DIY Art Party Ideas

Last Updated on February 26, 2023 by Tracey McGrath

Here are 5 simple and fun DIY art party ideas so you can host your own creative time with friends and family. The supplies are minimal and don’t need to break the bank!

#1 – Pour painting

This simple DIY art party idea involves pouring the paint and watching it as you let go!

Supplies:

• Canvas 8X8
• Pourable acrylic paints (or Tempera paint mixed with a little splash of water and Clear glue)
• Tray or sheet pan covered with foil

Start by choosing 3 colors.  Squirt 3 piles of paint in the center of your canvas.  You’re going to use a lot of paint for this project – so don’t be shy!  Now tilt the canvas and watch as the paint starts to glide over the canvas.  Be sure to keep your canvas over your prepared tray. The process of watching the paint can be very relaxing.  I like to turn on some quiet music and breath deeply as I watch the paint.  Add more paint and tilt your canvas until it is entirely covered with paint.  Let dry.

The tempera paint mixtures tend to be thinner. I suggest using a small plastic cup to layer your paints and then pour over your canvas. Pour about 1/2 inch of one color into your cup. Then add about 1/2 inch layer of a second paint color. Then add about 1/2 inch layer of a third color. Place your canvas on top of your cup. Now while holding the canvas tightly to your cup flip it over. Pull up on your cup and release the paint. Watch it flow out and make wonderful designs on your canvas.

Note: Tempera paints dry with a matte finish. If you want to add a sheen, you can cover it with Mod Podge once it is completely dry.

#2 – Watercolor flowers

I love this art exercise because it is relaxing to watch the colors flow on the paper. And it creates beautiful flowers!

Supplies:

• Watercolor paper
• Paintbrush
• Water
• Watercolor paints
• Painting Board (or cutting board)
• Painter’s tape

Tape your paper to your board using painter’s tape.  Wet your brush and paint with water two large circle in the center of your paper.  Now you choose your colors.  You could use one or mix two colors together.  Load your brush with color and then simply dot the tip of your brush into the wet area on your paper.  Watch as the paint expands.  Continue adding dots of paint to your “flowers” until you have filled up the two wet circles on your paper.  Allow this to dry.

After your flowers have dried, make a very light wash of any color of your choice to paint the background.  You can also add details to your flowers with a darker color in the same color family.   Add lines to create petals and dots in the center to create a pistil.   

#3 – Mandalas

Mandalas are an easy way to be mindful with art. They make a great DIY art party idea.  Anyone can learn to draw these ancient sacred circles.

Supplies:

• Compass
• Pencil
• Watercolor paper
• Colored Pencils

There are tons of coloring books and printables with pre-drawn mandalas to color.  But it can also be relaxing and fun to create your own.  This video demonstrates a simple method for drawing a mandala with a compass:

After your mandala is complete, use your colored pencils to color away!  Check out my article Mandalas with Meaning to learn how to create a daily mindfulness practice using mandalas.   

#4 – Line Drawings

This is one of my favorite DIY art party ideas because it’s so simple, beautiful and meditative!

Supplies:

• Watercolor paper
• Thin-tipped black marker (like Micron)

This exercise is inspired by the amazing Amy Maricle and her book Draw Yourself Calm.  

Start by drawing curvy lines across the width of your paper.  Then add more lines to create shapes that resemble leaves.  See below for an example:

Then simply fill in your leaves with lines.  You may find this activity very relaxing and want to fill up your entire page!

#5 – Creative collaging

This is a great DIY art party idea since it involves simple materials, easy clean up and is fun to do as a group.

Supplies:

• Old Magazines
• Posterboard
• Gluestick
• Scissors

Set a timer for 15 minutes.  Start by going through old magazines and pulling out any images that grab your attention.  Don’t think about what you want to create in this step.  Just pull and stack up your pages.  

Now go through your images and narrow down the parts of those images that you feel most drawn to.  Is it the eye on the model’s face that intrigues you?  In the image of a car may be the circular shape of the wheels reminds you of the sun.  Start to cut out the parts that you feel drawn to the most.

Throw away all the scrap paper.  Lay out all your pieces so you can see them clearly.  Any repeating patterns or images?  A mix of random shapes or are there similarities?  Now start to assemble your images on your poster board.  This part may take a while until you start to see something come together.  

You may create a human shape with car parts.  Or a landscape using words and a face for the sun.  Create something new with what you’ve collected!  Once you feel good about your collage glue your pieces down.   

Let’s Connect!

If you’d like support creating a mindful art practice, then book a session with me here! Or check out my digital course, Becoming Blissful with Mindful Art, for a complete system created to help you have more mindful moments!

References:

1. https://europeanjournalofhumour.org/index.php/ejhr/article/view/Rene%20Proyer
2. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01490400.2013.761905?journalCode=ulsc20

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