Drawing ideas for kids - The Artful Parent

Drawing Vegetables: Above & Below in the Garden

Samara Caughey — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000

This drawing activity for kids about drawing vegetables above and below in the garden is from Drawing Workshop for Kids by Samara Caughey.

Updated April 2024

I love the visual representation of things happening above and below the ground. And it’s especially interesting to draw what’s happening underground, where one can’t normally see.

These representations reveal the mystery of the underground along with the little creatures that may be living there.

A really fun way to try this is to try drawing vegetables above and below the ground. It encourages kids to work on their observational skills – looking closely and drawing what they see. And it gives them the opportunity to draw, paint, and collage.

This drawing activity is featured in my book, Drawing Workshop for Kids, and provides a great way to talk to children about composition because the artwork is separated into two sections.

Photo Samara Caughey

Drawing Vegetables

MATERIALS

Root vegetables – radishes, beets, carrots, turnips, etc.
Pencils
Watercolor paper about 9”x12”
Watercolor pencils
Thin paintbrush
White glue (I put glue in small cups along with brushes for easier spreading. Glue sticks work, too.)
Scissors
Drawing paper (90lbs) 9”x12”
Magnifying glass (optional)
Charcoal (black) or Conte Crayon (brown)
Drawing paper 80lbs or thinner (both newsprint and copy paper will work fine)

INSTRUCTIONS

Observe the vegetables
Lay the vegetables out on the table. Allow the kids to engage with them by feeling and looking at the ones that interest them. The kids will likely discuss which vegetable they like or don’t like, along with the colors and size.
Draw the vegetables
Have the children choose at least four vegetables to draw onto the watercolor paper. They might choose four carrots or four radishes or a combination of all the veggies.

The veggies can be placed anywhere on the paper because they will be cut out later.
Add color
When finished drawing, the children can use watercolor pencils to color in the vegetables.
Don’t wet the pencils for this project but add water with a small paintbrush after filling in the vegetables and greens with color.

The children will be amazed by the transformation of the pencil marks to spreading color.
Create the rubbings
While the watercolor drawings are drying, children can begin work on the rubbings. These will be the soil in the garden.

Encourage the children to look around the house or outside to find textures for the rubbings. Walls, sides of baskets, backs of chairs that may have a pattern, trees, sidewalks, and brick buildings all are great sources of patterns for rubbings.

Show the children how to lay the paper onto the texture. Use the flat, long side of the charcoal stick or crayon and rub it over the paper. The kids can collect as many textures as they like to fill their entire piece of paper.
Create the garden collage
It’s time to collage the garden all together.

First, the children can cut out their vegetables.

Then have the children place the drawing paper in a vertical orientation.
Cut the paper rubbing to the same size as the bottom half of the paper. You can also rip one side to mimic the roughness of the top layer of ground.

Encourage the children to add their vegetables and move them around a bit. Have them wait until the pieces are arranged just how they like them before gluing in place.

Use a brush to paint glue onto the vegetables and then press them firmly onto the drawing paper.
Add garden details
Finally, the children can create bugs with paper, pencils or markers. They can add bugs that live underground or bugs that fly in the sky!

Photo Samara Caughey

More Drawing Activities for Kids

Does your child want to explore the world of drawing and expand their skills? Check out our three-part Drawing Skills Master Class for kids! Your child can learn to draw at home with 3 unique modules: Line & Shape, Light & Shadow, and Perspective. With at-home video lessons and easy-to-follow printable workbooks, your child will build skills and confidence as they learn to draw!

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DIY Art Printables for Kids

Jean Van't Hul — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 18:52:00 +0000

Encourage kids’ creativity with these DIY art printables that can be created using materials you have and customized to your child’s interests.

Updated April 2024

Did you know you can make you own art prompts for your kids?

It’s true! And something we love to do. You can create something on the fly in response to a current interest or need or situation. It’s customized to the child. It’s easy and inexpensive. And often just uses the materials at hand.

The result is usually more open-ended and can inspire great creativity.

And you can make a page at a time for your kids and see where it goes. If they want more of the same, you can make more. If it seems like they’re ready to move on, that’s okay too.

Here are some of our favorite DIY art activity pages for your family.

DIY Art Printables for Kids

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

1. Drawing Prompts Using Magazine Pictures

We love pasting a part of a magazine picture onto paper and using it as the starting point for a drawing. The results are always unique!

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

2. Drawing Prompts with Eye Stickers

Have you tried eye stickers for your kids’ drawing prompts yet? Simply place some eye stickers on a blank piece of paper and see what your kids come up with!

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

3. DIY Picture Frame Wallpaper for Children’s Art

We’ve done this on a big scale as well as on individual papers and both are super fun. Or check out this printable of the frame art drawing prompt.

Photo by Rachel Withers

4. Paint a Map of Your Heart

Use a pen to draw and write the things you and your family love inside the heart, then add paint for a lovely keepsake. This special activity doesn’t just have to happen on Valentine’s Day!

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

5. Hole in Paper Drawing

If you’re looking for a fun and interesting art challenge for your kids, you must try hole in paper art. Try offering your child a piece of paper with a hole cut out of the middle as an art prompt and see how they incorporate the hole into their drawing!

Photo by Andrea Martelle

6. Geometric Art Prompt

We love this connect the dots art prompt for kids. You can do this on a single piece of paper, or on a large scale and you end up with a gorgeous piece of geometric art that you can hang on your wall!

Or if you want creative activity pages for kids, but don’t want to make your own, check out our post on 16 Printable Art Activities for Kids.

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Creative Alternatives to Coloring Books for Kids

Jean Van't Hul — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 15:55:00 +0000

Learn how to offer creative, open-ended, and developmentally appropriate alternatives to coloring books for kids.

Updated January 2024

You might think that I’m a fan of coloring books and coloring contests; I love art and creativity and have a whole career focused on making art with kids!

I think coloring within the lines is overrated. There is no real benefit to it except neatness and an adult concept of what is right and fitting. And kids naturally begin coloring inside the lines over time as they develop, grow, and most importantly, care.

But why give them lines to color inside in the first place? They are perfectly capable of drawing their own lines and pictures and deciding where to color those lines and pictures.

Photo by Rachel Withers

And that—making your own decisions about line, shape, color and placement—that is the very core of making art.

Creating something from scratch is art. Coloring inside someone else’s lines? It might be relaxing and even fun at times, but it’s not truly art.

Creative Alternatives Coloring Books for Kids

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

1. Try a blank piece of paper

They can draw and scribble and color their own art. Encourage your kids to draw and scribble and create at whatever developmental stage they are at. You don’t have to understand their art making. You can talk about the colors they are using, ask questions, and make observations.

Photo by Andrea Martelle

2. Try a drawing prompt

If your child is four or older and wants something other than a blank page, consider offering drawing prompts or art prompts sometimes. Drawing prompts are open-ended, creative, and are great for travel and waiting rooms. Check out our printable book of 30 Days of Drawing Prompts!

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

3. Play a drawing game

Drawing games are fun, not just for kids, but for the whole family! Check out our list of 12 Kids’ Drawing Games for Creative Fun and try a few out.

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

4. Try a drawing book

We LOVE the book Invitation to Draw, by our founder Jean Van’t Hul, which has 99 creative drawing prompts.

But if your child is expressing interest in learning how to draw certain things or learning how to draw more accurately, try a step-by-step drawing book. Here are a few to consider:

Or, if you have the time and interest to provide guidance yourself, pick up a copy of Mona Brookes’ book, Drawing with Children.

Photo by Anna Harpe

5. Check out our Drawing Skills Master Class!

If your child would like to build their confidence and skills as an artist, you’ll love our three-part Drawing Skills Master Class for kids! Kids can learn to draw at home with 3 unique modules: Line & Shape, Light & Shadow, and Perspective. Each module contains at-home video lessons and easy-to-follow printable workbooks.

Photo by Rachel Withers

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16 Drawing Printable Art Activities for Kids

Jean Van't Hul — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Try one of these fun drawing printable activities for kids to encourage creativity and help build art skills.

Updated October 2023

We’re all for DIY art activity pages to make for kids based on their interests. But sometimes you just want to press the print button. So, while the make-your-own versions are endlessly customizable, printable art activities are quick and easy.

You can also check out our Printables shop, filled with tons of fun, printable creativity packs for kids. Covering a variety of themes, holidays, and season, you’re sure to find one that looks perfect for your family!

And we love the following art activity printables that you can offer your child because they encourage creativity and are fun to do!

Drawing Printables for Kids from The Artful Parent

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

1. FREE Paper Doll Printable for Kids

A free paper dolls printable for kids to color, personalize, and dress up. Each printable paper doll includes 2 outfits to design and color.

2. Five Fun & Creative Drawing Prompts for Kids

Drawing prompts are one of our favorite creative drawing ideas for kids. These 5 free drawing prompts inspire kids to draw and think in a whole new way.

