Enamel Painting and Drawing Activities for Kids and Teens

Painting and drawing aren't just things you have to do in art class; they're great activities for helping you to flex your creativity and vent your thoughts and feelings. When you dip your brush into a pool of glossy enamel paint or pull out a set of colored pencils, you can transform a blank canvas or sheet of paper into a vibrant collage of colors and shapes, a subdued expression of your innermost thoughts and feelings, or a true-to-life image that captures a memory. Whether you're drawing a sketch of your friends or painting a landscape, you can create something that gives you a sense of accomplishment when you make art, even if you're not the best artist in your class.

DIY Painted Glasses

This project uses an adult coloring page as the pattern for a work of glass art. You'll need a glass, some paint markers, and some enamel paint to do this project, and when you're done, the glass will be pretty enough to give someone as a gift.

Abstract Heart

You don't even need a paintbrush for this project: You just need a palette knife to smear the paint across the wooden heart.

How to Do Acrylic Pouring

Pouring paint onto a canvas or object has become a really popular technique to make pretty marbled effects. Learn how to mix your own pourable paints and create a piece of "dirty pour" canvas art here.

DIY Phone Cases

If you have your own phone, you can paint a case for it to give it a unique look.

How to Paint Shoes

You can paint just about anything, including a pair of shoes. Try this project to design your own sneakers that really stand out!

How to Do Splatter Painting

Splatter painting is another fun technique that lets you create interesting works of art without picking up a paintbrush.

Sunflower Painting

Make a piece of art that's bright and cheerful using these instructions.

Hand-Painted Stanley Cup

You might want to practice on a cheap tumbler before you try this project, just to make sure you like the results. But when you're done, you'll have a cup that's one of a kind!

DIY Rainbow Scratch Art

Did you know that you can make your own scratch-card art without having to buy the cards premade? You just need some oil pastels, black paint, and sturdy paper. Then, you can scratch out your own drawings, or you can give the paper to a younger kid and let them have fun.

How to Draw Optical Illusion Art

When you're finished with this project, you'll have a drawing that looks like it's moving.

Abstract Painting Project

This painting idea mixes a soft, blended background with sharp, bright lines and a poured mixture of colors to create a unique amalgamation of effects.

Candy Pop Art

If you're short on inspiration, try out making pop art from part of the design on a candy wrapper. Even if your painting doesn't turn out well, you'll still get to eat the candy!

Swirl Painting With Enamel Paints

This method is used for painting custom guitars and other objects, and you can try it at home with a blank canvas or paper.

Hand-Painted Ring Dishes

Sculpt and paint these little dishes to make great gifts for friends and family.

Dark Forest Mug

It only takes a few hours to make this pretty mug for yourself or as a gift, including the time it takes to bake on the paint at the end.

Paint Scrape Cards

Next time you need a birthday card for a friend, you don't need to buy one at the store: You can make your own instead.

How to Create Easy Painted Luggage

You'll never have to worry about being able to spot your suitcase at baggage claim when you turn it into a work of art.

Gaudi Mosaics

Creating these drawings inspired by the mosaic art of Antoni Gaudi is a lot easier than it looks and can be meditative, requiring you to draw and fill in lots of small shapes.

Art Prompt Generator

If you're thinking of drawing or painting but don't know what to make, just click "Generate New Prompt" and this page will give you an idea to run with.

Heart Tessellations

Combine math with drawing by making a work of art using tessellated hearts.

DIY Neon Geometric Umbrella

Add some bright colors to a dreary day by customizing your umbrella with this design.

How to Draw a Face

Drawing human faces can be tricky, but with practice, you'll soon be able to draw yourself or your friends.

Rock Painting 101

Painted rocks are fairly easy to make, and the results can make neat surprises to hide around the neighborhood to brighten someone's day.

Inspirational Splatter Art Painting

This project is fun to make and creates a work of art that is great to hang on your bedroom wall or give as a gift.

How to Draw Hands

Hands can be so hard to draw well that even professionals sometimes don't bother: Why do you think so many cartoon characters have only three or four pudgy fingers? But that doesn't mean that you can't do it. Drawing hands just takes patience and a willingness to put in the time and effort to learn.

Exquisite Corpse: The Surrealist Drawing Game

If you have a few friends around, try this game, which can produce some pretty weird, silly results!

The Art Assignment: Imprint

For this project, choose any object that it's OK to get paint on, then use it as a stamp to create a work of art. When you're done, browse the rest of this site to find lots of other interesting art project ideas.

Circling Back to Your Feelings

The works of Hiroyuki Doi can be an interesting starting point for your own works of meditative art. If you can draw a circle, you know everything you need to know to get started.