Looking for a creative activity to enjoy with your kids or grandkids this summer? Painting watercolour starfish in a loose, colourful style is a perfect project! It’s easy, fun, and a great way to explore the vibrant beauty of sea life. Plus, this relaxed approach means there’s no need to worry about perfection—just let your imagination flow and enjoy the time spent together.
What You’ll Need:
Watercolour paper (300gsm/140lb, cold-pressed is ideal for kids)
Watercolour paints (a mix of bright, bold colours)
Round watercolour brushes (sizes 4 and 6 are perfect for little hands)
Pencil and eraser for sketching
Palette (a white ceramic plate works well)
Two jars of water (one for rinsing, one for clean water)
Paper towels for dabbing brushes
Plus the magic ingredient - regular table salt
Step 1: Draw the Starfish
Start by drawing a simple starfish shape on your watercolour paper.
Draw the letter Y: Lightly sketch a small letter Y. This is going to be the centre of your starfish and this will help you place the the starfish legs in a star
Add two extra lines to the Y to make a star shape
Now sketch each arm of the starfish using the middle star as a guide. Each arm can be a bit wavy and uneven—remember, real starfish come in all shapes and sizes, so no need to make it perfect!
Tip Encourage the kids to draw freely and have fun with it. If they want to add extra arms or make a funny-looking starfish, let them—creativity is the key!
Step 2: Choose Your Colours
Starfish come in a wide range of colours, from bright oranges and pinks to deep purples and blues. Let your kids choose the colours they love most. Remember colours that are adjacent on the colour wheel will work best. Think blue-pink-purple or green-yellow-blue or yellow-orange-pink
Step 3 - Activate your starfish colours
Mix the Paints: Don't start painting yet. On your palette, mix a few colours with water to to activate them. Encourage the children to mix their own colours - red and blue = purple, yellow + red = orange, blue + yellow = green
Test the Colours: Encourage your kids to test the colours on a scrap piece of paper before painting. This helps them see how the colours look on paper and gives them confidence.
Remember colours that are adjacent on the colour wheel will work best.
Step 4: Paint the Starfish using the wet in wet technique
Now for the fun part—painting! Here’s how to create a beautiful, loose watercolour starfish.
Wet-on-Wet Technique: Lightly wet the starfish shape with clean water using a round brush. Then, drop in your chosen colours. Watch how the colours blend and spread across the starfish, creating soft and unexpected patterns.
Tip: If the paint starts to puddle too much, show the kids how to gently dab the excess water with a clean thirsty brush or paper towel.
Add Salt: Whist the paint is still wet and all the colours are on, sprinkle on the salt and watch the magic unfold. WOW, isn't that beautiful? I find darker colours work best with the salt. It's easy to overdo it, so go easy
Step 4: Let It Dry
Once your starfish is painted, set it aside to dry. Watercolour paintings often look a bit different once they’re dry, so it’s fun to see how the colours change and blend together. You can use a hairdryer in a low setting to speed things up. Be careful though, if there is a lot of wet paint the hairdryer may blow it off the page
Step 5:Loose Details:
Finally, with a smaller brush, add some loose, playful details like dots or splashes. I like to add white splashes. Don’t worry about being precise—the goal is to capture the fun and fluidity of watercolour
Extra Fun: Why not turn this into a full day of ocean-themed creativity? You can paint different sea creatures, like fish or seahorses, and create an underwater scene to hang on the wall.
Final Thoughts
Painting watercolour starfish with kids is a fantastic way to encourage creativity and spend quality time together. The loose, colourful style makes it accessible for all ages and skill levels, and the end result is always a delightful surprise. So grab your brushes, dive into the world of watercolours, and enjoy this wonderful summer activity!
If you try this at home, I’d love to see your creations—feel free to share your starfish masterpieces with me on social media! @kerryslackart
If you enjoyed this activity, why not join me at the next Children/Family art class on Wednesday 28th September 2024.
Happy painting! 🌊🎨
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