Back to School Name Art Project All About Me Art Lesson Abstract Collage Art

This Back to School name art project is an abstract collage art lesson where students create a bold name artwork by painting paper, cutting shapes, layering the pieces, and adding final details with marker and white paint. It is a personal, eye-catching project for the start of the year, when you want students making something meaningful right away.

It is made for classroom teachers, art teachers and homeschool educators who want an All About Me art lesson for elementary students. Students paint a warm color background, create cool color collage elements, cut out a large central name plate, layer smaller organic shapes around it, and finish with geometric marker details, highlights and their painted name.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE)

• Lesson Plan Page 1: lesson focus, materials, big ideas, learning outcomes, competencies and a preview of the finished artwork
• Lesson Plan Page 2: a step-by-step Teacher Does teaching guide
• National Art Standards Page with suggested standards
• Critical Thinking Questions Page with open-ended discussion prompts
• Art Project Rubric for execution, creativity and originality, evidence of process, and responsibility
• Look at Materials Reflection Page on materials, colors, shapes, texture and line
• Art Reflection Page where students identify the Elements of Art and Principles of Design they used
• Journal Writing Page for writing and drawing about process, emotions, successes and challenges
• Artist Statement Page
• Example Artwork Page to hook students and set expectations
• How To Make Paint Collage Name Artwork Page, a visual summary of the full process
• Detailed Step-by-Step Pages with visual and written instructions, from painting the backgrounds to cutting, layering, marker details, highlights and finishing the name plate

HOW TO USE IT

Project the PDF, print the handouts students need, demonstrate the process yourself, and use the example artwork as your hook. Students paint one sheet with warm colors (red, orange and yellow) and another with cool colors (blue, green and purple), adding white to make some colors into tints. They cut a large oval name frame plus ovals, circles, swirls, diamonds, tear drops and other organic shapes, layer them into an abstract composition, and finish with marker details, white highlights and their name painted in the center.

Along the way, students explore identity through art, abstract collage, organic and geometric shapes, layering and composition, and the elements of line, shape, space, texture, color, form and value. It works as a Back to School activity, an All About Me lesson, a name art bulletin board or a lesson on warm and cool colors.

FAQ

Who can use this resource?

Classroom teachers, art teachers, homeschool educators and substitute teachers.

What do students make?

An abstract paint collage name artwork with a warm painted background, cool color collage shapes, a large central name plate, layered organic elements, marker details and painted highlights.

What materials are needed?

Pencil, eraser, acrylic or tempera paint in warm colors, cool colors and white, card stock or thick paper, a black felt marker, a paintbrush and water.

How long does this lesson take?

Usually 2 to 3 classes, depending on student age, class length, drying time, and how much time you spend on discussion, reflection and artist statements.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist, educator and resource creator who has been featured on NBC LX News and was the featured educator on the cover of OCO Magazine (October 2025). She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this in creative ways and have as much fun with it as you like. For clip art, you may use the images as clip art, website graphics, binder covers or bulletin board decorations. Additional licenses are available for school use.

YOU MAY NOT: use this on OutSchool, put it on your blog, share it with other teachers, administration or districts (admin can buy additional licenses), sell it, give it out for free or photocopy it for others.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic