Summer is the time to let your inner artist out. Painting projects can be the perfect outlet, and you can do it alone or invite some company. Either way, it’s sure to be a fun afternoon! Here are some easy summer painting ideas that you can do with your kids or with friends!

”Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.” - Pablo Picasso

Squirt Gun Painting

Squirting the art onto a canvas
Make art, not war. Source: Fireflies and Mudpies

One great way to have fun with the kids this summer is to fill squirt guns with watercolors and set up those target practice canvases. Not only is this super entertaining for children, but you also end up with some easy summer paintings that could decorate your home interior! Either way, it’s a great activity for the little ones regardless of weather they’re the creative type or not. Here are some other things you could potentially target with paint filled squirt guns:

  • White potters
  • Construction paper
  • Actual targets
  • Printouts of their favorite bad guys
  • 3D printed designs
  • White flowers
  • Paper mache constructions
  • Paper plates
  • Paper tissue

Just make sure you do this activity on the backyard to avoid drips on the carpet!

Rolling Rock Painting

Just rolls some paint-covered rocks to get a truly unique design
Great activities for kids and creativity! Source: Tinkerlab

Another fun way to teach kids to paint is with the “rolling rock” technique. Essentially, painting small rocks and putting them in a tray and allowing them to roll over themselves to create new and unique designs. These are one of the easy summer painting ideas designed especially for outdoors. Also, cleanup is easy, because you can simply put the painted rocks back in the dirt, adding a splash of color to your backyard landscape. You only need the following materials.

  • Masking tape
  • Tray
  • Thick paint
  • Small rocks or marbles
  • Bowl for painting

Melted Ice Paint Experiment

Melting ice makes truly unique blends of paint and patterns
Look at those colors swirling around. Source: Artful Parent

Why not include a little science in your summer painting project? The melted ice experiment blends painting with science, and teaches your kids how salt and ice react. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Bowls or dishes to make ice
  • Salt
  • Water color paint

To start, simply put the ice bowls face down outside or in a place you don’t mind getting wet(like a baking tray). Then, add salt to the ice. When it starts to melt, add the colors and watch the fun begin. These kinds of summer painting projects don’t last long, but they’re super fun while they last!

Mirror Image Painting

A real life "butterfly effect" with art
Great for making colorful butterflies. Source: Mum's Blogger

Also known as a Rorschach inkblot, simply painting part or half of a piece of paper and then folding it in half to get a symmetrical design is a fun way to get creative. Much like snowflakes, no two are ever exactly alike. Plus, using warm, bright colors you can recreate the paintings of summer seasons that you’ve grown to know and love.

Splatter Painting

Tell your kids that they can get creative
Art can always be fun for chilrden! Source: Mess for less

Certainly one of the most easy summer canvas paintings you can do! Just set up a canvas, preferably on the ground or in a kiddie pool, and let your kids flick paint at it until it’s a masterpiece. This is a popular form of contemporary art that anyone can do, plus it’s just fun for the children. So let them loose and allow them to express their creative side this summer! Also, it’s a therapeutic exercise for adults as well.


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