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

3. Drawing People from Around the World

Drawing people from around the world just became easier for kids thanks to World Colors skin tone pencils plus a FREE PRINTABLE for drawing faces, facial expressions, & people in general!

Photo by Andrea Martelle

4. Frame Art Drawing Prompt and Printable for Kids

Inspire creativity with simple and unique drawing prompts for kids. Use this printable to create an art gallery of mini artworks.

5. Birthday Party Printables

We have some free birthday party printables for your kids so you can join in on any celebration.

6. How to Draw Superhero Self Portraits (+ Printable!)

What’s your superpower? Here’s our free printable for kids to draw their superhero self and face challenges in everyday life.

7. Free Printable Valentine Activity for Families

This printable is based on the Map of My Heart Activity that we do year after year. You and your child each draw a heart on a piece of paper and then draw, write, and paint the things that have a place in your heart.

8. Doodle Cubes Art Activity

Doodle cubes are a fun art activity for kids that allows them to see how their 2D designs can translate into 3D designs. Great for spatial awareness!

More Printable Art Activities

Here are 8 more fun and free printables from around the internet that we think you’ll love!

Graph Paper Drawing (on Picklebums)
Blank Faces Drawing Pages (on Dabbles and Babbles)
Free Printable Comic Book Templates (on Picklebums)
Design-Your-Own Characters Drawing Prompt (on Tinkerlab)
Shape Mandala Drawing for Kids (on Picklebums)
Paint Palette Color Mixing Activity Sheets (on Mama Miss)
Free Printable Playdough Mats (on Picklebums)
Flextangles Paper Toy (on Babble Dabble Do)

Which printable art activity will you try?

How about printing one out for now and a couple others to have up your sleeve for next time you need a quick and easy art activity?

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

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The BEST Art Supplies for Drawing

Rachel Withers — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

The Artful Parent’s top recommendations of kids’ art supplies for drawing. Plus, drawing books, art prompts, games and other drawing ideas for kids!

Updated August 2023

Does your child love to draw? This is something that can been so fun to watch develop as children move from scribbles to representational drawings to more detailed images of what they’re interested in.

In the early years, it’s our job to provide the materials to foster child-directed exploration through drawing––and encourage kids to have lots of fun along the way.

Photo by Rachel Withers

Below you’ll find our top recommendations of art supplies for drawing, divided by age for easy reference.

Start with a few versatile drawing supplies during the toddler years, then add to your materials as your child grows.

Drawing Supplies for Kids

Photo by Rachel Withers

Toddler Art Supplies for Drawing

What to expect: Scribbling is the norm for ages 1-3 and should be encouraged.

Stabilo Woody 3-1s (These are long lasting and can be used on paper, glass–and turn into watercolor paints!)
Tempera paint sticks
Kitpas art crayon (similar to a thick oil pastel)
Paper roll

Photo by Rachel Withers

Preschool Art Supplies for Drawing

What to expect: Preschoolers may begin creating representational drawings, of themselves, or the world around them.

Photo by Rachel Withers

Big Kids Art Supplies for Drawing

What to expect: Your child may start off drawing without prompting or may benefit from some of the ideas below. By age 8 or 9, many kids are interested in learning drawing skills to take their drawings to a new stage.

Additional Reading: For more on what to expect, read “Ages and Stages” in The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family’s Life with Art and Creativity (pages 17-20) and How to Be an Artful Parent

Photo by Andrea Martelle

Drawing Activities for Kids

Alright, so now you’ve got the drawing supplies. But maybe you’re still feeling stuck on how to help your child get started.

You may find it easiest to get started playing a drawing game together. Or print out some drawing prompts or other drawing printables. Or check out some of our favorite drawing books.

The key here is to find ways to allow your child to explore and create their own art, remembering there is no right or wrong way to draw.

Here are some ways to get your kids started.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

1. Kids Drawing Games

Kids love games so what better way to loosen up and get drawing than by playing a few drawing games? One of our favorite ways to engage a group of kids is with a big piece of paper and a scribble art invitation.

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

2. Drawing Prompts

Founder of The Artful Parent, Jean Van’t Hul, is author of Invitation to Draw (filled with 99 drawing prompts)! Jean is passionate about engaging kids with open ended prompts to inspire their own creative development.

Photo by Jean Van’t Hul

3. Creative Drawing Ideas for Kids

We love these art activity printables because they encourage creativity and are fun to do! You can also start with observational drawing: gather items such as fruit or flowers, stuffed animals and even donuts!

