Wedge of pink and white party cake topped with a red candleYellow, pink, white, red, orange. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale yellow all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink and white layers in a wedge shape, round brush. 4 White frosting along the top, round brush. 5 Red candle with an orange flame, small brush.
Giant cupcake with dotted sprinklesBlue, brown, pink, white, red. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale blue all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Brown wrapper and a pink swirl of frosting on top, round brush. 4 White and red sprinkle dots, cotton swab.
Orange fox napping in a ring on green grass, white tail tipGreen, orange, white, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Green ground all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Orange curled body and big tail, round brush. 4 White tail tip and chest, round brush. 5 Black nose, closed eye and ear tips, small brush.
Blossom tree in pink and white dabs on a green lawnBlue, green, brown, pink, white. No drawing needed. 1 Blue sky over green grass, wide brush. 2 Brown trunk and branches, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Pink and white blossom dabbed over the branches, sponge.
Cone piled with pink, white and green scoops by spongeBlue, brown, pink, white, green. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale blue all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Brown cone triangle with crisscross lines, round brush. 4 Pink, white and green scoops stacked on top, sponge.
Fluffy yellow chick dabbed on by sponge, blue all aroundBlue, yellow, orange, black. No drawing needed. 1 Blue sky all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Round yellow body and head dabbed on, sponge. 4 Orange beak and feet, one black eye, cotton swab.
Giant cupcake with dotted sprinklesBlue, brown, pink, white, red. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale blue all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Brown wrapper and a pink swirl of frosting on top, round brush. 4 White and red sprinkle dots, cotton swab.
Green caterpillar printed circle by circle on a brown twigBrown, green, yellow, black. No drawing needed. 1 Brown branch across the page, wide brush. 2 Row of green circles printed along it, sponge. 3 Let it dry. 4 Yellow stripes, a black face and two feelers, cotton swab.
Jellyfish with wiggly painted tentaclesBlue, pink, purple, white. No drawing needed. 1 Blue water all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink dome near the top, sponge. 4 Wiggly purple and white tentacles, round brush.
Pink and white spiral lollipop on a brown stick, on yellowYellow, pink, white, brown. No drawing needed. 1 Yellow all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink circle with a white spiral over it, round brush. 4 Brown stick and a white shine dot, round brush.
Purple octopus stretching all eight arms to the page cornersBlue, purple, pink, white, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue water all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Purple round head in the middle, round brush. 4 Eight curling arms out to the edges, round brush. 5 Pink sucker dots, white eyes, black pupils, cotton swab.
Rainbow arching over one green hillRed, yellow, blue, green, white. No drawing needed. 1 Red, yellow and blue arcs, one inside the next, wide brush. 2 Green hill under the arcs, wide brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 White cloud at each end of the rainbow, sponge.
Rocket lifting off past a yellow moonBlue, yellow, white, red, orange. A few simple shapes. 1 Dark blue sky, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Yellow moon and a white rocket body, round brush. 4 Red fins and window, orange flame, round brush.
School of sponge-print fish swimming one wayBlue, orange, yellow, black, white. No drawing needed. 1 Blue water all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Orange and yellow ovals printed in a group, sponge. 4 Triangle tails, black eyes and white bubbles, cotton swab.
Snowman in a scarf under swab-dot snowBlue, white, red, orange, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue sky over a white ground, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Three white circles stacked, sponge. 4 Red scarf, orange nose, black eyes and buttons, round brush. 5 White snow dots, cotton swab.
Soccer ball sailing into a crisscross net on green grassBlue, green, white, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue sky over green grass, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 White goalposts and a crisscross net, round brush. 4 White ball with black patches, round brush.
Sponged yellow planet floating in purple-blue spacePurple, blue, yellow, white. No drawing needed. 1 Purple and blue sky brushed together, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 One big yellow planet, sponge. 4 White star dots all around, cotton swab.
Spotted ladybug mid-stroll on one enormous green leafGreen, red, black, white. No drawing needed. 1 Green leaf filling the page, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Red oval body in the middle, round brush. 4 Black head, center line and spots, two white eyes, cotton swab.
Yellow champion cup on blue with white star dots around itBlue, yellow, white. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Yellow cup, two handles and a base, round brush. 4 White star dots and one shine line, cotton swab.
Ages 8 to 10 16
Basketball dropping through a hoopBlue, white, red, orange, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue sky, wide brush. 2 White backboard with a red square, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Red rim and a white net of crossed lines, small brush. 5 Orange ball with black seams, round brush.
Blue peacock showing off green tail strokes tipped with dotsBlue, green, yellow. A few simple shapes. 1 Green feather strokes fanned out from one point, wide brush. 2 Blue body and neck in front of the fan, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Blue and yellow dots at each feather tip, cotton swab.
