People Archives - Art Projects for Kids

6 Mar 2018

Drawing a Leprechaun

Here is a step by step leprechaun drawing tutorial for St. Patrick’s Day, coming up on March 17th. He’s kind of a simple cartoon character, with mostly symmetrical parts which help most students when they are learning how to draw. • View and download Leprechaun Tutorial MATERIALS • Print of Leprechaun Tutorial • Multimedia paper • Black Sharpie marker • … Read More

9 Jan 2018

Draw Martin Luther King Update

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Black History Month, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, People | 0

I created this Martin Luther King for kids project last year, but it needed a little tweaking. I hope it helps a few classrooms that are celebrating MLK Day. Please note that the eyebrows are made by coloring heavier with crayons. Older students may find that a good way to add some shadows to Dr. Martin Luther King’s face too. … Read More

2 Nov 2017

Draw a Cartoon Woman

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Cartoon Drawing, Crayons, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Kindergarten, Markers, People | 0

The simplification that comes with cartoon characters is perfect for children of all ages. No worries about proportion totally helps too. MATERIALS • Draw a Cartoon Woman PDF Tutorial • Color printer • Drawing paper • Black marker • Crayons or markers DIRECTIONS PREP: Download and print a tutorial for each student. Print paper with guidelines, or have students … Read More

13 Sep 2017

How to Draw Aliens

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Crayons, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Kindergarten, People | 0

I made this condensed tutorial for three aliens as it is fun to mix and match the different eyes, hands and feet. It’s a good direct draw project for the very young as they are not so concerned about making the alien look “right”. Aliens can look however you imagine them to look. MATERIALS Draw Aliens PDF Tutorial Drawing paper … Read More

16 Jul 2017

Half Portrait Tutorial

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Crayons, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, People | 0

Every fall I look for a new twist in portrait drawing for kids. I like this one as the fold line guides will force them to fill their paper. MATERIALS Half Portrait Tutorial (see below) Drawing paper Pencil Black marker Crayons DIRECTIONS Fold paper in half three times to create crease guide lines. Draw the half portrait according to … Read More

11 Apr 2017

Modigliani Self Portrait Tutorial

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, artist Modigliani, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Oil Pastel, People | 0

My Amedeo Modigliani for kids art lesson shows students how to distort a portrait, much in the way that he elongated necks and faces. Something about this process seems to free students up from getting overly fussy with their drawings. The best medium for this? Thick pastels on black paper to imitating Modigliani’s rich dark paintings. • View and download Modigliani … Read More

8 Mar 2017

Sunglasses Self Portrait

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Crayons, Drawing, People | 0

My 3rd and 4th graders are finishing their year long art journal books with summer self portraits. They are drawing themselves with reflections of what they will be seeing this summer. This task was super easy thanks to some little wooden glasses I found at Michaels. I love how they helped students draw nice size heads on their 6″ x … Read More

22 Feb 2017

Draw a Clown

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: How to Draw Tutorials, Oil Pastel, People | 0

My clown face drawing seems to be pretty popular over at Pinterest, so here is an update. Try using black paper so your clown can truly have the white face that makes him or her so fun to color. • View and download Draw a Clown tutorial MATERIALS • Black construction paper • Oil pastels DIRECTIONS 1. Draw the … Read More

30 Jan 2017

Draw an Astronaut

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Crayons, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Kindergarten, People | 0

Here’s one way to spark a child’s interest in science and space. Show them how to draw an astronaut and space ship, floating among stars and planets. All are made with simple shapes, and fun to color in when complete. Just click on the link below and you can download your own pdf tutorial for a classroom friendly project. • … Read More

10 Jan 2017

How to Draw Martin Luther King

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Crayons, Holiday Themes, How to Draw Tutorials, People | 0

I put my portrait drawing skills to the test today to see if I could show students how to draw Martin Luther King, hopefully with a decent resemblance. The kids did a great job so I thought I’d pass this along as I know quite a few students are studying the life of this amazing man. TIP: I strongly recommend using … Read More

7 Dec 2016

Draw Santa’s Face

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Christmas, Drawing, Holiday, Holiday Themes, How to Draw Tutorials, Pencil crayon, People, Winter | 0

Looking for an easy way to draw Santa’s face? If so, here’s a simple approach drawing just his head. And if you work on brown kraft paper, you will get a nice old-fashioned look, along with the chance to color a nice white beard and fuzzy hat brim. • View and download Santa PDF Tutorial MATERIALS • Color print of … Read More

1 Oct 2016

How to Draw Frida Kahlo

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Oil Pastel, People | 0

My favorite Frida Kahlo for kids project is a simple portrait with a few key features. Draw her hair up, with flowers and classic heavy eyebrows, and there’s not much mistaking whose portrait you are drawing. • View and download Frida Kahlo PDF tutorial MATERIALS • Black card stock paper • Pencil • Ruler • Oil pastels (Cray-Pas work great) … Read More

25 Apr 2016

Flying Umbrella Kid Tutorial

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Kindergarten, People | 0

This little drawing idea came from a stock art image, one of my favorite places to get inspired. As it is currently a rainy and windy night here in LA, I thought I’d make a tutorial for my drawing class tomorrow. I intentionally kept the child looking as simple as possible so young artists could easily alter it to their … Read More

30 Jul 2015

3D Miro Painting

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, artist Joan Miro, How to Draw Tutorials, Painting, People | 0

Joan Miro was a Spanish painter who made very child like paintings. He often used some very simple shapes that students can easily imitate to make their own Surrealist painting. MATERIALS • Miro PDF Tutorial • Watercolor Paper • Bleeding tissue paper • Yarn • Black Sharpie • Crayons • White glue • Paint brush DIRECTIONS 1. Gather supplies. 2. Draw a … Read More

28 Jul 2015

Draw an Abstract Self Portrait

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, artist Picasso, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Painting, People | 0

Here is an adaptation of my popular Abstract Face project for older students. It still has simple features that fill the face, but allows for some personalization with hair and shoulders, etc. I think it might make a good early self portrait project for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders as it bypasses all the fussy eye and mouth details that … Read More

19 Jul 2015

Paint like Miro

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, artist Joan Miro, How to Draw Tutorials, Painting, People | 0

15 Jul 2015

Abstract Face Tutorial

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, How to Draw Tutorials, Kindergarten, Painting, People | 0

Many children have a natural tendency to draw small, so I like to direct them in simple shapes that must touch the sides of the paper. I’ve used this drawing with tempera paint, but thought I’d also post a watercolor version that includes colorful crayon lines and patterns. • View and download Abstract Face Tutorial MATERIALS Watercolor paper Black marker … Read More

23 May 2015

Draw Captain America

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Cartoon Drawing, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, People | 0

It’s fun to tie drawing lessons into current movies, if you can. Here’s one way to draw a young looking Captain America, that I would save for 2nd grade or so on up. MATERIALS View and download Captain America Tutorial Drawing paper Black marker Crayons DIRECTIONS Prep: Print tutorial for each student. Draw guide lines on paper or fold in … Read More

11 May 2015

How to Draw Elsa

by Kathleen Barbro | posted in: 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, Cartoon Drawing, Crayons, Drawing, How to Draw Tutorials, Kindergarten, People | 0

Sometimes you just have to add a little pop culture to your lessons. At least that’s what a few of my students have been asking for. Here’s my take on how to draw this pretty popular young character, Elsa. MATERIALS View and Download Elsa Tutorial Drawing paper Black marker Crayons DIRECTIONS Prep: Print tutorial for each student. Draw guide lines … Read More

26 Feb 2015

Metallic Robot