Want some dot art ideas? Whether you’ve read The Dot, are studying pointillism, or just want to make some fun art, here are our favorite ideas to try.
Updated April 2023
We put this round-up post together because we were excited about all the different dot art ideas we were thinking about after doing Q-tip pointillism. There are so many ways we’ve made dot art in the past (with printing, painting, drawing, and collage) and so many fun dot art ideas around the web (Aboriginal dot painting, Kandinsky circles, and Lichtenstein-inspired pop art, among others).
Maybe you’ve read The Dot by Peter Reynolds and want to create dot art to tie in with that inspiring book. Or maybe you’re studying pointillism or some other dot art style and want to try something similar.
Or maybe you just want to make some fun art and try something new.
Dots are an effective and interesting art component and there are many ways to make them.
- Drawing (with markers, crayons, Do-a-Dot markers)
- Painting (with Q-tips, cotton balls, or brushes, big or small)
- Printing (with bubble wrap, Legos, or muffin tins)
- Collage (with stickers, paper, pasta shapes, beans)
- Rubbings (over a lego plate or a grill pan)
- Poking (poke toothpicks into playdough or clay, for example)
If you want to dive into some dot art, try one of these ideas!
Dot Art Ideas for Kids
1. Pointillism with Q-tips and Watercolors
Pointillism art with cottons swabs may sound complicated but is actually super simple and kids LOVE it. Dip a cotton swab into liquid watercolors and make dots to your heart’s content!
2. Dot Art on Canvas (large scale or small!)
Turn an old canvas into a new masterpiece by painting it white, and then letting your kids create! We love the way these dots look!
3. Kandinsky-Inspired Circle Art with Paper Collage (on Happiness is Homemade)
These concentric circle pieces are inspired by the art of Wassily Kandinsky and made with construction paper!
4. Sticker Mandalas with Circle Stickers
Mandala art for kids is made extra fun and easy with stationery store stickers. You can create them on different colored construction paper cut into circles.
5. Bubble Wrap Printing
Painting with bubble wrap and making a print onto paper is a favorite process art activity for toddlers and big kids too!
6. Aboriginal Dot Painting (on The Artsy Fartsy Art Room)
This artwork, inspired by traditional Aboriginal dot painting, is made with a paper silhouette of an animal surrounded by painted dots. The flat end of a scratch art stick is perfect for making the dots!
7. LEGO Prints with Stamp Pads
Creating LEGO prints is a fun open-ended art activity for kids of all ages. Use LEGOs and stamp pads to create cities, flowers, mandalas, letters and much more!
8. Two Lichtenstein-Style Art Projects: Using Circle Stickers (on Pink Stripey Socks) or Portraits with Crayon Dots (on Art Projects for Kids)
We love both of these art projects inspired by the American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein. You can try it using dot stickers on Pink Stripey Socks, or by creating a crayon dot background on Art Projects for Kids.
9. Yayoi Kusama Inspired Dot Paintings
Create amazing and colorful dot paintings inspired by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. This fun project has kids making all kinds of circles in various sizes and colors using different techniques.
10. Splat Painting
Splat painting is a simple action art activity that involves hitting paint-soaked cotton balls with a small mallet or spoon and making dots and splats all over the paper!
11. Holes in Paper Art Challenges
Hole challenge drawings (and paintings, collages, etc.) are just the sort of art activity that will really get the creative juices flowing because they force kids to think outside the box. And to double up on the dot action, try this challenge with hole reinforcement stickers!
12. Circle Art and Printing Inspired by The Dot
We love this collaborative process art activity that combines painting circles and printing using round household objects to create a huge collage of circles!
13. Dot-to-dot art challenge for kids
This dot-to-dot art challenge for kids is a great way to build concentration and fine motor skills while creating a beautiful artwork. It’s also a fun way to prevent the kids’ paintings from becoming muddy and paint mixed.
14. Use dot markers or sponge paint dabbers
If you want to keep things really simple, use dot markers! Or use round sponge brushes to stamp circles with paint. You can even dip a cotton ball in paint and make dots that way!
That was a lot of dot art ideas! Are you ready to give one a try?
More Paint Ideas for Kids
- 11 Painting Art Activities for Preschoolers
- 7 Fun Painting Ideas for Kids to Try
- How to Do Scrape Painting
- How to Do Marble Painting for Kids
- How to do Splatter Painting
- How to Do Spin Art with a Salad Spinner
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