Kids will love painting this cat painting as an activity for a birthday party! It's such a cute painting and is even more fun to paint with the bright fun colors painted on the canvas.
If you have a cat-obsessed child who enjoys painting and is starting to explore detail, this will be a great activity for them. While this is intended for a cat birthday party, it can serve as a fun cat activity at any time.
While it does explore some detail painting, this cat activity is relatively simple. Paint down the base, paint the cat head, and then add some detail. And be sure to check out this rainbow drip painting idea while your here.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Purr-fectly Fun for All Ages: Whether it’s a tabby or a rainbow kitty, kids will love it!
- Messy in the Best Way: Paint everywhere? That’s part of the fun!
- Frame-Worthy Results: These cute cat masterpieces totally belong on the fridge!
Cat Birthday Party Activity
This cat painting is most ideal as an activity for a birthday party that is cat-themed. I will be sharing even more cat crafts and activities followed by an entire cat birthday party! If you're considering choosing a cat birthday party for your child, you will love some of these crafts and activities.
They are so simple, fun, and are sure to make for a fun birthday party. Stay tuned for the rest of the posts in this series!
Ready to learn how to make this cat painting? Scroll down below for the full instructions.
🎨 Supplies Needed
- Tempura paints - white, black, grey, teal, pink, and purple
- Fine detail paintbrush
- Angled square foam paintbrush
- 8 x 10 canvas
- Tabletop display easel
🖌️ How To Paint A Cat On A Canvas
- Step 1: To get started, paint 2.5-inch stripes of paint using the foam paintbrush in pink, teal, and purple colored paints - covering the entire canvas. Allow the paint to dry for a few minutes. Wipe the leftover paint off using a towel or rinse brush. We dabbed it on a paper towel and it wiped almost all of it off without bleeding through to the next color.
- Step 2: Next, paint a circle of black paint in the middle of the canvas with the foam paintbrush.
- Step 3: Gently dot the black paint around the edge of the circle using the angled tip of the foam paintbrush so that it appears like hair.
- Step 4: Paint 2 lines that meet to create a triangle ear on each side of the cat's head.
- Step 5: Dot the black paint around the edge of the ear to add hair to the triangle you just painted.
- Step 6: Now using the fine detail paintbrush, fill each ear with grey paint and draw a small grey upsidedown triangle in the middle of the cat face to form the nose; rinse paintbrush.
- Step 7: Draw the whiskers with white paint using the fine detail brush on each side of the cat's head. Add 2 big white circles to form the eyes and let it dry for a few minutes.
- Step 8: Paint slightly smaller black circles inside the white eyes to form the pupils using the fine detail brush and let it dry for a few minutes.
Step 9: Lastly, use the fine detail brush to paint a small streak of white paint on each corner of the eye to form the appearance of a reflection. Allow at least an hour for the cat painting to dry. You're finished!
💡 Pro Tip: Display the finished cat paintings in a designated area, allowing kids to present their artwork and share the stories behind their creations, fostering confidence and appreciation for their efforts.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Incorporate Mixed Media: Add elements like fabric scraps or textured paper to create a collage effect, giving your cat painting a unique and tactile dimension.
- Use Unconventional Tools: Experiment with items like sponges or toothbrushes to apply paint, creating interesting textures and patterns in the fur.
- Create a Story: Encourage kids to invent a backstory for their cat, such as a superhero feline or a space-traveling kitty, to inspire creative details in the painting.
- Incorporate Patterns: Use stencils or stamps to add patterns like polka dots or stripes to the background or the cat itself, enhancing visual interest.
- Add Interactive Elements: Attach movable parts like googly eyes or a tail made from yarn to make the painting more engaging and playful.
- Use a Limited Color Palette: Challenge kids to use only a few colors to encourage creativity and focus on composition and design.
💭 FAQs
To accommodate children with limited fine motor skills, consider using larger brushes and simplifying the design elements. For instance, replace detailed facial features with bold, simple shapes, allowing for easier handling and a more accessible painting experience.
Encourage children to create a backstory for their painted cat, such as imagining its name, favorite activities, or adventures. This narrative approach not only enhances creativity but also adds a personal touch to their artwork.
Absolutely! Use the cat's facial expressions to discuss different emotions. For example, a smiling cat can represent happiness, while a cat with droopy eyes might depict sadness. This method provides a visual and engaging way to explore emotional literacy with children.
Assign each student a specific part of the cat or background to paint, then assemble the pieces into a large mural. This collaborative approach fosters teamwork and results in a collective artwork that can be displayed in the classroom.
Cat Painting Tutorial for Kids
Materials
- Tempura paints – white black, grey, teal, pink, and purple
- Fine detail paintbrush
- Angled square foam paintbrush
- 8 x 10 canvas
- Tabletop display easel
Instructions
- To get started, paint 2.5-inch stripes of paint using the foam paintbrush in pink, teal, and purple colored paints – covering the entire canvas. Allow the paint to dry for a few minutes. Wipe the leftover paint off using a towel or rinse brush. We dabbed it on a paper towel and it wiped almost all of it off without bleeding through to the next color.
- Next, paint a circle of black paint in the middle of the canvas with the foam paintbrush.
- Gently dot the black paint around the edge of the circle using the angled tip of the foam paintbrush so that it appears like hair.
- Paint 2 lines that meet to create a triangle ear on each side of the cat’s head.
- Dot the black paint around the edge of the ear to add hair to the triangle you just painted.
- Now using the fine detail paintbrush, fill each ear with grey paint and draw a small grey upsidedown triangle in the middle of the cat face to form the nose; rinse paintbrush.
- Draw the whiskers with white paint using the fine detail brush on each side of the cat’s head. Add 2 big white circles to form the eyes and let it dry for a few minutes.
- Paint slightly smaller black circles inside the white eyes to form the pupils using the fine detail brush and let it dry for a few minutes.
- Lastly, use the fine detail brush to paint a small streak of white paint on each corner of the eye to form the appearance of a reflection.
- Allow at least an hour for the cat painting to dry. You’re finished!
🖌️ Related Crafts
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