4. Drawing Books for Kids

Here are three of our all-time favorites:

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Photo by Rachel Withers

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How to Play a Fun Family Drawing Game!

Catalina Gutierrez — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 05:00:00 +0000

How to play a fun and collaborative family drawing game. Create portraits by trading drawings and adding new features. Catalina of RedViolet Studio shares how to play the exquisite corpse game.

Updated August 2023

One of the things we have come to really enjoy lately is our creative family sessions. Sitting down around a table, and just creating; sometimes with specific prompts, but mainly through fun games and open ended exploration of materials.

Those who know me, know I love a good ol’ art family game, and we’ve done quite a few, but today I want to share one of our family favorites.

This is sometimes called the exquisite corpse game, or the combination man game, but whatever you call it, it is a blast for kids and adults of all ages!

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

A Fun Family Drawing Game

MATERIALS

Black Sharpies
Paper (we used 12×18 white cardstock)
Watercolors (or you can use markers, tempera, crayons, pastels, or any medium of your preference)
Brushes and cup with water (if using watercolors)

INSTRUCTIONS

Prepare the supplies
Have 3 or more family members (or friends) sit at a table. Place a piece of paper and a black Sharpie in front of each person.
Draw a part of the head
Ask everyone to choose a person from the table and challenge that person to draw a part of the head or face. It can be the nose, eyes, mouth, ears, head outline, etc. Any single part.
Pass the drawing
As soon as everyone is done drawing the first feature, pass the paper to the person sitting to your right.
Begin drawing another feature
Now another family member (or friend) will tell you what to draw next: maybe it’s the eyebrows this time, or teeth, or hair, a beard, or mustache. Anything goes. Just keep in mind that we are focusing only on portraits, from the neck up.
Continue drawing and trading drawings
Then keep it going. Swap papers again so everyone gets at least one chance to draw on every paper, until the silly (oh, believe me they will end up being quite silly!) faces are finished.
Don’t forget accessories!
Some other fun things to add to the drawings are accessories such as: sunglasses, hats, earrings, piercings, etc. All of these will add character to your drawings.
You can keep going with this paper swapping for as long as you wish, or until you think the faces are pretty much done.
Now add color!
Next, bring in the fun supplies you have around to add some color to the faces. We used watercolors, but you can use markers, crayons, pastels, paints or anything you wish!
Show off your finished drawing.
Finally, show off your funky faces and maybe even give them names. And kids can also write a brief description of the characters to extend this fun activity even more!

We really enjoyed this activity. It was a fun unwinding session where we got to laugh and create at the same time. I hope you give it a try, and if you do, please share your creations with me as I would love to see them!

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

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5 Easy After School Art Invitations for Kids

Catalina Gutierrez — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000

Catalina Gutierrez of Redviolet Studio shares her 5 favorite after-school art invitations for kids. Her boys loved these and they’re easy to set up in under 5 minutes!

Updated August 2023

After my children were born, I started experimenting with all kinds of activities and invitations to distract them, engage them, and secretly buy myself some time to do other things around the house, or maybe just drink a cup of tea in peace.

I would often try to set up simple invitations to create or explore. And I found that not only did they really enjoy them, but it was a fun and playful way to work on certain skills.

Basically, an invitation to create is both an opportunity to entice a child to make art as well as an opportunity to introduce a new material, technique, or activity.

Here are a few simple after school art invitations for school aged kids that are on my favorite list. These are ones my kids have loved, and I hope yours will too.

Keep in mind that you can make these after-school art invitations as simple or complex as you wish; you can always add more materials or work around what you have at home to make it easy to set up in less than 5 minutes.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

After School Art Invitations

MATERIALS (These are all the materials needed for these 5 activities)

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

1. Sticker Making

This is one of our all-time favorites! We’ve been making stickers for years and the boys still love it.

All you need is white sticker paper (or white sticky labels) and markers. I’ve collected stamps over the years, so we’ll use those for extra fun. But you don’t really need these.

They can start by drawing on the white side of the paper or label (make sure they are not drawing on the sticky side). Another fun option is to stamp and color their stamp outlines and then cut out their own sticker creations. I guarantee you at least an hour or more of fun!

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

2. Make Your Own Gift Tags

This is another favorite as kids love the idea of working on a smaller format.

I pre-cut a bunch of small squares and rectangles (about 3×4 or 4x4in) out of sturdy white paper and set it out on the table next to markers and/or watercolors and let them go to town. If you have stickers, you can set those out, too.

