This chalk pastel heart art is an easy and fun Valentine’s Day art project for kids! We used a simple pastel technique that is easy for kids to do and always looks great. Drawing with pastels on black paper makes the pastels look extra bright, almost like they are glowing!
Pastels are so fun for kids to explore! Take a look at my collection of chalk pastel art for more creative ideas kids will love.
For this project, I created heart templates to use. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to instantly download your printable PDF. You can use the templates provided to make this project perfect for kids of all ages.
We have used this pastel technique for a few projects and always love the results! Take a look at this bunny art project with chalk pastels and this fall leaf chalk pastel art for more great ideas!
Tips for working with chalk pastels
Chalk pastels can be messy (but so fun!). There are a few things you can do to help keep some of the mess contained:
- Put newspaper down on desks or tables
- Put your project on a tray or a shallow cardboard box which will keep most of the mess inside the tray
- You can try doing your project outside
- Have lots of paper towels handy
- Once you are done with your project (or even halfway through if it gets really dusty), take it outside to gently blow or shake off the excess dust
- If you are using chalk pastels in the classroom and the kids are ready to take their artwork home, simply place the art between some newspaper to keep it from smudging and for easy transport.
Create your own chalk pastel heart art
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Supplies
- Heart templates (available below)
- Chalk pastels
- Black drawing paper, pastel paper, cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Q-tips or blending stick (optional)
- Paper towels
Instructions to make your heart art project
1. Print out your heart templates onto white cardstock and cut them out. Kids can also make their own template out of cardboard if they like. Using a thicker paper makes it easier to use the template.
Tape your template onto a piece of black paper. We used black drawing paper but black pastel paper, cardstock or construction paper would also work. Depending on the quality of the paper the pastels might not be as bright.
2. Draw thick lines around your template with chalk pastels. The thicker the lines, the more pastel there is to smudge.
Kids can choose to use traditional Valentine’s colors or use a variety of colors. Rainbow pastel hearts would look beautiful!
3. Using one or two fingers, smudge around your template in an outward direction. Using your fingers to smudge will usually give the best results, but some kids don’t like to get their hands dirty. They can try using a blending stick or a q-tip for this step.
Take a look at these 5 essential pastel techniques for beginners for more details on pastel techniques that kids can try.
Once you have smudged your pastels all the way around your template, carefully take the template off to reveal your amazing design!
If there is a lot of dust on the paper, take it outside to blow or shake it off. You can then take a q-tip and carefully wipe away any extra smudges on the inside of the heart to clean up the area a bit.
4. If you are doing the smaller heart inside the larger heart. Tape the smaller heart template inside your larger pastel drawing.
This time when you are drawing around the template, you don’t want to draw the lines as thick. The lines need to be thinner because there is not as much room to smudge.
Remind kids to be careful when drawing and smudging around the smaller heart so that the bigger heart doesn’t get wrecked.
This chalk pastel heart art turned out so beautifully and having kids choose their own colors and heart template makes each one unique! This is a wonderful Valentine’s Day art project that kids of all ages will enjoy.
For more great Valentine’s project ideas check out my collection of creative Valentine’s Day arts and crafts for kids to make!
>> Click here to download your heart templates
More Valentine’s Day art projects kids will love
Mixed Media Heart Art Project for Kids
Easy Heart Spin Painting for Valentine’s Day
Follow me on Pinterest for more amazing project ideas.
Pin this chalk pastel art for later
Easy Chalk Pastel Heart Art for Kids to Make
Colorful chalk pastel heart art for kids to make. Heart templates included making this Valentine's Day art project easy for kids of all ages!
Materials
- Black drawing paper, pastel paper, cardstock, or construction paper
- Chalk pastels
- Printable heart templates
- Painter's tape
- Q-tips or blending stick (optional)
Tools
- Scissors
Instructions
- Print out your heart templates onto white cardstock and cut out.
- Use painter's tape to tape your template down in the middle of your paper.
- Use chalk pastels to draw thick lines around your template. Kids can choose to use traditional Valentine's Day colors or they can use a variety of colors.
You want your lines to be fairly thick around your template so there is enough pastel to smudge with. - Once you are done drawing around your template, use your finger to smudge the pastels in an outward direction. Continue smudging around your template in one direction only.
Have some paper towels handy for kids to wipe their fingers on. If kids do not want to use their fingers to smudge, they can try using a q-tip or blending stick. - Carefully lift off your template to reveal your design!
- If you are using the double heart design, tape the smaller heart in the middle of the bigger heart. Draw around your template but this time your lines do not need to be as thick because you don't have as much room to smudge with.
- Carefully smudge around your smaller heart, taking care not to disturb the bigger heart. Carefully lift off the template.
- Take your paper outside to blow or shake off any excess dust. Use a q-tip to clean up any areas that still have chalk dust on them.
