55+ Easy Spring Painting Ideas For Kids & Adults

Last Updated on March 7, 2024 by Masha Eretnova

Spring Painting Ideas

What inspires you? If you’re a newbie to painting and want to capture springtime’s beauty, I’ve gathered 55+ simple spring painting ideas for you! 

Spring brings unlimited inspiration. You’d want to recreate the field of flowers in full bloom underneath a clear sky or birds perched on a tree on a canvas. Animated films set in spring, like Tangled and Bambi, have scenes worth bringing to life.  

Below you’ll find the muse to create your spring-themed painting on canvas, paper, and more. I’ve also included epic spring ideas kindergarten and toddlers will love!

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More ideas:


Essential Supplies to Paint Spring With Acrylic Paint

best paint for rock painting
Spring painting ideas don’t only apply to canvas or paper. You can draw and paint on mugs, rocks, wood! These are painted rocks I placed in my garden this spring.

A good spring painting palette consists of primary blue and yellows. You’ll also want to include pink, grass green, white, and black. And don’t forget to add pastel colors!

Beginners usually buy the cheapest materials available. I suggest you get the best supplies you can afford. Cheap materials are typically hard to manage and quickly fade.

You’ll also need brushes, palettes, canvas or paper, and other supplies

Read also: How to Paint with Acrylics on Canvas: 3 Easy Steps [Supplies included]


Spring Painting Ideas for Beginners

Springtime is a flurry of activities; buzzing bees, chirping birds, and family picnics. Look outside and paint what catches your attention. Paint the landscape. Collect flowers and fallen branches. Use your camera to preserve moments like children flying kites or a couple walking. 

If the outside world doesn’t jazz up you enough, try to revisit spring-themed movies, including the following:

  • Bambi
  • Tangled
  • Charlotte’s Web
  • A Bug’s Life
  • Howl’s Moving Castle
  • Bee Movie
  • Secret Life of Arrietty
  • Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo
  • My Neighbor Totoro
  • Silly Symphony, the Goddess of Spring
  • Babe
  • Curious George
  • Bigfoot Family

Apart from a canvas, you can also use paper, rocks, mugs, or your window to practice your painting skills. Below I go into more detail about each spring painting idea.

Spring Acrylic Painting Ideas on Canvas

White Daisy with a Bright Blue Background

spring painting ideas
Daisy from the Book Learn to Paint in Acrylics with 50 More Small Paintings (Nelson, Mark Daniel)

A daisy symbolizes new beginnings! So, a daisy in full bloom is the first subject on our list. 

Use titanium white to draw the petals. Paint the shadows using a mixture of unbleached titanium and mars black.


Colorful Mountain

spring painting ideas
Colorful Mountain by Shihori Obata

Creating soft and random edges takes practice and brush control. Hone your skill by painting this tranquil spring scene.


Landscape Painting with Hot Air Balloon

spring painting ideas
easypeasy art

Choosing a focal point when making a painting is essential.

A hot air balloon bursting with colors is this piece’s focal point. 


Delicate Butterfly

spring painting ideas
CICI Art

Exercise what you know about the color wheel by painting this beginner-friendly butterfly! Explore and identify colors that enhance each other as a group.


Cherry Blossom on Top of a Hill

spring painting ideas
From Wow Art

The vibrant cherry blossom illuminates this whole canvas. Painting this piece is not difficult at all! Use cotton balls for the clouds. Lastly, add the tree’s details using cotton swabs.


Florals on Mug

Natalie from Doodle Craft Blog

Nothing signifies spring more than dazzling flowers! Make your mugs prettier by painting flowers on them. Basic painting skills will do. The key here is to choose the right colors and have fun!

Once done, coat them with a sealer for a glossy finish.

Learn more about painting on ceramics and glass by reading “Bakeable Acrylic Paint Guide for Ceramics and Glass.”


 Peaches and Flowers and Easy and Realistic Tulip on Paper

spring painting ideas
byKatie Goertzen

Painting on paper without a rigid surface will create warps. 

What should you do then? 

Mount the paper on a panel by using pH-neutral glue. A quick one-stroke tulip painting lesson: 


Spring Seascape

spring painting ideas
Joony Art

Capturing a seascape during spring is somewhat challenging. And yet, this piece was able to do that. Those yellow flowers certainly help brighten it more.

