Easy Art Projects Inspired by Famous Artists
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Ready to let creativity loose and have some serious fun? It will probably be messy, because what is art time without getting a little messy?
These 5 easy art projects are inspired by famous artists and their masterpieces! They’re perfect for kids, homeschoolers, or anyone who wants to make art without the pressure.
You don’t need any fancy supplies or serious skills- just a big imagination, some paper, and the freedom to get SILLY! These projects are all about bold COLOR, playful shapes, and embracing the idea that there are no mistakes in art- only happy accidents.
Van Gogh “Starry Night” Swirls
Vincent Van Gogh was a brilliant painter with a wild imagination and a lot o feelings-he poured them all into his art. He loved to show movement and emotion with big, bold brushstrokes.
The Starry Night is like a dreamscape of a nighttime sky, filled with swirling stars and deep blue magic. Van Gogh painted it while looking out the window of his room in a mental asylum.
Let’s make some swirls!
Supplies needed:
Oil pastels or crayons: white, yellow, blue, black
Steps:
Start by drawing some big, round stars with yellow or white- Go big and bold!
Add swirly lines around them using blue and white pastels-make them dance!
Add a dark hill or tree at the bottom, just like Van Gogh’s mysterious cypress.
Blend your colors with your fingers-It’s ok to get messy!
Mondrian Color Block Collage
Piet Mondrian loved neat lines, bold primary colors, and a whole lot of rectangles. He believed simple shapes could express big ideas-kind of like building with Legos, but for art!
In Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow, Mondrian created a perfect puzzle of colors, lines, and white space. No shading, no blending-just blocks of balance.
Let’s Get Crafty Like a Colorful Architect!
Supplies needed:
Black paper strips or marker
Steps:
Cut out rectangles and squares from the red, blue, and yellow paper.
Arrange them on your white paper & glue them with space between them.
Use black strips or draw lines, to connect the blocks like a grid.
Leave some white spaces- like Mondrian did.
Picasso Cubist Face Puzzle
Pablo Picasso didn’t just think outside the box-he smashed the box, turned it sideways, and made a nose where the ear used to be. His Cubist art was all about breaking the rules.
In paintings like Weeping Woman, Picasso turned people into puzzles. Faces had extra eyes, twisted mouths, and wild angles.
Let’s Get Silly with Some Face-Melting Fun!
Supplies needed:
Steps:
Draw a normal face with eyes, nose, mouth, ears.
Now… cut it up! Into two or four pieces.
Rearrange those pieces however you like. Sideways nose? Yes!
Glue the new face onto a fresh paper and color it funky colors.
Make it wild, weird, and wonderful.
Matisse Paper Cut-Outs
Henri Matisse was known for making “drawings with scissors.” When he couldn’t paint anymore, he didn’t stop- he cut bright paper into swoopy, happy shapes instead.
His work The Snail looks like a colorful spiral made from chunky paper bits. It’s simple, bold and totally joyful.
Let’s Cut Loose!
Supplies needed:
Big white paper for the background
Steps:
Cut out fun shapes, swirls, zigzags, blobs-anything goes.
Move them around on your big white paper until it looks awesome.
Glue the shapes down.
Try overlapping or repeating shapes like Matisse did.
Kandinsky Circle Grid
Wassily Kandinsky believed art should feel like music- full of rhythm, color, and emotion. He was one of the first artists to paint completely abstract art.
His piece Squares with Concentric Circles shows different color combinations inside squares. Each one looks like it has its own personality!
Let’s Make a Color Symphony!
Supplies needed:
Steps:
Draw a grid on your paper
In each square, draw a circle inside a circle
Color or paint each circle differently-no two should look the same.
Try making one look happy, one loud, one sleepy- color like music feels!
Optional: outline with black for extra pop.
Whether your swirls are wonky, your faces are funky, or your paper shapes look like colorful potato chips- Congrats! You made art!
These projects aren’t about copying perfectly; they’re about discovering your own voice through art play. Channel your inner Van Gogh or Matisse!
Remember: the best kind of art is the kind that makes you smile.