Brown owl with yellow eyes, the white moon right behind itBlue, white, brown, yellow, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Dark blue sky, wide brush. 2 White moon circle, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Brown owl shape and branch, round brush. 5 Yellow eyes and beak, white chest feathers, black pupils, small brush.
Green alien saying hello from under a gray saucer domePurple, gray, green, yellow. A few simple shapes. 1 Purple sky, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Gray saucer with a dome on top, round brush. 4 Green alien head and one waving hand, round brush. 5 Yellow lights along the saucer, cotton swab.
Green mermaid tail flipping up with a white splash belowBlue, green, purple, white. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale blue sky over darker blue water, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Green tail curving up out of the water, round brush. 4 Purple scale arcs and fin lines, small brush. 5 White splash strokes at the base, round brush.
Green turtle paddling above a yellow strip of sandBlue, yellow, green, brown, white. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue water with a yellow strip of sand, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Green oval shell, head and four flippers, round brush. 4 Brown shell plates, small brush. 5 White bubbles rising, cotton swab.
Orange fox napping in a ring on green grass, white tail tipGreen, orange, white, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Green ground all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Orange curled body and big tail, round brush. 4 White tail tip and chest, round brush. 5 Black nose, closed eye and ear tips, small brush.
Pinwheel galaxy sponged in two colors on a black pageBlack, pink, blue, white. No drawing needed. 1 Black all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink and blue spiral dabbed from the center out, sponge. 4 White stars and a bright center, cotton swab.
Red and white parasol shading a towel on yellow sandYellow, blue, red, white. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue sea and sky over yellow sand, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Red and white umbrella on a pole, round brush. 4 Striped towel in its shade, small brush.
Red candy dispenser with a round window full of bright ballsRed, gray, white, yellow, blue. No drawing needed. 1 Red base and lid with a gray slot, round brush. 2 White globe circle between them, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Gumball dots in red, yellow and blue, cotton swab.
Red skateboard seen from overhead, each child's own patternGray, black, red, yellow, white. A few simple shapes. 1 Gray ground all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Long rounded deck in red, round brush. 4 Your own yellow and white pattern on the deck, small brush. 5 Four black wheels peeking out, cotton swab.
Ring donut on a blue plate, pink topping with a wavy edgeBlue, brown, pink, white, yellow. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue plate circle, wide brush. 2 Brown ring with a hole in the middle, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Pink icing with a wavy edge, round brush. 5 White and yellow sprinkle dots, cotton swab.
Running track with three lanes and a checkered flagGreen, red, white, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Green field all over, wide brush. 2 Red curved track, wide brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 White lane lines and a black and white checkered flag, small brush.
Wedge of pink and white party cake topped with a red candleYellow, pink, white, red, orange. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale yellow all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink and white layers in a wedge shape, round brush. 4 White frosting along the top, round brush. 5 Red candle with an orange flame, small brush.
White-suited astronaut on a spacewalk, a red stripe per armBlack, white, gray, red. A few simple shapes. 1 Black sky, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 White suit: round helmet, body, arms and legs, round brush. 4 Tether line looping off the page, small brush. 5 Gray visor and red stripes, small brush.
Windy fall tree, orange and red dabs drifting off sidewaysBlue, brown, orange, red, yellow. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale blue sky, wide brush. 2 Brown trunk and bare branches, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Orange, red and yellow leaf dabs on the tree, sponge. 5 Loose leaves trailing off to one side, cotton swab.
Ages 11 to 13 16
Bicycle racing downhill with speed linesGreen, blue, red, black, white. Needs a steady hand. 1 Blue sky over a sloping green hill, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Two black wheel circles on the slope, round brush. 4 Red frame, seat and handlebars, small brush. 5 White spokes and speed lines behind, small brush.
Brown cabin with a white roof between two snow-tipped pinesBlue, white, brown, yellow, green. A few simple shapes. 1 Dark blue sky over a white ground, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Brown cabin with a white roof, round brush. 4 Green pine at each side with white tips, round brush. 5 Yellow windows and falling snow dots, cotton swab.
Candy shop shelves: white jars in rows, red and yellow dotsPink, white, brown, red, yellow. Needs a steady hand. 1 Pink wall with a white window square, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Three brown shelf lines, round brush. 4 White jar shapes along each shelf, small brush. 5 Red and yellow candy dots in every jar, cotton swab.
Flamingo on one leg in shallow waterBlue, pink, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue water and sky, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink body, S-shaped neck and one long leg, round brush. 4 Reflection in broken pink strokes, round brush. 5 Black beak tip and eye, small brush.
Moon lander on four legs with a trail of prints behind itBlack, gray, white, blue. A few simple shapes. 1 Black sky above a gray ground, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Lander: a white box on four legs, round brush. 4 Trail of boot prints toward it, small brush. 5 Small blue Earth in the sky, round brush.
Orange pumpkins lined up on black ground, purple sky abovePurple, orange, green, black, yellow. A few simple shapes. 1 Purple sky, wide brush. 2 Orange moon circle, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Row of orange pumpkins on a black field, round brush. 5 Green stems and yellow rib lines, small brush.
