In our homeschool, art isn’t just about picking up a paintbrush and hoping for the best (although there’s plenty of that too!). We’ve found that organizing art around themes—especially seasonal ones—brings a whole new level of excitement to our school days. This fall, we spent a few weeks diving into 8 different autumn-inspired projects, and let me tell you, it’s been one of our favorite art sessions yet!

Why Themed Art?

I started themed art projects as a fun way to celebrate the seasons, but it’s grown into so much more. Themed art isn’t just about creating pretty pictures (although I’m always happy to hang up our new “masterpieces” on the fridge!). It’s a way to spark creativity, connect with the season, and even sneak in some learning about nature, history, and culture.

Themed art projects have become a favorite way to slow down, connect, and celebrate the beauty around us. Art doesn’t have to be a structured “class” with formal techniques; sometimes it’s about enjoying the journey, exploring creativity, and celebrating the uniqueness of each season. I can’t recommend themed art sessions enough for bringing more joy and meaning into your homeschool day!

After we had a good amount of projects done, we set up an “Art Show” on the kitchen island, complete with refreshments. The girls were so proud of their effort and I’m proud of the challenges they overcame with creativity.

Here are the art projects we did:

• Egg carton animal portraits
• Watercolor and pen fall trees
• Dragonfly collages
• Fish prints (from our camping trip)
• Spooky Halloween handprint spiders
• Air-dry clay owls
• Sponge painting fall trees
• Warm and cool birch trees