It’s Color Time: Art Birthday Party Ideas

Do you have a creative kid who loves to color, sculpt and paint? Kids who have a growing interest in artistic pursuits will love your creative ideas for an art birthday party theme. From the guest list and invites to artistic party favor ideas, this guide to the ultimate art birthday party from us at Pottery Barn Kids will help provide you with the inspiration you need to plan a masterpiece event.

Brainstorming and Sketching: Planning the Event

Before you get started, consider your goals for your kids art party. Do you want to use artistic decor instead of hosting activities related to the theme? Or, is your birthday boy or girl excited about getting to make some artwork during the party? If you want to host an event that includes a craft project or another creative activity that can get messy, consider planning your main activities for kids who are ages 5 and up. This makes it easier to manage all the excited young artists. It also allows kids to really exercise their creativity and enjoy the theme. Plan alternative activities that are simpler and shorter for smaller children. If possible, have another adult or teenager supervise these partygoers.

Announcing the Gallery Opening

Every element of an art-themed birthday party offers the opportunity to get creative, and the invites are no different. Turn these simple announcements into a work of art by allowing your creative kid to paint or draw an invitation scene for the front of the cards. Then, have this work scanned and printed onto cards that contain relevant text detailing when and where the party will take place. You can design the RSVP card as a postcard with a simple coloring-book-style scene outlined in black on white that guests can color in and send back with their attendance response.

Creating a Masterpiece: Decor

The decor you choose for your art birthday party can focus on simple art tools like paintbrushes connected to colorful garland streamers. Hang painters palettes dotted with a rainbow color scheme of acrylic paint to reflect the basic color wheel. You can also use printed cut-outs of educational color theory reference diagrams like the Goethe triangle and color sphere. Dress up small wooden artist’s mannequins in tiny birthday hats to add a whimsical, birthday-friendly twist on the theme. You can also let your child use tempera or acrylic paint to create an abstract pattern on sturdy white paper. Use that paper to cut out letters spelling “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” and create an artsy hanging garland.

Finding Inspiration: Activities and Favors

Simple, creative fun, such as a DIY cupcake or sugar cookie decor station can be just right for your young guests. A simple color-by-numbers activity with easy-clean washable markers or crayons is another great idea that lets kids get creative. It’s also fun to provide plain canvases along with paintbrushes, paint, glitter and other materials. Let the kids go to town creating their own original compositions. Feel free to demonstrate how to use the canvas first and even show a few different designs to help the kids get their bearings if they’ve never made a painting before.

No matter how simple your activity, you might want to advise parents to send their kids to the party wearing something they can get dirty. Consider providing aprons or smocks to protect their clothes, too. Cover up your tables as well, so kids can exercise their creativity without limit. Simple newspaper taped down to the table with a waterproof tablecloth on top can handle anything your crew of artists can throw at it.

The art that the kids make can double as both an amusement and a party favor. Plan to have the kids get to work shortly after arriving and wrap up the art project before you play games, eat cake and open presents. This way, the art has time to dry before the kids take home their new work of creative genius. If the project involves a standard canvas or paper size, get a nice frame for each child. This turns your group’s projects into the ultimate art party favors.