Heart Watercolor Painting for Kids (Valentine’s Day Art Project)
Bright colors, simple shapes, and lots of love—this watercolor heart pop art–inspired piece is the perfect way to let kids explore art while celebrating creativity. Using watercolor paints and bold heart designs, this project encourages self-expression and color mixing in a fun, low-pressure way that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day or any time of year.
Kids love watching their hearts come to life with soft, vibrant washes of color, making this a joyful and low-mess craft.
Why You’ll Love This Project
- 🎨 Easy Valentine’s Day watercolor craft for kids
- ❤️ Teaches color blending and basic watercolor techniques
- ✂️ Minimal prep, low mess, and kid-friendly
- 👧👦 Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary students
- 🖼️ Makes a beautiful Valentine’s Day decoration or gift
Materials You’ll Need
- Watercolor paper or thick drawing paper
- Watercolor paints (red, pink, purple, and optional colors)
- Paintbrushes (various sizes)
- Water cup
- Paper towels
- Pencil
- Optional: gold or white gel pen for details
Step 1: Fold and Divide Paper into Sections
Take a piece of paper and fold it in 12 equal pieces.
Step 2 : Paint with Watercolor Paints
Paint each square with watercolor paints. This is a great way to explore watercolor paints. You can spray the paper with water and watch the colors move. You can also use a cup of water with the paints and dip your brush into the color you are using.
Paint your background with any color pattern you would like.
This piece was painted with a different color in each square.
Step 3: Select and Paint Hearts
Add hearts for a Valentine touch. Again personalize the at piece by using printed hearts of your choice. You can also print out plain heart shapes and then paint them any color you would like.
✨ Free Heart Template PDF — Click to Download!
Watercolor plain hearts or print out clip art hearts.
Step 4: Cut and Glue Hearts into Sections
Next, cut out the hearts and glue one into each section.
Glue each heart in a different section.
Add any clip art you would like.
Tips & Variations
- Try ombre hearts by gradually changing the color from dark to light
- Make a heart bouquet by painting multiple hearts on one sheet
- Add glitter or metallic accents for a festive touch
- Use this technique to create heart cards for Valentine’s Day gifts
- Experiment with wet-on-wet watercolor for soft, blended backgrounds
Looking for other Valentine's Day crafts? Try some other crafts on my page!
Kim
Kim
Learning Connections
This activity is perfect for teaching kids:
- Color theory and blending
- Fine motor skills
- Shape recognition and symmetry
- Artistic confidence and creativity
It’s also an excellent way to introduce Valentine’s Day art projects with a focus on experimentation and personal expression.
Display Ideas
- Frame the heart watercolor paintings for gifts
- Hang in a classroom or playroom as a Valentine’s gallery
- Use as part of a DIY Valentine’s Day card set
- Group several paintings together for a colorful heart wall
Final Thoughts
This heart watercolor painting activity is a simple and engaging way to celebrate Valentine’s Day while helping kids explore color, creativity, and self-expression. Every painting turns out unique, making it a fun and memorable project for home or school.
Try it with your kids this Valentine’s season and watch their creativity bloom! 🌸💖
If you try this craft, I’d love to see it! Share your creations or save this project for later.
- “Leave a comment with your favorite color combo!”
- “Tag #craftymamabirdnc on Instagram so I can see your penguins!”
