19 Simple Watercolor Christmas Art Ideas For Kids

Christmas is a magical time of year, and there’s no better way to get children excited about the holiday season than through creative watercolor Christmas art projects.

Watercolor painting allows kids to experiment with color blending, brush techniques, and artistic expression, all while creating festive pieces to decorate their homes or gift to loved ones.

Whether you’re looking for easy ideas to introduce kids to watercolor or you want to encourage them to develop their artistic skills, these 19 simple watercolor Christmas art projects are perfect for children of all ages.

1. Watercolor Christmas Tree

A classic and simple watercolor Christmas tree is a great starting point for kids. By using green shades for the tree and splashes of red, gold, and silver for the decorations, kids can experiment with layering colors and adding their personal touch.

Encourage them to create a star at the top using yellow or gold for a bright, eye-catching effect.

Key Benefits:

• Easy design for beginners
• Opportunity to experiment with color blending
• Perfect for holiday cards or decorative pieces

2. Snowman Watercolor Art

A cute and fun snowman watercolor painting is ideal for kids. Begin by painting the snowman’s body with white watercolor paint, then add buttons, a carrot nose, and scarf details using colorful accents. Use light blue to create a frosty winter background with falling snowflakes for extra flair.

Key Benefits:

• Encourages creativity with scarf patterns and accessories
• Great for experimenting with shading and background effects
• Easy to modify based on age and skill level

3. Watercolor Candy Canes

Painting candy canes is another fun and simple project for kids. Red and white stripes are the hallmark of candy canes, so encourage children to carefully alternate these colors. For a twist, they can add small dots, stars, or glitter to the design for extra sparkle.

Key Benefits:

• Simple design for beginners
• Great way to practice symmetry
• Fun to use different colors for customization

4. Santa’s Sleigh

Children will love painting Santa’s sleigh filled with gifts. The sleigh can be painted with rich red watercolor, and the presents can be done in various bright colors like green, blue, and yellow. Add some snow on the ground using white watercolor paint to create a wintery scene.

Key Benefits:

• Promotes creativity with gift box designs
• Great for practicing shapes and movement
• Perfect for showcasing festive colors

5. Christmas Stocking

A traditional Christmas stocking can be easily painted with watercolor using a combination of red, green, and white. Kids can get creative by adding details like stars, snowflakes, or even a little teddy bear peeking out from the top.

Key Benefits:

• Simple to create for younger kids
• Customizable with personal designs
• Great for making Christmas cards

6. Reindeer with Watercolor

A watercolor reindeer is another great project for kids. Start by sketching the reindeer outline with a pencil and then use brown for the body and red for the nose (as a nod to Rudolph). Adding small snowflakes in the background will create a magical, festive scene.

Key Benefits:

• Encourages detailed artwork like antlers
• Easy to create using basic watercolor techniques
• Fun to experiment with color mixing

7. Watercolor Snowflakes

Create a stunning snowflake design using white watercolor on a blue background. Kids can learn about symmetry by painting different shapes and patterns radiating from the center. This project is perfect for practicing clean, controlled brush strokes.

Key Benefits:

• Focuses on symmetry and patterns
• Simple enough for younger children
• Creates a beautiful holiday decoration

8. Watercolor Wreath

A watercolor wreath is a fun and festive project. Kids can create a circular shape with green watercolor, using various shades of green to create a textured look. Add small accents like red berries, holly leaves, and even a ribbon in gold or red for a finishing touch.

Key Benefits:

• Encourages the use of multiple colors
• Helps kids practice creating rounded shapes
• Great for decorating doors or walls

9. Watercolor Gingerbread House

Painting a gingerbread house brings a sweet and festive vibe to any Christmas art project. Kids can paint the brown house and then add bright-colored candies like red, yellow, and green. To complete the look, add icing details using white watercolor paint.

Key Benefits:

• Fun and colorful design
• Perfect for creating a scene or holiday card
• Can be customized with candy designs

10. Watercolor Poinsettia Flowers

A poinsettia flower painted with watercolors will add a festive touch to any room. Kids can use red and green for the flower petals and leaves, adding details with yellow in the center. This project is a great way to experiment with shading and layering colors.