Orange tiger staring out, stripes fanning from the noseOrange, white, black, pink. Needs a steady hand. 1 Orange head shape edge to edge, wide brush. 2 White muzzle, cheeks and brows, round brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Black stripes working out from the nose, small brush. 5 Pink nose, black eyes and whiskers, small brush.
Pool race from overhead: lane ropes and three yellow capsBlue, white, red, yellow. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue pool all over, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Red and white dashed lane ropes, round brush. 4 Three small swimmers, one in front, in yellow caps, small brush. 5 White splashes behind each swimmer, cotton swab.
Seahorse among ribbons of seaweedBlue, green, yellow, orange, black. Needs a steady hand. 1 Blue water all over, wide brush. 2 Green seaweed ribbons from the bottom edge, wide brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Yellow seahorse: head, curved body and curled tail, round brush. 5 Orange back fin and belly lines, black eye, small brush.
Space station built from boxes and panel wingsBlack, white, blue, gray, yellow. Needs a steady hand. 1 Black sky, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 White and gray boxes joined in a row, round brush. 4 Blue panel wings on both sides, round brush. 5 Grid lines on the panels, yellow window dots, small brush.
Striped surfboard planted upright on a yellow beachYellow, blue, white, red, orange. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue sea and sky over yellow sand, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Tall white board shape, round brush. 4 Red and orange stripes across the board, round brush. 5 White wave lines on the sea, small brush.
Tall pancake pile on a white plate, brown syrup drippingBlue, brown, yellow, white, red. A few simple shapes. 1 Blue all over with a white plate oval, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Five yellow ovals stacked, a brown edge on each, round brush. 4 Brown syrup pooling on top and dripping, round brush. 5 Red berries and a white shine, small brush.
Three yellow fish with white stripes over pink coralBlue, pink, orange, yellow, white. Needs a steady hand. 1 Blue water, lighter toward the top, wide brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink and orange coral branches from the bottom edge, round brush. 4 Three yellow fish shapes, round brush. 5 White stripes, eyes and bubbles, small brush.
Trunk splitting the page into blossom, leaf, fall and snowBrown, green, pink, orange, white. Needs a steady hand. 1 Brown trunk up the middle and branches into all four quarters, round brush. 2 Let it dry. 3 Pink blossom in one quarter, green leaves in the next, sponge. 4 Orange leaves in the third, white snow on the fourth, sponge.
Whale under a tiny boat, the sea cut in halfBlue, gray, white, red. A few simple shapes. 1 Pale sky above a level waterline, wide brush. 2 Deep blue sea below the line, wide brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Big gray whale under the line, round brush. 5 Tiny red boat on top, white spout and eye, small brush.
Yellow-headed comet with a white tail above black treetopsBlue, white, yellow, black. A few simple shapes. 1 Dark blue sky, wide brush. 2 Yellow comet head and a long white tail, wide brush. 3 Let it dry. 4 Black pine row along the bottom, round brush. 5 White star dots, cotton swab.
How it works
At a paint party every child paints the same picture, one stage at a time. These pictures use five plain colors or fewer and come in three age bands, from 5 to 13.
Read the full guide
Kids painting party ideas by age
Choose the age band in the list under the button: 5 to 7, 8 to 10 or 11 to 13, 16 pictures each. The youngest keeps to wide and round brushes, sponges and cotton swabs, as in Fluffy yellow chick dabbed on by sponge, blue all around. The older two add small-brush detail, as in Orange tiger staring out, stripes fanning from the nose.
How the stages run
Most pictures open with the background, and every one stops once to dry before the details. Short, under More filters, marks the 20 pictures with three painted stages or fewer. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission's art and craft guide says to keep food and drinks out of the art area and to supervise children closely.
Each place at the table needs only the colors its picture lists, never more than five.
Theme and Level sit under More filters: six themes, and three levels from no drawing to a steady hand.
Questions and answers
What do kids paint at a painting party?
One picture for the whole table, built in numbered stages so everyone keeps up. Rocket lifting off past a yellow moon and Giant cupcake with dotted sprinkles are two of the 48 here.
What can an 8 year old paint at a painting party?
Choose Ages 8 to 10: 16 pictures such as Brown owl with yellow eyes, the white moon right behind it and Ring donut on a blue plate, pink topping with a wavy edge. They add a small brush and shapes that overlap.
Which pictures have the fewest stages?
Under More filters, set Length to Short: 20 pictures with three painted stages or fewer, such as Pinwheel galaxy sponged in two colors on a black page and Yellow champion cup on blue with white star dots around it.
What themes are there?
Six, with 8 pictures each: animals, space, under the sea, sports, sweets and seasons. Under the sea includes Green mermaid tail flipping up with a white splash below; sports includes Basketball dropping through a hoop.