RELATED POST: Fun outdoor activities for kids
Below we have put together a collection of some of our favourite (and easy) outdoor art ideas for kids. Most of them would work well with children of all ages from toddlers and preschoolers right up to much older school children.
The art ideas shared are more about the process than about a final project piece. They encourage children to have fun, experiment and express themselves in different ways. Whether you are looking for nature inspired projects or something a little more messy we have it all covered.
We often think about going outdoors with the kids in the Spring and Summer months as the weather gets warmer, but there is nothing to stop you getting out and doing some of these art activities in the Autumn or Winter months if you wrap up warm.
Kids love being outdoors and they really need to get outside whatever the weather if they can. Lots of these outdoor art ideas encourage them to be active and collect pieces of nature, get messy and work on a scale that would be more difficult inside.
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For full instructions and further images for each of the outdoor art projects shared just click on the headings or the images below.
Make your own nature paint brushes from sticks and pieces of nature. Kids will love going on a nature walk to collect their pieces of nature before using them to paint on a large scale. Experiment with different pieces of nature to see what painty marks you can create. Read more...
As well as making paint brushes from nature you can also make your own paint! Use ingredients like carrots, strawberries and spinach you can mix up your own nature paints. Use our printable to test them out! Read more...
Kids love water pistols so what could be better than filling them with paint and squirting them at a large piece of paper or canvas. The artwork created using this art idea looks amazing too, totally unique. Experiment with different sized canvases and colours. Read more...
Use a collection of nature alongside some face part stones to create some funny faces. The kids will find it hilarious! We even have a free printable that you can use to create the face part stones used in this activity. Read more...
Pour painting is so messy, but so much fun (and definitely an activity for outside)! You can create some really cool artwork using this art process and even make unique gifts. Squeezing the paint is great for working those hand muscles as well! Read more...
Make a beautiful suncatcher from flowers or leaves. These suncatchers are so easy to make and look beautiful hanging in the window. The best thing is that you can't go wrong, however you arrange the pieces of nature it will look great! Why not use flower petals to make patterns like in this flower petal suncatcher!
Get the kids collecting nature and then use it to create a face. Kids can be as creative as they like as they push pieces of nature into a slab of clay to create a face. You could stick the clay to a tree as shown in the picture or work on the ground. Read more...
Have you heard of British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy? He is know for creating sculptures using existing materials of nature such as rocks, leaves, mud etc. He then documents his artwork through photography. See if you can become an environmental artist like Andy Goldsworthy and make your own art project from nature. Read more...
Rolls of paper are so much fun to use to paint on as the artwork can be as long as you like! Whether you are painting using cars, your feet or paint brushes you can get as messy as you like outdoors without having to worry about the furniture! (get the paper rolls here) Read more...
Painting a cardboard house is a great collaborative project. Young children will love the experience of painting on a large scale and it's even better if you can play in it after! (Here are a few cardboard playhouses to take a look at) Read more...
If you don't want the mess usually associated with painting why not try painting with water. This easy to set up activity allows children to be as creative as they like without the mess! Read more...
Whether you collect some Autumn leaves from the ground or pick some fresh Spring leaves from a tree painting on them can be a fun expereince. Why not turn your painted leaves into monsters or creatures. You can use brushes to paint the leaves but using your fingers is far more fun! Read more...
What could be more fun than rolling bouncy balls covered in paint down a slide! This outdoor painting activity can get really messy but that just adds to the fun. Read more...
Winter doesn't mean outdoor art has to stop! If you have snow then painting on it is lots of fun. What could be better for a child than a huge white canvas of snow to paint on! You could also do it in smaller containers to make individual pieces of art. Read more...
So which of these easy outdoor art ideas for kids do you think you will try first? If you can think of any other fun outdoor art projects to do with toddlers, preschoolers or school-aged children let us know. We are always looking for new ideas to try!
If your child loves being outside they might enjoy some of our other outdoor activities. Why not go on a bug scavenger hunt, make a bubble snake or some DIY water bombs!
If you are looking for even more inspiration for outdoor art and craft ideas take a look at our list of 20 summer nature art ideas for kids.
More outdoor activites!
Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram orYoutube!