Improve your blending skills by painting along with this tutorial.

Spring-inspired Animated Characters

Celebrate springtime by re-watching (or watching if you haven’t seen these films) some good old films set during the spring. 

  • Winnie the Pooh Characters on Mini Canvas
  • Sleeping Totoro
  • “I See the Light” Scene on Tangled
  • Howl and Sophie on a Breezy Hill
spring painting ideas for kids
Mongmong
Grace J Art
Miya’s Art Studio
D’art Social

Bring your beloved characters to life through your art. Experiment. Use a mini canvas if you like. 


A Chick on a Basket Decorated with Flowers

This piece is amusing if you’re fond of fluffy baby chicks!

spring painting ideas
Tammy Lassiter

Buzzing Bumblebee Over Flowers

Buzz…buzz. Here comes the bumblebee, ready to feast on the flowers’ nectar!

spring painting ideas
Annie Troe

Vibrant Pig

Remember the movie called Babe? Make her (or him?) cartoonish. Paint her pink and surround her with flowers.

spring painting ideas for kids
Gogh Box Art Crate

Or perhaps Peppa Pig is a better subject, as she’s quite popular these days.


Bike with a Basket Full of Flowers and a Hovering Bee

spring painting ideas
Tracie Kiernan

Nowadays, biking is in. And like biking, learning how to paint requires patience and lots of practice.


Kite Flying

Apart from summer, spring is the next best time for kite flying!

Tip: you can paint the tree leaves and flowers with cotton buds!

spring painting ideas
KEP GHAK Life Hacks

Hop on to this quick read on acrylic painting techniques if you want to paint like a pro. 


Woman in a Field of Springtime Flowers and a Passing Train

spring painting ideas
Alan from So Art

This piece perfectly captures what spring looks like! It is stunning yet easy to recreate. 


Tired of Brushes? Use Paint Pens Instead!

Don’t have the time to learn how to paint using acrylics yet? Paint pens are perfect for you. Like acrylics, paint pens are available in different colors.

Floral bouquet

spring painting ideas
Katie Jobling Art

Hare Underneath a Starry Nightsky

The Crafts Channel

Here’s a paint pen review I did to assist beginners like you. 


Spring Rock Painting Ideas

Who knew you could make art using rocks? Rock painting is an easy activity you can do with your kids. Help them gather the rocks. And get your brushes, acrylics, and paint pens ready.

Ladybug-painted Rock

spring painting ideas
From Carissa Bonham

Paint the rocks with ladybugs or other insects your kids love.


Flowers and Butterflies on Rock

spring painting ideas
Kristyona

Make this rock painting more alive by adding a background.


Snork Maiden and Moomin Art

spring painting ideas
Sapana Arts&Covers

Help your toddler draw their fave cartoon characters! Better yet, allow them to paint their imaginary world. 


Spring Window Painting Ideas

In this project, windows and paint are all you need to bring the spring closer to your home (or store)! You can use tempera or poster paint. They are easy to clean using liquid soap. 

Feel free to recreate the paintings below. Combine them in one scene. Or create your own:

More Flowers!

Flowers are perhaps the most common spring-related painting. Use bright colors to make them pop! 

Add other elements, such as an old car overgrown with plants, foliage, and butterflies:

spring painting ideas windows
Meg Nichols
spring painting ideas windows
Whimsy Studios

Smiling Bunny Holding an Easter Egg

Theresa Kasun

Paint bunnies and Easter eggs, as Easter (a Christian tradition), marks the start of spring!


Spring Face Painting Ideas

Are you having a spring-themed party? Are you worried about costumes? Face painting is a creative way to dress up, even without costumes! Get your face paint palette kit.

Read also: Can You Put Acrylic Paint On Your Face & Body? 6 Safest Body Paint Included

Tips: 

  • Choose water-based face paints as they are easy to remove and do not clog your pores.
  • Use a makeup sponge or brush.

Ladybug and Daisies

spring painting ideas for kids

Amateur face painters can easily replicate this face paint idea. Add more sparkle and colors to make it prettier!


Flower and Flowing Leaves

Vanessa Busby

Girls of all ages looove delicate flowers. The curly lines make the flowers stand out. Finish the look with non-toxic glitters.


