Mountain lake with a plain half and a detailed halfBlue, white, dark green. One paints the flat sky and water; the other paints the pines and their reflections.
A stuffed bear sitting on a chairBrown, tan, red, cream. Each paints the bear from her own side of the room.
Mother duck on the big canvas, duckling on the small oneYellow, orange, pond blue. The adult paints the duck and the water line; the child paints the duckling on it.
The adult's moon and the child's one star, on two canvasesNavy, cream, yellow. The adult blends the night on both; the child paints the star and the moon's face.
Apple tree on the big canvas, basket of apples on the smallGreen, red, brown. The adult paints the tree; the child paints the basket and the apples that fell.
Big and small elephants linked trunk to tailGray, pink, green. The adult paints the large elephant; the child paints the small one holding its tail.
Big balloon and little balloon, strings joined at the gapRed, yellow, sky blue. Each paints one balloon and brings its string to the same point on the edge.
Big boot and little boot in one puddle across the gapYellow, red, gray blue. The adult paints the big boot and the puddle; the child paints the small boot and the splashes.
Big heart and little heart in swapped pinks and redsPink, red, white. The adult paints a pink heart on red; the child paints a red heart on pink.
Big tree and a sapling with roots that meet at the gapBrown, three greens. The adult paints the tree, the child the sapling; both run a root to the shared edge.
Clothesline across both canvases, big socks then smallSky blue, white, any four colors. The adult paints the line and the big socks; the child paints the small ones.
Giraffe bending down to its calfYellow, brown, sky blue. The adult paints the long neck coming down; the child paints the calf looking up.
Mother duck on the big canvas, duckling on the small oneYellow, orange, pond blue. The adult paints the duck and the water line; the child paints the duckling on it.
Rain cloud on the big canvas, a small umbrella on the otherGray, white, blue, one bright color. The adult paints the cloud and its rain; the child paints the umbrella below.
Snowy peak on the big canvas, green hill on the smallViolet, white, green. The adult paints the peak and its snow; the child paints the green hill beside it.
Tall sunflower and a short one on a shared ground lineYellow, brown, green, sky blue. Each paints one flower; agree the height of the ground before starting.
Whale and calf swimming across the gapNavy, gray blue, white. The adult paints the whale's head and body; the child paints the calf and the bubbles.
One canvas, two painters 14
Blended sunset with a flock of V birdsYellow, orange, magenta, black. The adult blends the sky; the child adds the birds as small black V shapes.
Caterpillar from round sponge printsLime, green, black, brown. The child stamps the body with a round sponge; the adult adds the face and legs.
Dark row of houses with windows the child lightsNavy, black, yellow. The adult paints the night and the houses; the child paints every window yellow.
Dinner plate with the child's favorite meal painted on itWhite, blue, any food colors. The adult paints the plate and the table; the child paints the food.
Green hill by the adult, a flock of sheep by the childGreen, sky blue, white, black. The adult paints the hill and sky; the child paints each sheep as a white oval.
Hot-air balloon, its panels filled by each painter in turnBlack, red, yellow, blue, green. The adult draws the balloon's panels; the two take turns to fill them.
Meadow with ladybugs and beesThree greens, red, yellow, black. The adult paints the grass; the child adds the bugs with a small brush.
Party cake: the adult's tiers, the child's candles on topPink, white, yellow, tan. The adult paints the layers; the child paints the candles and dots the sprinkles.
Row of outlined houses, each filled in by the childBlack, six bright colors. The adult outlines the houses; the child fills each wall, door and roof.
Sea fading to deep blue, with sponge-stamped fishAqua, cobalt, orange, yellow. The adult blends the water; the child stamps fish with a cut sponge.
Snow globe by the adult, its winter scene by the childPale blue, white, red, green. The adult paints the globe and its base; the child paints the scene and the snow.
Snowy hill by the adult, falling snow dotted by the childPale blue, white, navy. The adult paints the hill and its shadows; the child dots the snow.