The art ideas shared are more about the process than about a final project piece. They encourage children to have fun, experiment and express themselves in different ways. Whether you are looking for nature inspired projects or something a little more messy we have it all covered.
We often think about going outdoors with the kids in the Spring and Summer months as the weather gets warmer, but there is nothing to stop you getting out and doing some of these art activities in the Autumn or Winter months if you wrap up warm.
Kids love being outdoors and they really need to get outside whatever the weather if they can. Lots of these outdoor art ideas encourage them to be active and collect pieces of nature, get messy and work on a scale that would be more difficult inside.
We are a participant in the Amazon Service LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliates sites.
Easy Outdoor Art Ideas
Nature Paint Brushes
Make your own nature paint brushes from sticks and pieces of nature. Kids will love going on a nature walk to collect their pieces of nature before using them to paint on a large scale. Experiment with different pieces of nature to see what painty marks you can create. Read more...
Nature Paint
As well as making paint brushes from nature you can also make your own paint! Use ingredients like carrots, strawberries and spinach you can mix up your own nature paints. Use our printable to test them out! Read more...
Water Pistol Painting
Kids love water pistols so what could be better than filling them with paint and squirting them at a large piece of paper or canvas. The artwork created using this art idea looks amazing too, totally unique. Experiment with different sized canvases and colours. Read more...
Funny Faces
Use a collection of nature alongside some face part stones to create some funny faces. The kids will find it hilarious! We even have a free printable that you can use to create the face part stones used in this activity. Read more...
Pour Painting
Pour painting is so messy, but so much fun (and definitely an activity for outside)! You can create some really cool artwork using this art process and even make unique gifts. Squeezing the paint is great for working those hand muscles as well! Read more...
Real flower Suncatcher
Make a beautiful suncatcher from flowers or leaves. These suncatchers are so easy to make and look beautiful hanging in the window. The best thing is that you can't go wrong, however you arrange the pieces of nature it will look great! Why not use flower petals to make patterns like in this flower petal suncatcher!
Clay Nature Faces
Get the kids collecting nature and then use it to create a face. Kids can be as creative as they like as they push pieces of nature into a slab of clay to create a face. You could stick the clay to a tree as shown in the picture or work on the ground. Read more...
Andy Goldsworthy Art
Have you heard of British sculptor Andy Goldsworthy? He is know for creating sculptures using existing materials of nature such as rocks, leaves, mud etc. He then documents his artwork through photography. See if you can become an environmental artist like Andy Goldsworthy and make your own art project from nature. Read more...
Large Scale Messy Art
Rolls of paper are so much fun to use to paint on as the artwork can be as long as you like! Whether you are painting using cars, your feet or paint brushes you can get as messy as you like outdoors without having to worry about the furniture! (get the paper rolls here) Read more...
Painted Cardboard Playhouse
Painting a cardboard house is a great collaborative project. Young children will love the experience of painting on a large scale and it's even better if you can play in it after! (Here are a few cardboard playhouses to take a look at) Read more...
Painting with Water
If you don't want the mess usually associated with painting why not try painting with water. This easy to set up activity allows children to be as creative as they like without the mess! Read more...
Painting Leaves
Whether you collect some Autumn leaves from the ground or pick some fresh Spring leaves from a tree painting on them can be a fun expereince. Why not turn your painted leaves into monsters or creatures. You can use brushes to paint the leaves but using your fingers is far more fun! Read more...
Paint Rolling
What could be more fun than rolling bouncy balls covered in paint down a slide! This outdoor painting activity can get really messy but that just adds to the fun. Read more...
Painting on Snow
Winter doesn't mean outdoor art has to stop! If you have snow then painting on it is lots of fun. What could be better for a child than a huge white canvas of snow to paint on! You could also do it in smaller containers to make individual pieces of art. Read more...
You could also try painting on ice.
If your child loves being outside they might enjoy some of our other outdoor activities. Why not go on a bug scavenger hunt, make a bubble snake or some DIY water bombs!
If you are looking for even more inspiration for outdoor art and craft ideas take a look at our list of 20 summer nature art ideas for kids.
More outdoor activites!
Follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram orYoutube!
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