Rainbow Butterfly

Ashlea Henson

Spring isn’t complete without butterflies! And they are one of the easiest face paint ideas you can create. Children and adults love them, too, and for an obvious reason!


Magical Unicorn

Hobbycraft

Color, sparkle, and unicorn! This face paint idea has all of them. See the full tutorial here.


Cute Deer

If this isn’t the cutest little deer, we’ve ever seen! Three colors-brown, white, and black-makeup this beginner-friendly look for a boy. Use a black face paint crayon for the outline.

More face painting ideas: 100 Scary Face & Body Painting For Halloween For Kids and Adults


Spring Watercolor Painting Ideas

You can still recreate spring, even if your medium of choice is watercolor. It lends your artwork softness which fits the spring season theme:

Basket of Strawberries

spring painting ideas
Ines the Unicorn

Who would have imagined that a basket of strawberries could be so pretty? And did you know that the strawberries’ peak season is during spring?


Daffodils

spring painting ideas
K Art Journey

Remove excess water from your brush when painting the finer details of the daffodils. A drier brush gives you more control in producing finer strokes.


Peony

Magical gentle flower – symbol of beauty in China and just a very spring feeling painting idea!

Check 20+ tutorials for beginners to learn to draw and paint peonies: How to Paint Peony 23 Beautiful Tutorials (Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache)

Characters from Movies Set in Spring

What you choose to paint doesn’t have to be complicated, especially if you paint to relax. Bring out your inner child and paint these charming characters.

  • Bambi and Thumper
  • Secret World of Arrietty
spring painting ideas
Nianiani
  • Wilbur from Charlotte’s Web
spring painting ideas
thefishinc tan
  • Heimlich the Caterpillar from A Bug’s Life
spring painting ideas for kids
COLOR MY WORLD Art TV

Ethereal Unicorns Underneath Bright Pink Blossoms

You can make this dreamland with a bit of white, pink, brown, and blue paint.

spring painting ideas
tokspoks

Spring Forest

spring painting ideas
Journal Away

This artwork demonstrates the importance of value. Notice how the lighter areas appear closer, while the darker areas appear farther.

When you understand how to use a range of values, you can turn your spring forest from a 2D to a piece with more depth. Learn how easy it is to create depth in this tutorial, even though it is for gouache you can easily repeat it with watercolor or acrylics.


  • Easter Bunnies in a Garden
easter painting ideas
Prakriti Dixit

Spring Painting Ideas for Kindergarten and Toddlers

Rather than use the same-old paintbrush, allow kids to start an adventure! Gather your household items they can use as brushes:

Dandelion Painting Using Toilet Paper Rolls

spring painting ideas crafts
Maremi SmallArt

Don’t throw away toilet paper rolls. Transform one end of the roll into a brush by cutting strips. Flatten the strips outwards. Dip them in the paint and start painting!


Collage

spring painting ideas crafts
From Art Lab for Little Kids Susan Schwake

This project uses a foam bottle washer. Help the toddler dip the washer into the paint until they get used to it.

Let the paint dry. The artist made a lovely collage of flowers after the paint dried.


Bird on Fabric

spring painting ideas
Art Lab for Little Kids by Susan Schwake

Birds as a subject matter are easy enough for toddlers and kindergarten! As you can see, the artist chose crayons to paint a bird on a fabric.

Read also: Can You Use Acrylic Paint on Fabric? , and if something went wrong…..Is Acrylic Paint Washable ?


Spring Finger Painting Ideas For Kids

Finger painting is messy, but it’s a good introduction to arts for toddlers and kindergarten. Fingers are great for making stripes and dots! 

Have them paint adorable bugs or lovely flowers. Bright-colored butterflies on mugs might also interest them!

  • Field of Tulips
  • Finger-painted Lavender
spring painting ideas for kids
The Little Craftties
  • Colorful Birds on a Clothesline
spring painting ideas for kids
Sofia’s art and craft
  • Bugs and Insects
spring painting ideas for kids
Head Start Teaching Team
  • Finger-painted Butterfly on a Mug
spring painting ideas for kids
By The Best Ideas for Kids

How Do You Paint a Spring for Kids?

Kids love to paint! And they love it more when they use objects other than a paintbrush!

