How to Host a Kids’ Painting Party
Image credit: Lora liu
The following sections feature several affiliate links or ads, meaning we’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through these links. Please see our privacy policy for more details.
A painting party can be a great way to celebrate a birthday on a budget while still giving kids a fun activity. Just a few simple materials are all you need to set up a painting party, along with a bit of creativity. Painting parties are also great for a planned playdate Here are some ideas you can use to throw a fabulous party centered around art.
Essential Painting Party Supplies
The supplies you choose will depend on how you want to plan the art activities. Traditional watercolor or acrylic paints and brushes are great for a more traditional painting party, but my kids prefer paint markers. Posca brand markers are pretty popular, but they can also be expensive. For our last painting party, we chose to go with different brands that were a little more affordable.
For reference, a 29-pack of Posca markers can cost around $60, while other brands like these dual-tip acrylic paint markers come in a 24-count pack for about a third of the price (though prices may vary depending on the store or current promotions).
After you’ve chosen between paints and paint markers, you’ll need blank canvases. You can get a bulk pack online at Amazon or at your local craft store. We typically use 8 x 10 canvases for parties, but you can go bigger or smaller, depending on the age of your party guests and the activities you have planned. Easels are nice, but they aren’t necessary if you’ll be using markers.
Don’t forget about covering your tables to protect against marks and stains. Simple plastic party tablecloths are great for this, and you can find the perfect colors to match your party theme too. Additional supplies to consider might include:
Pencils for sketching
Stencils
Scratch paper for practicing before painting
Cups and paper towels for cleaning brushes between colors
Plastic disposable palettes if you’ll be using paints
If you don’t want to purchase all the supplies separately, you can also opt for a painting party pack that gives you all the tools you need.
Image source: Shutterstock/David Tadevosian
Painting Party Activities & Games
Now that you have all the supplies you need for the painting, you can plan just how you want to direct the activities. You can use any of the following ideas as inspiration or you can combine a few elements to come up with your own unique painting party activities.
Painting Party Canvas Swap
The canvas swap is an interactive painting activity that challenges kids to flex their creative muscles. Each child begins by writing their name on a corner of the canvas.
Give everyone a set amount of time (2 minutes is a good start) to begin their artwork.
At the end of the first 2 minutes, the kids pass their canvases to the person sitting on their right (or left, that’s up to you).
The time then begins again, with the kids continuing the artwork their neighbor started.
The activity continues until the canvases reach the beginning point.
Kids can put the final touches on the canvases with their names on them to complete the artwork.
Paint Between the Lines Party Game
For younger kids who may have difficulty drawing or painting without a guide, giving them a “paint between the lines” project can be a good alternative. You can use stencils to sketch drawings onto each canvas for kids to paint. They simply need to do as the name of the activity suggests by painting between the lines.
Keep the designs simple, such as using large stencils to create flowers or teddy bears, for them to paint. Leave smaller stencils out on the table so they can add extra designs to their artwork and make each piece their own. If you don’t have the time to do the designs yourself, simply pass out the stencils so kids can create the designs they wish to paint.
Reference Paintings
Older kids (and even adults) can have fun at a painting party by using a reference painting. Select a piece of art that’s simple enough for everyone to follow, such as a still life of fruit or flowers, and have it printed online or at a local print shop. It should be large enough for everyone to see clearly as they work, so think poster size. You can even purchase a poster you like to save a bit of time and extra money.
Be sure to have all the right colors of paints or paint markers available so your guests can do their very best at recreating the artwork on their own. If you feel like everyone might need some extra help with how to paint, consider using one of the many painting Youtube tutorials to serve as a guide. You can cast the videos onto your television so everyone can watch at the same time.
Freeform Art
Of course, a painting party activity doesn’t have to be strictly structured. You can simply make the art supplies available and encourage your party guests to use their imaginations and have fun.
The key to this type of activity is to have plenty of supplies available, including a wide assortment of paint or marker colors, rulers, stencils, and any other materials that will help your guests create stunning works of art. Older kids may enjoy this more, as they may like an unstructured activity more.
Painting Party Favors
The great thing about hosting a painting party is that the finished artwork is the favor they get to take home. However, you can still offer up other on-theme goodies for your guests. Painting smocks they can wear throughout the party are a great option. You can also find goodies like these palette-themed party cups to give out as cute gifts. The bottom line is that you can do as much or as little as you like, depending on the budget you have for the event.
Snacks for Painting Parties
We tend to throw these types of parties in the mid-afternoon. This means we don’t have to transition the main dining room table from painting to eating, as a meal isn’t typically expected between lunch and dinner. Instead, we set out typical party snacks and offer cupcakes as a birthday treat for everyone.
If you want to do a little extra for the event, you can order painting-themed cupcakes featuring paints and brushes from your local bakery. Another option is to have plain frosted cupcakes or cookies and an array of different colored frostings. This lets kids keep their creativity flowing by decorating their own snacks too!
There’s not a whole lot of planning involved in throwing a kids’ painting party. We’ve done them as birthday parties for our kids, but you can also use this idea for a large playdate or even an end-of-the-school-year celebration. Just a few art supplies and some snacks are really all you need to give kids a fun event and encourage them to show off their artistic talents.
