Art For Kids: Get Creative With A Little Spirit

By: The ellaslist Team, 07 May 2021

A Little Spirit create amazing art kits for kids of all ages, giving them all the tools they need to be little artists!

Perfect for rainy days, A Little Spirit art activities for kids at home encourage children from preschoolers through to senior art students to creatively express themselves. Sally, the brains behind these inspiring kits, has put together a fun art for kids tutorial, especially for ellaslist readers.

Inspired by her dog Billy, this collage can be completed over 3 separate art sessions and uses many materials that you will be able to find at home. If you have a dog, you can even alter the colours to resemble your own family's fur baby! 

Kids Art Activity: Make Your Own Dog Collage

Session 1

Turn on some music and get ready for some arty fun! It all starts with the freedom of just laying colour down on paper. Let's start! 

What you will need:

  • Old newspapers. If you don't have a newspaper, any scrap paper will do (it’s best if it has been printed or drawn on previously)
  • Watercolour and oil pastels

Step by step instructions:

  1. Choose a colour palette of 3-6 colours plus black and white in whatever art medium you choose
  2. Make your mark on (minimum) 5-6 sheets of newspaper using watercolour.
    Expert Tips: Sally likes to make watercolour 'scribbles'. The newspaper will tear easily if it gets too wet, so remember to move onto a new sheet once the paper is coloured.
  3. Set your masterpieces aside to dry.
A Little Spirit - Art For Kids
Let your imagination run wild in this puppy-inspired art project for kids


The next part of the art-making process will form the base of your animal by layering strips of newspaper to introduce pattern and texture.

What you will need:

  • 1 piece of A3 or A2 paper (you can sticky tape or glue 2-4 pieces of paper together to construct the size you would like).  Again, scrap paper is fine since it will be completely covered.
  • Paste glue and brush
  • Painted newspaper from the previous session
  • Oil pastels or pencils
  • Scissors

Step by step instructions:

  1. Add oil pastel (or pencil) marks to your painted newspaper. Be free and relaxed with your movement… almost like the mark is making itself!
  2. Tear the newspaper into strips approximately 2-4 cms wide.
  3. Paste the strips down - most should point towards the centre of the page, with a few in random directions.
  4. Set aside to dry flat.
Art For Kids: Get Creative With A Little Spirit
Use your colourful strips of newspaper to emulate dog fur!

Session 3

Your dog is ready to come to life! Now is the time to add details like eyes and a nose to the 'fur' base you have already made.

What you will need:

  • A fresh sheet of good quality paper
  • Oil pastels
  • Scissors
  • Graphite pencil
  • Glue

Step by step instructions:

1. Cut the loose strips of paper from your sheet

A Little Spirit Art For Kids: Get Creative With A Little Spirit
Trim the edges of your paper to neaten up your collage


2. On a clean sheet of paper, draw the shape of the dog’s nose and eyes and then colour using oil pastel or acrylic paint.

3. Lightly draw the shape of the dog's snout on the paper with a graphite pencil or oil pastel. You can practice on the back of the page first!

4. Once you are happy with the shapes, colour them in.

A Little Spirit
Design your dog's unique features to add to your collage


5. While your eyes and nose are drying, you may like to add some extra texture to the base using oil pastel or pencil. You could add some eyebrows and fur using light strokes of oil pastel.

A Little Spirit
You can add more detail to your collage using oil pastels


6. Stick your doggy's eyes and nose to your collage. Now it's really coming together!

A Little Spirit
Put it all together to finalise your masterpiece


7. Find a special place to display your artwork and feel very proud of what you have created. Great work artists!

Need More Help? Watch This Dog Collage Tutorial Video

All of the art materials for this activity can be found in A Little Spirit’s Art kits. (You can even can get them for free if you have a NSW Creative Kids voucher!)

For a full-length video of this activity and more information, head to A Little Spirit.

More Arty Inspo

Where You Can Use Your Creative Kids Voucher
Sydney's Best Creative Writing And Craft Classes For Kids
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