Halloween is the perfect excuse to get messy and creative. These Halloween art projects for kids borrow ideas from famous paintings, so your little artists get a dose of art history along with their pumpkins and ghosts. Each one is an open ended prompt, not a coloring page, so every result will look different.
1. Make Your Own “Scream” (Edvard Munch)
Munch’s The Scream is basically made for October. Show your kids the swirling orange sky and the wavy figure, then ask: What would make YOU scream on Halloween night? Have them paint a spooky sky with long, wavy brushstrokes and add their own surprised face.
2. A Haunted Starry Night (Vincent van Gogh)
Van Gogh’s swirling night sky becomes even more magical with a haunted house or a flying witch underneath. Use thick paint and short, swirly strokes for the sky, then silhouette a spooky shape in black. Our Starry Night art project for kids has more ideas.
3. Kandinsky Pumpkin Circles (Wassily Kandinsky)
Kandinsky’s famous grid of concentric circles is easy to turn into a pumpkin patch. Draw a grid of squares, then fill each one with rings of orange, yellow, green and purple. It is a great way to talk about warm and cool colors.
4. Matisse Cutout Bats and Ghosts (Henri Matisse)
Late in life, Matisse “painted with scissors,” cutting bold shapes from painted paper. Have kids paint sheets of paper in Halloween colors, then cut out bats, moons, ghosts and stars and arrange them into a collage.
5. Sunflowers to Pumpkin Patch (Van Gogh)
Van Gogh painted sunflowers in a vase again and again. Swap the sunflowers for pumpkins and gourds stacked in a basket, and encourage thick, textured paint just like Van Gogh used.
6. Spooky Dots (Georges Seurat)
Seurat built pictures out of thousands of tiny dots. Dip cotton swabs in paint and dot out a full moon, a black cat or a jack o’ lantern. It is a fun first taste of pointillism.
7. Monster Portraits (Any Portrait Painter)
Pick a famous portrait, like the Mona Lisa, and reimagine the sitter as a friendly monster, vampire or mummy. It is a fun way to look closely at how artists paint faces.
Tips for a Stress Free Art Afternoon
- Cover the table with a plastic cloth or flattened grocery bags.
- Use washable paints for younger kids.
- Show the original painting first and ask kids what they notice.
- Celebrate creativity over accuracy. The goal is their idea, not a copy.
Create With Us
Want a new creative adventure every month? The Art Club Monthly Kids Box brings a famous masterpiece, real supplies and a kid friendly art history pamphlet right to your door.
- Kids Box (ages 5 to 12): washable paints, a canvas and a kid friendly art history pamphlet. First box $19.50.
- Teens & Adults Box (13+): professional oil paints, a specialty medium and an in depth art history guide. First box $24.50.
Every box ships free in the US, and you can cancel anytime. See what’s coming on the content calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are easy Halloween art projects for kids?
Try a spooky Scream inspired sky, a haunted Starry Night, Kandinsky style pumpkin circles, Matisse inspired paper cutout bats or dot painted moons inspired by Seurat.
What famous painting is good for Halloween?
The Scream by Edvard Munch is a favorite for Halloween because of its swirling orange sky and dramatic expression.
What age are these projects for?
Most of these projects work well for ages 5 to 12. Younger kids can use washable paint and simple shapes, and older kids can add more detail.
