Art Lab for Kids is a refreshing source of wonderful ideas for creating fine art with children, offering 52 fun and creative step-by-step art projects set into weekly lessons. 

The book begins with drawing, then moves through painting and printmaking, and then builds to paper collage and mixed media. Each lesson features and relates to the work and style of a contemporary artist and their unique style. The labs can be used as singular projects or to build up to a year of hands-on fine art experiences. Grouped by medium, the labs are set up loosely to build skills upon the previous ones; however, you can begin anywhere.

Have fun exploring:



drawing by creating a whimsical scene on a handmade crayon scratchboard.
painting by using watercolors and salt to create a textured landscape.
printmaking by using lemons, celery, mushrooms, and other produce to make colorful prints.
paper by creating an expressive self-portrait using pieces of colored tissue paper.
mixed media by making insects from patterned contact paper and watercolor pencils.


Color photos illustrate how different people using the same lesson will yield different results, exemplifying the way the lesson brings out each artist’s personal style. Art Lab for Kids is the perfect book for creative families, friends, and community groups and works as lesson plans for both experienced and new art teachers.

The popular Lab for Kids series features a growing list of books that share hands-on activities and projects on a wide host of topics, including art, astronomy, clay, geology, math, and even how to create your own circus—all authored by established experts in their fields. Each lab contains a complete materials list, clear step-by-step photographs of the process, as well as finished samples. The labs can be used as singular projects or as part of a yearlong curriculum of experiential learning. The activities are open-ended, designed to be explored over and over, often with different results. Geared toward being taught or guided by adults, they are enriching for a range of ages and skill levels. Gain firsthand knowledge on your favorite topic with Lab for Kids.

Photographer(s): Rainer Schwake