Hi, I’m Kathleen!

Art lessons that make kids think like artists

Step-by-step art projects, seasonal ideas, artist studies and teaching strategies for busy teachers and homeschool families, from Kathleen McGiveron, the artist and educator behind Ms Artastic.

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Popular in November: Thanksgiving Autumn Famous artists Free printables

Kathleen smiling and holding a colour wheel flower painting

Kathleen holding a graffiti-style name art project — name art

Kathleen holding a superhero self-portrait collage — portraits

Pre-K to
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31 Art Lessons No Prep Art Projects and Fun Art Activities Elementary Art Sub

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2 Easy & Beautiful Thanksgiving Art Projects for Kids: A Turkey Drawing Lesson and a Horn of Plenty Painting Project - Ms Artastic — November picks

In season now

Thanksgiving & autumn art, ready for November

Turkeys, harvest, gratitude and Remembrance Day projects, plus quick activities for bell ringers, fast finishers and sub plans.

See all Thanksgiving art

Autumn art lessons

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Every card opens a category on the blog, so you can scroll lesson ideas the way you’d scroll a Pinterest board.

Pumpkin painted over a Starry Night-style swirling sky

Seasonal Art Lessons

Autumn · Winter · Spring · Summer

Kathleen holding Valentine's Day handprint heart artworks

Holiday Art Lessons

Halloween to Easter

Collage of colourful artworks and a paint palette

Back to School

First weeks of art class

Kathleen holding a colour wheel fish artwork

Elements of Art

Line, colour, value and more

Picasso Blue Period-inspired painting of a guitar player

Art History & Artists

Famous artist projects

Graffiti stegosaurus drawing with a watercolour palette

Free Lessons & Printables

Tutorials and freebies

Oil pastel apple drawing with art supplies on a table

Teaching Strategies

Planning, tips and routines

Smiling starfish drawing coloured with oil pastels

Homeschool Art

Lessons for learning at home

More topics: Explore Artists Choice-Based Learning Art Activity Ideas Art Lessons for Kids Principles of Design Podcast Show Notes

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A quick tip and a quick lesson, every visit

🎨 Art Teaching Tip #75Lesson planning

Ask yourself 'Will 30 kids be able to do this at once?' before committing to a project. Classroom-friendly beats Pinterest-perfect.

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▶ Featured art video

Need a quick lesson or a bit of art inspiration? Watch this.

How to Draw a Dog for Preschool, Learn Letter D, Dog Step-By-Step Directed Drawing Tutorial

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🎂 This week in art history

Hilma af Klint

Born October 26, 1862

Swedish painter of large, colourful abstract works.

Find a matching lesson →

Roy Lichtenstein

Born October 27, 1923

American Pop artist known for comic-book style paintings with dots.

Find a matching lesson →

📚 Art word of the day

Critique

Talking about artwork to describe, analyse and give helpful feedback.

🏆 October art challenge

Draw an autumn leaf, pumpkin or something spooky using shading from light to dark.

Make it, snap a photo and share it with #ArtasticChallenge. Classroom, homeschool and grown-up artists all welcome.

Follow along on Instagram →

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Pick a grade and a season

Lessons, free videos and blog ideas, all in one place.

✨ New free planning tool

Plan your art lessons in minutes

Tell me who you are, your grade and what you need. The planner pulls together lessons, free videos, teaching tips and supplies into a plan you can print, save or email.

🗓️Plan a lesson or unit, week by week
🛟Solve a classroom problem
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For parents, homeschoolers, classroom teachers and art teachers.

Kathleen McGiveron, Ms Artastic, holding up a student name art project

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msartastic.com/planner

1 Who2 Grade3 Goal4 Details5 Your plan

2-week Line art plan for Grade 2

Week 1

LessonLadybug Types of Lines Art Project

Free videoLine Ladybug Art Lesson

🎨 Tip #152 Practise different line types: zigzag, wavy, spiral, dotted and thick-and-thin.

Week 2

LessonLeopard Types of Lines Art Project

Free videoLine Lizard Art Lesson

🎨 Show three different finished examples, not one, so kids find their own ideas.

Supplies

🛒 Oil pastels · Washable paint · Brush set · Sketchbook

Free for teachers, families & kids

Free art tools for every day

A new drawing prompt every morning, plus interactive tools to plan lessons, mix colors, explore art history, discover art careers and bring art into your homeschool.

Free printable

120 free sketchbook prompt task cards by Ms Artastic

120 Free Sketchbook Prompt Task CardsPrint them, cut them apart and keep them in a jar for warm ups, early finishers and sub plans.Send me the free task cards →

Art History TimelineCave art to street art, with real artworks, artists and quick activities.Explore the timeline →Art Careers Explorer38 art careers, what they do and how to get there, plus a quiz.Find your art career →Art Lesson PlannerPick a grade and goal and get a ready-to-use plan in minutes.Plan my lessons →Drawing Prompt of the Day365 prompts, a sketch timer and a calendar to browse.See today’s prompt →Color Mixing LabAdd drops of paint and watch them mix like real paint, then print your own swatch cards.Mix some colors →Mystery Art DoorOpen the door once a day for a new drawing prompt and a 60-second warm-up.Open today’s door →Homeschool Art HubArt lessons and ideas gathered for homeschool families, all in one place.Visit the hub →Art History PassportCollect a stamp for every era you explore and print a World Art Traveler certificate.Start your passport →

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Get instant access to free art lessons, printable activities and seasonal projects, and join the Art Teacher Mastermind Community to swap ideas and ask questions.

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