Vegetable patch: the adult's rows, the child's carrotsBrown, green, orange. The adult paints the rows of soil; the child paints the leafy tops and one pulled carrot.
Winding river by the adult, the child's boats sailing on itBlue, green, red, yellow, white. The adult paints the river and its banks; the child paints a boat on every bend.
Portraits of each other 12
Breakfast from above: two bowls, each painter's ownAny colors, tan. The adult paints the table; each paints her own bowl and spoon as seen from above.
Each other as an animal, hung face to faceAny colors. Each chooses the animal the other one is and paints it; hang them facing each other.
Each other's eye, hung side by sideBrown, blue or green, white, black. Each studies the other's eye and paints it large on a small canvas.
Each other's favorite outfit on a hangerAny colors. Each paints the clothes the other wears most, hung on a hanger against a plain wall.
Each other's smile, painted from nose to chin onlySkin tones mixed together, pink, white. Each paints the other's smile large on a small canvas; hang the two as a pair.
Looking up, looking down: each painted as the other sees herSkin tones, three more colors. The child paints the adult from below; the adult paints the child from above.
Own hair and collar around a blank ovalHair colors, two bright colors. Each paints her own hair and collar around a blank oval.
Painted house with both painters' faces at one windowBrick red, white, sky blue. The adult paints the house and window frame; each paints her own face looking out.
Portraits swapped halfwayAny colors. Each starts her own face, the canvases swap, and each finishes the other's.
Raincoats on two pegs, one long and one shortYellow, red, gray. The adult paints the pegs and wall; each paints her own coat.
Round-face portraits of each other in the sitter's colorsAny colors. Each paints the other as a round face with dot eyes, in the colors the sitter picks.
Two faces in one round painted mirrorGold, pale blue, skin tones. The adult paints the round frame; each paints her own face inside it.
The same subject twice, hung as a pair 12
A houseplant on the sill, its leaves counted firstThree greens, terracotta, white. Each counts the leaves, then paints the plant her own way on the same size canvas.
A stuffed bear sitting on a chairBrown, tan, red, cream. Each paints the bear from her own side of the room.
Kitchen-window scene painted from two chairsSky blue, green, gray, white. Each paints what she sees through the same frame.
One butterfly from the same traced outlineAny four colors, black. Trace one outline onto both canvases; each chooses her own wing colors.
One lemon and its shadow, painted from two chairsYellow, white, gray, blue. Both paint the same lemon and its shadow from where they sit.
One pumpkin, stalk and allOrange, green, brown, cream. Each paints the same pumpkin, large, on a plain ground.
One seashell on a dark cloth, painted largeCream, tan, pink, gray. Put the shell on a dark cloth; each paints it large enough to reach two edges.
One sunflower in a jarYellow, orange, brown, green. Each paints the same flower; agree only the canvas size and let the two differ.
One wooden chair, painted from opposite sidesBrown, tan, one wall color. Stand the chair between you; each paints the side she can see.
The same vase of flowers, painted by eachRed, yellow, green, blue. Stand the vase between the two easels; each paints it and the two hang side by side.
The tree outsideBrown, three greens, sky blue. Each paints it on the same day; write the date on the back of both.
Watermelon slice still life, seeds counted to see who winsRed, pink, green, black. Each paints the slice; count the seeds and see who painted more.
To keep 12
A heart holding both initials, one painted by eachRed, pink, gold. The adult pencils the two letters; each paints her own and the child fills the heart.
Bedroom door sign: the adult's letters, the child's borderAny three colors. On a small board, the adult letters the child's name; the child paints a border of dots or leaves.
Birdhouse with walls by the adult and a roof by the childAny three colors. On a plain wooden birdhouse, the adult paints the walls one color and the child paints the roof.
Chart of the colors mixed today, named by the childRed, yellow, blue, white. Paint a square of each mix; the child names each color and the adult writes it in.
