Alphabet Art Project For Kids Inspired By Jasper Johns
This simple art lesson is fun for all ages and can be done in 1 sitting. Kids will love designing colorful letters in this cool ABC art project!
We are huge fans of using an oil pastel resist technique with kids. Some of our favorites are using oil pastels on clay or in this concentric circle Art lesson.
Why You Will Love This Art Idea
Who is Jasper Johns?
We love looking at Jasper Johns’s simple number and letter paintings with younger children. They can easily relate to the art and are familiar with the subject matter. According to The National Gallery of Art, Jasper Johns was born in 1930 and “is widely celebrated as one of the most influential American artists of the postwar era.”
Here are a few links to some of his famous paintings you can show kids before starting this art lesson. We also have another word art idea inspired by Johns here.
- Alphabet – This was painted in 1959 and is the only letter painting that shows the whole alphabet in A-Z order.
- 0 Through 9 – Challenge children to find the numbers in this fun painting.
- Three Flags
Supplies you’ll need
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*We are using 9 x 12″ 80 lb. White Drawing Paper
Colorful Alphabet Painting Tutorial
Before You Begin
The teacher or parent must help divide the paper into 25 or 26 sections. We think the easiest way to do this is to make five rows with five columns. When children are designing, you can show them how YZ can fit in the same square.
Step 1: Sketch The Grid
You can measure or just eyball your lines to give spaces for the child to work in. Older children may be able to do this.
Step 2: Draw Your Alphabet
For younger children, design the letters with pencil first. Encourage students to fill each box by drawing each letter largely.
Step 3: Add Oil Pastels
Trace the letter art with oil pastels.
Step 4: Add Watercolor Paint and Let Dry
Use watercolor paint in each rectangle. Children can paint directly on top of the oil pastel.
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Tips
- If you are trying to teach different color vocabulary when adding oil pastels or watercolor paint, you can provide more specific instructions.
- Instead of sketching grid lines with a pencil, you could fold the paper to create the boxes.
More K-2 Art Lessons
- FUN PROCESS ART: Stamped Paper Flower Collage For Kids
- PRIMARY COLOR ART: Easy Mondrian Art Lesson
- MORE IDEAS: 13+ Creative Kindergarten Art Lessons
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Alphabet Art Project For Kids
Equipment
- Paintbrush
- Water container
Supplies
- White Paper Heavy Drawing Paper, Watercolor Paper or Tagboard will work
- Watercolor Paint
- Oil Pastels
Instructions
- Sketch 5 rows and 5 columns with a pencil.
- Draw each letter of the alphabet inside of the boxes. One box will have to have 2 letters in it.
- Design the letters with oil pastel.
- Add watercolor paint. You can brush right over where you put oil pastels.
Notes
- You can do this technique with any colors or subject matter. Have fun and experiment with this process!
- You can lightly sketch the letters with a pencil or draw with a permanent marker before using oil pastels.
- If you want your art to be exact, you could use a ruler to help make your grid. Eyeballing the lines worked well for us.