Key Benefits:

• Encourages practice with layering techniques
• Helps children learn to mix warm and cool tones
• Adds holiday elegance to artwork

11. Christmas Lights Watercolor

A watercolor Christmas light design is perfect for practicing control over fine details. Have kids paint strings of lights using bright colors like yellow, blue, red, and green. They can even add some sparkle using white paint or glitter for a more festive look.

Key Benefits:

• A great exercise in fine detail work
• Fun and colorful project for children of all ages
• Ideal for decorating Christmas cards

12. Watercolor Snowy Scene

A serene snowy scene is a relaxing and easy project for children to try. Use a soft blue wash for the sky and then add snow-covered trees with white accents. Children can add some snowflakes for a touch of magic.

Key Benefits:

• Simple to execute with basic watercolor techniques
• Creates a peaceful, wintery atmosphere
• Perfect for teaching color gradients and background blending

13. Watercolor Christmas Ornaments

Kids can paint a series of Christmas ornaments using bright, bold watercolors. They can choose classic round baubles or more unique shapes like stars and bells. Use gold or silver to paint the hanging ribbons or clasps for an extra touch of holiday charm.

Key Benefits:

• Fun and creative way to express holiday spirit
• Teaches shape painting and color use
• Can be hung up for festive decor

14. Watercolor Santa Face

A simple and fun project is painting Santa Claus’s face. Kids can paint his red hat, white beard, and rosy cheeks with watercolors. This project is perfect for those who want to focus on character design while incorporating bright colors and fun details.

Key Benefits:

• Easy to adapt to any skill level
• Encourages detail work like facial features
• Great for personalized Christmas cards

15. Watercolor Christmas Tree Ornaments

Painting tree ornaments with watercolor allows kids to get creative with various shapes and patterns. Children can use different colors for each ornament, and create designs like stripes, polka dots, or even stars. This is a wonderful way to introduce kids to pattern creation in their art.

Key Benefits:

• Teaches pattern development and color coordination
• Fun way to celebrate the season
• Great for making gift tags or cards

16. Watercolor Winter Animals

Animals like reindeer, polar bears, and snowy owls make excellent subjects for watercolor projects. Children can paint a polar bear walking through the snow or a reindeer with a red nose. These animals add a playful and whimsical touch to the Christmas season.

Key Benefits:

• Fun way to practice animal shapes and textures
• Inspires creativity in designs
• Encourages attention to detail in fur textures or feathers

17. Watercolor Christmas Village

A Christmas village scene, complete with snow-covered houses and twinkling lights, is a fun and whimsical project for kids. They can paint small homes, trees, and snowy paths, using blue and white to create a frosty winter look. Add a few lighted windows with yellow for a cozy feel.

Key Benefits:

• Builds imagination and storytelling through art
• Allows for multi-layered painting to build depth
• Fun way to create a Christmas masterpiece

18. Watercolor Snow Globe

A snow globe can be painted using watercolors to create a magical, wintry scene inside. Kids can depict snowflakes, trees, or even Santa inside the globe. The circular shape of the globe is a fun challenge for younger artists to work on.

Key Benefits:

• Teaches shading and creating depth in paintings
• Easy to customize with personal elements like figures or animals
• Perfect for creating a keepsake piece

19. Watercolor Christmas Present

Kids can paint a simple Christmas present with a bow on top, using bright watercolor colors. This project is simple and allows for fun designs on the wrapping paper, from polka dots to stripes to swirls.

Key Benefits:

• Teaches children about designing patterns for wrapping paper
• Fun and festive art piece for holiday cards or gifts
• Easy for beginners to paint

These 19 simple watercolor Christmas art ideas are the perfect way for kids to celebrate the holiday season through creativity. Whether they are beginners or more experienced young artists, these projects will help them express their holiday spirit while honing their artistic skills.

So gather the watercolors, brushes, and paper, and let your little artists create their own festive masterpieces this Christmas!