Creative Watercolour Starfish Painting for Kids
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Looking for a creative activity to enjoy with your kids or grandkids this summer? Painting watercolour starfish in a loose, colourful style is a perfect project! It’s easy and fun. Plus, it’s a great way to explore the vibrant beauty of sea life. This relaxed approach means there’s no need to worry about perfection—just let your imagination flow and enjoy the time spent together.
What You’ll Need
Watercolour paper (300gsm/140lb, cold-pressed is ideal for kids)
Watercolour paints (a mix of bright, bold colours)
Round watercolour brushes (sizes 4 and 6 are perfect for little hands)
Pencil and eraser for sketching
Palette (a white ceramic plate works well)
Two jars of water (one for rinsing, one for clean water)
Paper towels for dabbing brushes
Plus the magic ingredient - regular table salt
Step 1: Draw the Starfish
Start by drawing a simple starfish shape on your watercolour paper.
Draw the letter Y: Lightly sketch a small letter Y. This is the centre of your starfish, which will help you place the starfish's legs.
Add two extra lines to the Y to form a star shape.
Sketch each arm of the starfish using the middle star as a guide. Each arm can be a bit wavy and uneven. Remember, real starfish come in all shapes and sizes, so there’s no need to make it perfect!
Tip
Encourage the kids to draw freely and have fun with it. If they want to add extra arms or make a funny-looking starfish, let them—creativity is the key!
Step 2: Choose Your Colours
Starfish come in a wide range of colours, from bright oranges and pinks to deep purples and blues. Let your kids choose the colours they love most. Remember, colours that are adjacent on the colour wheel will work best. Think blue, pink, and purple or green, yellow, and blue.
Step 3: Activate Your Starfish Colours
Mix the Paints: Don’t start painting yet. On your palette, mix a few colours with water to activate them. Encourage the children to mix their own colours. For example, red and blue make purple, while yellow and red create orange.
Test the Colours: It’s helpful for your kids to test the colours on a scrap piece of paper before painting. This helps them see how the colours look on paper and boosts their confidence.
Remember, colours adjacent on the colour wheel will work best.
Step 4: Paint the Starfish Using the Wet-in-Wet Technique
Now for the fun part—painting! Here’s how to create a beautiful, loose watercolour starfish.
Wet-on-Wet Technique: Lightly wet the starfish shape with clean water using a round brush. Then, drop in your chosen colours. Watch how the colours blend and spread across the starfish, creating soft and unexpected patterns.
Tip
If the paint starts to puddle too much, show the kids how to gently dab the excess water with a clean thirsty brush or paper towel.
Add Salt: While the paint is still wet and all the colours are applied, sprinkle on the salt and watch the magic unfold. The results are beautiful! Darker colours tend to work best with salt. Just remember not to overdo it.
Step 5: Let It Dry
Once your starfish is painted, set it aside to dry. Watercolour paintings often look a bit different once they’re dry. It’s fun to see how the colours change and blend together. You can use a hairdryer on a low setting to speed things up. However, be careful. If there is a lot of wet paint, the hairdryer may blow it off the page!
Step 6: Add Loose Details
Finally, with a smaller brush, add some loose, playful details like dots or splashes. I like to add white splashes. Don’t worry about being precise—the goal is to capture the fun and fluidity of watercolour.
Extra Fun Ideas
Why not turn this into a full day of ocean-themed creativity? You can paint different sea creatures, like fish or seahorses, and create an underwater scene to hang on the wall.
Final Thoughts
Painting watercolour starfish with kids is a fantastic way to encourage creativity and spend quality time together. The loose, colourful style makes it accessible for all ages and skill levels. The end result is always a delightful surprise. So grab your brushes, dive into the world of watercolours, and enjoy this wonderful summer activity!
If you try this at home, I’d love to see your creations—feel free to share your starfish masterpieces with me on social media! @kerryslackart
If you enjoyed this activity, why not join me at the next Children/Family art class on Wednesday 28th September 2024?
Happy painting! 🌊🎨
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