They say great minds think alike. Well, here is a collection of ideas pooled together by art teachers everywhere. If you have a great idea, write us, and we’ll add your idea. Meanwhile, here are 50 ideas to get you started. Some can be done virtually, and some with low or no budget. 

  1. Inktober during October. Prompts can be found here
  2. Host an open studio where art club members can bring a friend. I used to do this near course sign-ups! 
  3. Pendulum painting. Directions for pendulum painting are here. Or better yet, watch one being done here
  4. Execute a mural at your school. Inspiration here
  5. Play Art Games. Some favorites: WatchamaDrawit, Pictureka, Roll-a-Miro, HUES and CUES, Mythical Creatures Drawing Game & Animal Art Ideas, Starving Artists Game, Das Kunst-Memo, The Art Matching Game, Modern Art, A Fake Artist Goes to New York, Artsy Fartsy, Doodle Face Game, Starting Lines, Ready, Set, Draw!: A Game of Creativity and Imagination, (https://amzn.to/3MtbTuy), Art Out of the Box: Creativity games for artists of all ages, Telestrations, Doodle a Droodle, Colorbrain, Bob Ross the Art of Chill, Happy Little Accidents, Scavenger Art: Creative challenges for curious kids, (https://amzn.to/39DwZHK)
  6. Design an art club t-shirt! Here is one I did with my art club. Try these t-shirts sold in packs, which comes out to be $3.50 apiece.
  7. Learn to tie-dye or batik; it is always a hit! 
  8. One teacher did ongoing collaborative relief portraits of our administration using fruit loops and different colored Cheetos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3-HuPOCH0HALCri3y62zBtzWcrQqbLoe5zl1zclT4tsc0paF0d8tsFyu8&v=i2duYw2-yM4&feature=youtu.be
  9. Some schools reported painting school or local store windows for homecoming or for the holidays. 
  10. Paint with residents at a local nursing home.
  11. Pumpkin carving contest or a gingerbread house contest.
  12. Valentine’s Day cards. See a great project from My Art Lesson link here:)
  13. Art teacher Erin Marie does big year-long projects with the senior students and smaller seasonal projects with the juniors. “As the year progresses, the juniors get to assist the seniors when needed. We have been doing wearable art….finding old wedding gowns and suits and using them as canvases that they can wear at our art’s night.”

  14. Host a college visit with portfolio reviews.
  15. Have an alum visit during college break to talk about their experience at art school and show work.
  16. Community Projects such as Empty Bowls or the Memory Project.
  17. Host a draw-a-thon. 
  18. Create an ABC book for students in grade 1, illustrated by your art club members.
  19. Do Oreo cookie carvings. Wait, you haven’t heard about this? Check this out, and then buy your Oreos in bulk here
  20. Participate in monthly Art Dares and Art Challenges such as at Art Prof. 
  21. Host a gift night where students can come in and make a gift for someone. 
  22. Take a field trip to a museum.
  23. Host a Bob Ross paint along.
  24. Art sale fundraiser for those with a kiln. This is an example of what art teacher Jenna Bailey did for her art club fundraiser. She reports, “I have had great success having students help make ceramic jewelry that we sold before Christmas. We did it two years in a row, and it was a hit. 

  25. Painted Rocks! Buy your river rocks in bulk here. Ideas and instructions here
  26. Sticker Mule to create art club stickers
  27. Fundraiser activity idea: gift wrapping for teachers with gifts for the Holidays 
  28. Origami! Origami paper can be found here. Origami instructions are found here.
  29. Have parents or local residents who work in an art-related career visit to talk about their careers. 
  30. Start a door decorating service. Teachers can “hire” art club members to decorate their classroom doors.
     
  31. Learn to yarn bombing.
  32. Make linocut cards. 
  33. Make chia pets out of clay; video how-to here
  34. Make homemade sketchbooks. Instructions and ideas are here
  35. Watch an art movie or documentary (obviously, screen it first to see that it is appropriate for your school and age students). Examples: Girl with a Pearl Earring, Loving Vincent, Exit Through the Gift Shop
  36. Learn calligraphy.
  37. Make zentangles. Lesson idea here. I love using this micron pen set, and I cut down white cardstock. Some great resources for Zentangle patterns can be found in these books that I highly recommend: Zentangle Basics 1, Joy of Zentangle, Zentangle Sourcebook
  38. Shibori Tie-Dye for fabric or paper workshop
  39. Found object collage, Loise Nevelson style. 
  40. Create styrogami. All you need are Xacto knives and styrofoam cups. 
  41. Do you have a ceramic program? Make a mug, and then have a hot chocolate party. Another possibility, good for both virtual clubs and in-person, is to decorate a paper Starbucks cup. See examples on Pinterest.
  42. Host an art drive. What is an art drive? Where families donate art supplies that are sitting around unused. Items might include Digital Cameras, markers, paper, crayons, etc. 
  43. Hold a trashion challenge; ideas here
  44. Try gelatin printing, how to make your own plate, and a lesson.
  45. Try making neurographic art.
  46.  Make an exquisite corpse drawing. Instructions here
  47.  Marble paper or do what I did during the holidays with my art club and make marbled scarves for gifts. Or make these great gift bags and boxes, which I have also done. I recommend these supplies.
  48. Plastic wrap/packing tape sculpture installations.
  49. Make painters tape murals.
  50. Create a Chihuly-inspired sculpture like this one.

Everything you want to know to launch and run a successful Art Club

Twenty five NEW ideas for your art club!