How to do Canvas Art for Kids: 14 Canvas Ideas for Kids

In this post you will learn how to do canvas art with kids the right and wrong way. It was a complete Pinterest fail, but that doesn’t mean I don’t know how to do it.

Canvas Art

Ya’ll, this art project would be considered a huge fat Pinterest fail. I have been wanting to do this art project with my kids for a long time. It did not go as I had envisioned it in my mind.

Does that ever happen to you? You have this vision of how that one project, trip, or activity will go and it does not go that way at all! Too many times to count this has happened to me. #ifyoureamomyouknow

I’ve learned to go with the flow more and be more flexible. Kids are unpredictable and are on their own schedule and agenda. It’s easier to just let go on some days more than others. When I do activities with my kids, I always try to remember that I want them to be creative. I want them to come up with their own technique or way of doing things. I want them to learn to think for themselves and not feel like mom is always breathing down their neck with orders.

This is hard, as a perfectionist, I tend to want them to do it my way, but it’s always way more fun to just let them do it themselves and in their own creative way. #iknowitshard

Well, that’s how this project went. My daughter did not want to put tape on her canvas. She wanted to use her canvas as a backdrop for her art. I gave her a brief demonstration of what we were going to do, but she wasn’t having it. This is where I just had to let it go and let her do it her own way.

My son just wanted to paint something and could hardly wait for me to get the tape on.

I quickly learned that there’s really no such thing as an art fail if everyone is having fun, the kids are creative and proud of their work.

They might have “Pinterest failed”, but I did my own piece of canvas art that I am pretty proud of. #ifidosaysomyself.

Here’s all the ways we did it.

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Canvas Art for Kids

Supplies:

Canvas (I cheated. I had some old canvas that I had painted on and didn’t have plans for. The kids can just paint right over it)
Paint
Paint Brushes
Masking Tape or Painting Tape

Side Note: Watch Michaels’ sales because they often have Canvas on sale for super cheap. Amazon also has some good deals.

Instructions:

Decide what kind of design you would like on your canvas. This could be anything like stripes, chevron, a name, a letter, checkered, a random design, etc…

Tape off your canvas with the design that you want. We did a letter for my son and I did stripes.

Paint the area of your canvas that is not taped off however you want. This is great for kids because they paint however they want anyway, but only this time they will have an awesome design left.

I was really feeling the rainbow.

Like I said, my daughter wanted to use the canvas as her backdrop.

My son went to town.

Once the paint is dry, peel off the tape carefully.

Hang up in their room for some personal room décor.

Here’s how ours turned out, including my daughter’s and her wonderful back drop. I love her creativity.

And that’s how you do or do not do canvas art for kids.

Other Ways to Paint Canvas Art for Kids

Here are some other creative ideas and ways for doing Canvas Art:

Canvas Sharpie Art– Use sharpies instead of paint to decorate your canvas.

Fun Design Canvas Art– I thought this was a cute abstract design that I’d like to try one day.

String Canvas Art– Use string to create a fun design on your canvas and then paint it.

Tissue Paper Canvas Art– Glue on tissue paper to the canvas for a fun and colorful design.

Canvas Dot Art– Use only dots to create an artwork with paint.

Finger paint Love Canvas– Kids can use their fingers to paint. This also makes a great Valentine’s Day gift.

Glue Canvas Art – Use glue to draw a picture and then paint it for a fun 3D look.

Saran Wrap Canvas Art- Wrap the canvas in saran wrap to create a good sensory activity and an abstract canvas piece.

Footprints in the Sand– Use footprints to create this beach-y canvas piece.

Pistol Painting– Use a water gun to make this water paint canvas.

Paint with Yarn– Create an abstract canvas with yarn. A perfect mess for kids.

Melted Crayons Canvas Art– You might have seen this before, but melt crayons onto a canvas piece to create an abstract effect.

Splatter Painting- Paint with splatters onto the canvas.

Paint Pour Canvas – This one might be too advanced for the younger kids, but it creates a cool marbled look.

Related: Q-Tip Painting for Kids and Toddlers

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