For this project, you’ll need the following:

  • Leaves (pick them up in the park!)
  • Canvas
  • Paint
  • Brush
  • Cotton swabs (optional; tied together) 

Here are the steps for this leaf printing project: 

  1. Gather leaves. 
  2. Prepare a canvas and the best paint you have. 
  3. Paint the background first. You can skip steps 3-4 if you want to use black or dark-colored paper.
  4. Let the paint dry.
  5. Paint one leaf green.
  6. Stamp the leaf on the canvas. 
  7. Repeat steps 5-6. Use different colors to make the piece look more like spring!

Here’s a video to guide you through this project. 

If painting leaves on canvas sound boring to your child, he can add flowers with cotton swabs. 

See this video (starts at 00:47) for reference. 


Spring Painting Ideas for Adults

Painting is a perfect activity for seniors. It’s relaxing and keeps their minds sharp:

Quick-to-Paint Hydrangea

spring painting ideas for adults
Carla Co Chua From Creative Acrylics

Seniors will have to learn how to load a brush with two colors to achieve this round cluster of hydrangea. Have the following colors ready for them:

  • Blue 
  • Dark violet
  • Green
  • White
  • Black or grey

Simple and Elegant Pink Rose

spring painting ideas for adults
Carla Co Chua From Creative Acrylics

Use red, pink, and white tones to show the rose’s layers. Start working from the center outward. Seniors can use templates to paint on if they’re not fond of sketching. 

Tip: A flat brush works well with this piece. Use the edge to make a thin line and press more firmly to make broader strokes. 


Cute Duck with a Ribbon

spring painting ideas for adults
Ines the Unicorn

Mastering the concept of the color wheel will have the seniors create paintings with various colors, like this piece. Painting is not only about what is in the center, but even the edges and frames can be nicely detailed!


How Do You Paint a Spring Path Step by Step?

spring painting ideas for adults

Here’s a beginner-friendly spring path on Youtube that’s worth checking out. I have also listed the materials and the steps from the video:

Materials

  • Caribbean
  • Cobalt Blue
  • Bahama Blue
  • Mint
  • Burnt Umber
  • Bright Magenta
  • Three brushes (flat, round, and angled)
  • 11×14 (or 16×20) canvas board

Steps

  1. Get your angled brush. Start painting the sky by mixing Blue harbor and the Caribbean. Add white for lighter areas. 
  2. Add contrast by putting a bit of Bahama blue.
  3. Draw a horizontal line using lime green mixed with blue for the grass. The blue tones down the green, so you can create a shadow.
  4. Draw lines for the spring path.
  5. Lighten some areas with white to make them look closer.
  6.  Use burnt umber and white for the path.
  7. Then, work on the trees using lime green. Add blue for depth.
  8. Use mint julep and lime green to add a second layer of paint to the grass. Pull in some blue for the shadows.
  9. Lightly drag your brush loaded with periwinkle on the grass. Next, add some purple. 
  10. Combine periwinkle and purple. Lightly brush this new color to the grass.
  11. Throw in some hot pink to the grass.
  12. Paint the tree trunks using a round brush.
  13. Paint the leaves pink, starting from the bottom.

For more tips + techniques on how to paint on canvas, here’s a guide I wrote.


How Do You Easily Paint Sunflowers?

spring painting ideas

With a few brushstroke techniques, you can easily paint a sunflower in no time, follow any of these tutorials: 23 Easy Tutorials How to Paint a Sunflower (Acrylic, Watercolor, Pouring Etc)

Steps

  1. Use a mixture of yellow and brown. Paint the flower center. 
  2. Let the paint dry. 
  3. Mix yellow with a bit of orange to create a vibrant yellow for the petals. 
  4. Begin painting the petals from the center to the tip. Repeat until you complete the circle.
  5. Add a second layer of petals. Place a petal between the two petals in the first layer.
  6. Let the paint dry.
  7.  Give the flower depth by adding shadows using yellow and a bit of brown. Work with the first layer of petals first. 
  8. Add shadows to the last layer of petals. 
  9. Paint tiny dots in the center of the flower.
  10. Add highlight to the petals and the center using a brush loaded with white paint. 
  11. Paint the stem using a combination of yellow and green.
  12. Paint the leaves. 

Wrap-up

I hope the collection of spring painting ideas above brought you the inspiration you needed for your project! 

For more painting ideas, I’ve also written easy Christmas and winter canvas painting ideas for beginners.

Happy painting!