In our newest art for kids activity we’ll be making ocean scenes using chalk and tempera paint! This easy art project for kids is perfect for summer and can be adapted for a wide variety of ages!

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I’m so excited to be teaming up again with some super creative bloggers in the Easy Art Projects for Kids Series! This week we’re focusing on art ideas using chalk. Be sure to check out all the creative chalk art projects for kids shared by the other participating blogs. I’ve included their links at the end of this post! (This post contains affiliate links.)

Ocean Scene Art Project for Kids Using Chalk and Tempera Paint

Materials for Ocean Art for Kids

• Thick white paper (We used mixed media art paper like this.)
• Colored chalk or chalk pastels
• White tempera paint
• Black construction paper
• Liquid glue
• Scissors

Directions for Ocean Art Project for Kids

1. Start by coloring your sunset and ocean onto your paper with chalk or chalk pastels. We used red, pink, orange, and yellow for our sunset and various shades of blue for the water.

2. Dip your finger in white tempera paint and rub it over the chalk. The chalk mixes into the paint giving it color!

3. Switch fingers when going from the sunset to the water.

4. Once your ocean scene has dried, cut out some silhouettes from black construction paper to add to your picture. Older children may want to sketch their silhouettes on black paper and then cut them out. For younger children it’s easier to build the silhouettes using shapes. For instance, a fish is made of an oval and triangle. A boat uses a half circle, long rectangle and some triangles.

5. Glue the black cut paper onto your picture.

6. Let it dry, and then display it!

Tips

To simplify the project, make only ocean scenes using shades of blue. Cut out sea creatures and seaweed to glue on your picture.

Both chalk and chalk pastels will work for this project, but give slightly different looks. Regular colored chalk will turn out lighter than the chalk pastels. Here’s a sunset and ocean scene made with colored chalk on the left and one made with chalk pastels on the right.

You can also try a similar technique using chalk and white tempera paint. Dip a piece of chalk into the white tempera paint and use it to draw. Kids love using this technique to make all kinds of pictures!