My kids have been making and giving these for years and they enjoy it so much. I often join in the process as I find it to be relaxing and fun.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

3. Watercolors & Oil Pastels

Don’t be afraid to bring some paint into the game! Watercolors are washable and easy to clean up. And once you mix them with oil pastels the effect is super cool because the oil pastels resist the paint, and the colors pop out really nicely. You can do this with nice watercolor paper or just white cardboard.

This is a relaxing activity, perfect to wind down after a hectic school day.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

4. Observational Drawings

I know the name sounds fancy, but I promise this is really fun and easy to set up. I’ve done it with lots of different things.

Sometimes I use simple stuff I have around the house, like flowers, toys or fruits. When I’m feeling inspired, I bring in something more fun like cupcakes or donuts and set them right in the middle of the table next to paper, markers, or any kind of paint you have.

And then I ask the boys try and focus on the objects (or food) on the table and draw/paint them from observation.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

5. Playdough or Clay Creations

Almost every household has some playdough lying around so this is an easy one to set up. My kids (age 7 & 9) prefer clay over playdough, so I will also do this with air dry clay.

Set out either the playdough or the clay next to some tools (you can use things you have at home like old toothbrushes, knives, toothpicks, rollers, scissors, etc.). Add in some pasta, or other loose parts (things such as lids, buttons, sticks, nails, small rocks, etc.) and let them do the rest!

Your kids will come up with some pretty creative pieces, I promise!

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

I hope you give these invitations a try! Like I said, you can make them as easy or “fancy” as you desire! But I suggest keeping it simple so it’s something you feel comfortable doing often.

I usually try to set up before the kids get home from school and that way, they can go right to it while they have a snack and unwind from their day. These are just a few ideas, but as you start doing it, you will come up with your very own, based on the things you have at home.

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How to Draw Donuts for Kids

Catalina Gutierrez — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 13:14:32 +0000

Drawing donuts is a fun way for kids to practice drawing from observation. Save the best part for last (eating that donut)!

Updated April 2023

Pink frosting, rainbow sprinkles, dulce de leche filling, chocolate ganache…yum! Did I make you hungry? I mean who doesn’t love donuts, right?

Imagine how excited the children from my after school art class were when I walked into the classroom with a box of fresh donuts. They were like “what??? Do we get to eat these?” And I said, “Even better! You get to draw them!”

This is such a fun drawing activity and I bet you will love setting it up for your kids. To get them in the food drawing mojo you can first show them some of Wayne Thiebaud’s colorful paintings of pastries and cakes. These are so vivid and rich in color and texture; they will serve as a great inspiration.

Obviously, I told the children from my class they could eat the donuts once they were done. This made it even more motivating!

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

Drawing Donuts for Kids

MATERIALS

Donuts
Black Sharpies
Watercolor paper or any heavy weight paper
Acrylics
Brushes
Palette
Jar with water
Paper towel

Time needed: 45 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS

Group donuts on plates
Start by setting up the donuts on a plate right in the middle of the table. You can mix it up a little and place a few together in different colors and flavors to make it even more fun. Kids can choose to draw just one or all of them.
Begin drawing donuts

Give each kid a piece of paper and a black sharpie. Ask them to look closely at the donuts, including every little sprinkle, and to draw what they see.

Encourage them to take their time to really observe every shape, the texture of the frosting and the swirls. The more details they include the better.
Painting the donuts
Once they are done with this part, bring in the palettes with the acrylics you have previously mixed to match the colors of the donuts.

You will also need the brushes, jars with water and a piece of paper towel or a sponge to dry/clean up brushes in between colors.

Invite them to slowly start painting over all of the details they drew before.

Some of the kids might enjoy being as true and accurate to the original donut(s) as possible but others might prefer a little improvisation or variation in shapes and colors. That’s okay, too.

The most important thing is for the kids to enjoy the process of drawing from observation rather than the result. And of course, close up with the cherry on the pie…let them choose a donut to enjoy!

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Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

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How to Make Frida Kahlo Portraits for Kids

Catalina Gutierrez — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 05:00:00 +0000

This is a fun Frida inspired drawing prompt for kids. Explore identity with kids & create personalized Frida Kahlo portraits for kids.

Updated April 2023

I wanted to do a Frida Kahlo inspired project for some time now since I really admire her work, as well as her husband’s, Diego Rivera.

