I have also been teaching a clay class for kids. It is only 6 sessions, one hour each session. I have 2 groups of kids: K-3, then 4-7 (roughly, there are some overlaps). Some of the…

July 20, 2010

A farmers market with colorful umbrellas over a flower stand on a sunny street, with a building in the background.

Farmers Market Prettiness

I LOVE the Farmers Market in Madison. So much prettiness and delicious vegetables. Here is a photo I took today!

July 18, 2010