Painting 1
Welcome to our exciting K–6 Painting Unit, where students explore creativity, colour, and techniques through hands-on projects! Kids can learn about inspiring artists and create unique artworks they can be proud of. From abstract to botanical, donuts to rainforest this unit builds confidence, expressive skills, and technical knowledge, while keeping the joy of painting at the centre of every lesson.
Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2
We have an experimental abstract painting project that the kids will love! It could be painted with any primary or elementary year level. The project incorporates 9 different abstract painting techniques using acrylic paint that kids can experiment with and add to their artwork. We use techniques such as masking, sgraffito, stippling, wet on wet, dry brushing and more. There is an illustrated poster showing the 9 techniques used to download and display in the classroom. Kids can choose their colour palette, learn about colour mixing and try out techniques to use in their painting resulting in a different artwork for every artist.
Anna Blatmann is a contemporary Australian Artist and we create a gorgeous flower painting inspired by her work. Think about the composition and draw a basic outline of flowers. Have fun mixing colours to paint them in colours of your choice. Explore the colour green and make the stems vibrant and colourful with a range of greens. Kids will learn about colour mixing and composition in this fun lesson plan. Find out more about Anna Blatmann and her work in the artist information sheet provided. Each project is 3 hours to complete.
Grade 3 and Grade 4
Try an abstract botanical painting! This project could be done with years 3 to 6. We begin by layering a range of washes using a masking technique to create interest. Find leaves in the washes and emphasis them with drawing details using coloured marker and water. Create a focal point in the work with a permanent marker to add interest, variation and contrast. This painting project could be adapted to work with any theme. Kids could choose foods, footballs, fish or flowers instead of leaves as their subject matter.
Your students will have fun with the donut painting in this engaging art lesson. Use circle templates to create the donut shape and mix a donut paint colour to paint them in. Kids can have fun choosing their favourite flavour of icing and decorations to complete each of their donuts. Make them all different or all the same. This is a fun project that art club kids, school holiday programs and school art classes will enjoy. Each project is 2 hours to complete.
Grade 5 and Grade 6
Explore the art of contemporary Sri Lankan artist, Senake Senanayake. Create a stunning Jungle Bird painting inspired by his work. Draw and paint foliage and a toucan in the rainforest theme. Use pattern, colour and contrast in this artwork by adding flowers and tropical leaves to the composition. Have fun mixing colours with a wide variety of greens and stunning warm flower colours including yellows, oranges and reds. Add find details with paint pens to complete or use a small brush if desired.
This macro artwork of onion slices has so many subtle changes of colour. Kids will learn about tints as they mix purple with white to create colourful gradients. There is the added interest created with transparency and some techniques explained and illustrated to create this level of detail. The macro onion rings painting is a fun and challenging project for upper primary or elementary students to paint. Each project is 4 hours to complete.
Related Art Lessons
Sculpture is a fun way for kids to improve concentration and attention to detail through tactile, hands-on making. Explore a variety of materials and techniques, from simple paper sculptures to more detailed 3D and relief sculptures.
Students can experiment, create and problem-solve while bringing their ideas to life in 3D. Art concepts like shape, form, texture and balance are discovered through playful exploration. This is a lively and engaging unit, with multi week projects that inspire imagination, experimentation and unique artistic expression.
We love creating collage projects with our students! Collage allows for exploration and experimentation with texture and colour to create collage materials, then kids interpret the project ideas in their own way, resulting in a wonderful variety of unique artworks.
We explore the work of Australian artists Pete Cromer, Anna Blatmann and Laura Blythman, looking at their techniques and creative approaches. 5-6 students create an artwork inspired by illustration techniques, and there are two adaptive tissue paper heart projects for K–2.
Have fun with drawing in this colourful K–6 drawing unit. Explore a range of drawing projects using coloured pencil, chalk pastel, oil pastel, paint sticks, scratch art and lead pencil. Create a range of inspiring artworks and learn about famous artists Paul Klee and Wassily Kandinsky and two contemporary Artists. Each project allows children to experience the thrill of drawing, packed with colour and pattern to fire up the imagination.