Frida’s portraits, inspired by nature and artifacts of Mexico, are so powerful and expressive in many ways. They explore controversial issues such as: identity, class, gender and race, among others.

She constantly included autobiographical elements in her work, combining fantasy with realism in a very unique way.

After reading a short book about Frida’s life and sharing with the children some of her most known artwork, we entered into a conversation of identity.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

What makes you YOU? What defines you as a person? What are your likes and dislikes? Your thoughts? Your fantasies?

It was so interesting to listen to the children speak and share their ideas and interpretations on these open-ended questions. We then proceeded to start working on our Frida portraits with that in our minds, and begin headpieces that identified each and every child.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

Frida Kahlo Portraits for Kids

MATERIALS

Black Sharpie
Frida’s face printout
Colored Sharpies
Transparency film
White cardboard paper (we used 12 x 18 in)
Chalk markers (optional)
Washi tap e

Time needed: 45 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS

Print image of Frida
Start by downloading a simple image of Frida’s head and printing it out. You can do a google image search, or you can use our free download !
Trace the Frida outline onto transparency film
Place a transparency film on top of the Frida print out and stick the four corners onto the cardboard paper.

Trace Frida’s face onto the film (not her hair though) using a black sharpie.

Remove the Frida print out from behind the film and leave the tape on each corner of the film, holding it to the cardboard paper.
Begin drawing the Frida headpiece
Ask the children to start working on their Frida headpiece.

Be sure to include things that identify them, things they like, fantasies, dreams; anything that speaks to them and to their unique character and personality.
Add color!
Finally, once they have drawn the outline of those headpieces they created, set out the colored sharpies and the chalk markers and ask them to start adding color to their creations. I like using the chalk markers because they really pop up beautifully on the transparency film, but sharpies work great too.

And that’s it! You can frame these or just tape to the wall! They will be so fun, colorful, playful and for sure an inspiring way to learn about the life and work of artist Frida Kahlo.

Photo by Catalina Gutierrez

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How to Draw Superhero Self-Portraits (+ Printable!)

Jean Van't Hul — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 13:50:00 +0000

What’s your superpower? Here’s our free printable for kids to draw superhero self-portraits and face challenges in everyday life.

Updated October 2023

This post is sponsored by Faber-Castell’s World Colors Colored EcoPencils so that superheroes around the world can proudly draw their own skin colors and those of their sidekicks.

This superhero self-portrait is for kids, but we suggest you get in on the action, too. We have the potential inside us to be powerful and to make a huge difference. But oftentimes that power is hidden inside us.

But we need our superhero selves to help us be our best and make a difference.

The first step is for us to recognize and develop our superhero self. And one way to do this is to create a superhero self-portrait.

To do this, is much like creating a regular self-portrait. But instead of drawing yourself exactly as you are, you give yourself extra powers and confidence to do the things you want to do and be the person you want to be.

How to Draw Superhero Self-Portraits

Note: we have a free 3-page printable for you that invites you to make superhero self-portraits with ideas, a frame, and a color-your-own wall art. You can download and print it out at the end of this post.

MATERIALS

Faber-Castell World Colors pencils
Free printables from the end of this post

INSTRUCTIONS

Draw yourself
This can be a super realistic self-portrait or it can be as embellished or fantastical as you like. We love using the Faber-Castell World Colors colored pencils because they have 6 skin tone colors that can be layered to create realistic skin tones to match YOU.
Show your super powers
What superhero powers do you want? Show your special powers through pictures, accessories, symbols, and words.

Some superhero powers to consider:
– Strong
– Kind
– Smart
– Fast
– Flying ability
– All seeing
– Read minds
– Perfect memory
– Make people laugh
– Ability to talk to animals
– Make plants grow
– Heal
– Make rainbows
– and the list goes on and on
Add some accessories
What superhero accessories will you need?

Possible accessories for your superhero self:
– Cape
– Mask
– Wand
– Glasses
– Animal
– Sidekick
– Magic hands
– can you come up with others?

You can download the FREE printable drawing invitation for kids by scrolling to the bottom of the page. (If you missed it, clear your cookies and refresh this page!)

So, pick up a set of World Colors colored pencils by Faber-Castell, print out Superhero Self Portrait Drawing Invitation printables and create your own character and self-portrait!

More Drawing Printables and Drawing Ideas

SHOP NOW

A big thank you to Faber-Castell for sponsoring this post and sending me their World Colors colored pencils to try out and review.

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The post How to Draw Superhero Self-Portraits (+ Printable!) appeared first on The Artful Parent.