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You are here: Home / Process Art / Da Vinci’s Kid-Friendly Frescoes

Da Vinci’s Kid-Friendly Frescoes

July 10, 2017 by Librarian

Lots of people recognize Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” Using Da Vinci’s art for kids can be a great way to introduce new techniques.

*We use affiliate links and may earn commission from purchases made through those links. All opinions are our own.

*Thank you to Kitchen Counter Chronicles for this great idea!

Toddlers and preschoolers can experience the art technique Da Vinci used (fresco, which means painting wet clay) with washable tempera paint and air-dry clay. So simple!

Leonardo Da Vinci’s fresco project for toddlers and preschoolers is also a great example of process art. It is important for little learners to focus on the techniques, the senses, and the exploration involved in art instead of focusing on a perfect product.

How To: The Artwork

how to make da vinci fresco art with toddlers and preschoolers

Supplies:

  • Small plastic plates
  • White air-dry clay or plaster of Paris
  • Paintbrushes
  • Washable paint (I used blue, green, black, and brown tempera paint)

​Directions:

Each child should have enough clay to cover their plastic plates. First, they can smash down the clay to cover the plate and then smooth it out. Using Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” as inspiration, the kids can then use the paints and paintbrushes to paint the still wet clay. Pressing relatively hard to make patterns and insert the paint is encouraged! Let dry for 24 hours. Finally, once the clay is dry, parents can be remove the fresco from the paper plates.

How To: The Program

My Young Artists class allows 2-5 year olds and their caregivers to explore art in a way that engages their senses and helps them understand the world around them. Kids learn that they are capable of making creative and thought-provoking artwork by exploring famous artists and their artwork. In addition, I use famous artists and their work to teach children about basic art techniques in a multi-dimensional way.

Like clay. Which brings me to Leonardo Da Vinci.

We know Leonardo Da Vinci for his work with Plaster of Paris, particularly in “The Last Supper.” This is a relatively simple technique for kids to practice on their own. Feel free to use Plaster of Paris if you’d like. You can follow Kitchen Counter Chronicles for instructions on that. I used air-dry clay because it’s not as messy and easier to buy on Amazon.

Group Art:

To kick off the class, I had the kids explore with Play-doh. They were able to mold, shape, build, etc. to create and play. I couldn’t find a book I really liked about Leonardo Da Vinci, so we just played with Play-do extra long.

Individual Art:

The kids were eager to paint eventually, so they played with Play-do only for about fifteen minutes. Then, I set them up with their own Air-Dry Clay, paintbrushes, and paint. The kids played with the clay a little bit first because they wanted to feel and mold it. They also created designs in their wet clay and tried to insert the paint deep into the clay.

The caregivers helped their children make designs and try new colors.

Finally, I provided markers and this Leonardo Da Vinci coloring page from Coloring Cafe to entertain those that finished early.

The young artists were happy, the young artists’ parents were happy and the young artists’ librarian was happy. Therefore, it was a successful morning in Young Artists! Woohoo! ​And that was da Vinci’s art for kids!

For more Young Artists’ ideas, check out this search.

More Artist-Inspired Process Art

How to Make Richard Long Handprint Art with Kids
10 Art History Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Piet Mondrian Art for Toddlers and Preschoolers
How to Paint Using Marbles with Toddlers and Preschoolers
How to Paint With Plants and Be Inspired by Vincent van Gogh

Filed Under: Process Art, Program Plans Tagged With: Clay, Crayola, Crayola Air-Dry Clay, Famous Artists, Leonardo Da Vinci, Painting, Preschoolers, Process Art, teach kids at home, Toddlers, Young Artists

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Welcome! I'm Jaime, and I'm so happy you're here to learn, play, and read with me!

I'm a children's librarian in the midwest. I have a Master's in Library Science, with a Youth Services specialization. I like to think of myself as a professional reader of children's books, a sensory enthusiast, and a play activist. Which is great for working with children because kids' days are full of learning and playing (and in my dream world, reading books)!

I hope you're able to find some inspiration for teaching the littles in your life!

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