Child's hand traced inside the adult's, both datedTwo colors, a pale ground. Trace both hands in pencil; each paints her own and the adult writes the date.
Cover for a story the child tellsAny colors. The child tells the story and paints its main character; the adult paints the title.
Keepsake box with a lid half hers and half yoursAny four colors. Tape a line across the lid; each paints her own half and both sign underneath.
One balloon added on every birthdaySky blue, one new color a year. The adult paints the sky; the child adds this year's balloon and leaves room for more.
Shoe outlines traced side by side and filled with patternsAny four colors. Trace one shoe each in pencil; each fills her own outline with a pattern.
Today's date in big numerals filled with the day's doingsBlack, any colors. The adult pencils the date large; the child paints one small picture of the day in each numeral.
Two signatures painted largeBlack, two bright colors. Each writes her name big with a round brush across a striped ground.
Two terracotta pots, big and small, in one shared patternTerracotta pots, white, two colors. Agree one pattern; the adult paints the big pot and the child the small one.
For two sisters 12
Castle gate between two towers, one tower per sisterGray, blue, red, yellow. Paint the wall and gate together; each sister builds one tower and flies her own flag.
Each other's favorite animal on two small canvasesAny colors. Each paints the animal her sister likes best and gives it to her.
Mountain lake with a plain half and a detailed halfBlue, white, dark green. One paints the flat sky and water; the other paints the pines and their reflections.
One long snake painted from both ends to the middleGreen, yellow, any colors. Each starts at one end with her own pattern; the two patterns meet halfway.
One scene and its reversed copyAny three colors. One paints a simple scene; the other copies it reversed on a second canvas.
Open storybook with a page for each sisterBrown, cream, any colors. Paint the open book together, then each sister paints a picture on her own page.
Overlapping umbrellas in a downpour, one per sisterGray, two bright colors, white. Each paints one umbrella so the two overlap, then both add the rain.
Pair of kites with tails looped togetherSky blue, red, yellow, green. Each paints one kite; the tails loop around each other once.
Pair of swings hanging from one branchGreen, brown, sky blue. One paints the tree and branch, the other the grass; each paints her own swing.
Seesaw with an animal at each end, one eachSky blue, green, red, any colors. Paint the seesaw together, then each paints her own animal on her end.
Two flowers in one pot, a flower for each sisterTerracotta, green, any two colors. Paint the pot together; each grows her own stem and flower from it.
Two sisters from behind, sitting on a dockTeal, peach, brown. One paints the water and sky, the other the dock; each paints her own back.
How it works
These mother daughter painting ideas give each painter a part of her own. About half say which part is the child's and which the adult's; in the rest each paints her own. A sixth group is for two sisters.
Read the full guide
Mommy and me painting ideas, by how the work is shared
Two canvases that join give each painter her own picture: Big heart and little heart in swapped pinks and reds. On one canvas the adult lays the ground and the child adds what lives in it: Blended sunset with a flock of V birds. The To keep group is made to be dated and put away.
Sister painting ideas
This group shares a picture, or a pair of canvases, between two painters of like skill: Open storybook with a page for each sister, or Pair of kites with tails looped together. Some carry the easy mark.
The projects with the simplest child's part sit under More filters, Level.
Questions and answers
What can a mother and daughter paint together?
Anything with a big part and a small part: Mother duck on the big canvas, duckling on the small one, or a green hill with the child's flock of sheep. There are 64 such projects here, and 12 more for sisters.
What are easy painting ideas for a young child and a parent?
The 26 marked easy, such as Caterpillar from round sponge prints: the child stamps the body with a round sponge and the adult adds the face and legs.
What can two sisters paint together?
A picture with two equal halves. Open storybook with a page for each sister gives each sister her own page to fill; in One scene and its reversed copy, the second sister paints the first one's scene flipped.
Do we need two canvases?
Mostly for two groups: A big canvas and a small one that join and The same subject twice use a canvas each, as do a few portraits. Most of the rest share one canvas.