Jean-Michel Basquiat was a groundbreaking artist known for his bold colors, expressive lines, and powerful messages. His artwork is a great way to introduce kids to modern art, allowing them to experiment with different techniques while learning about creativity and self-expression. This Easy Jean-Michel Basquiat Self-Portrait Art Project is a fun and engaging way for kids to create their own expressive self-portraits using oil pastels and watercolor paints.
With our free self-portrait printable, all children big and small can do this project no matter their skill level. This will allow them to focus on color, lines, and emotion—just like Basquiat did! Whether you’re a parent looking for a fun art activity or a teacher incorporating Black History Month into your lessons, this project is a simple and impactful way to celebrate Basquiat’s artistic legacy.
Why You’ll Love This Art Project
This Jean-Michel Basquiat-inspired art project is the perfect way to introduce kids to abstract expression and street art. Here’s why it’s a great activity:
- Encourages Creativity: Your child can express themselves and create a self portrait using bold colors and energetic lines, just like Basquiat.
- Simple, Yet Impactful: Use simple materials and my free printable this project can be set up in minutes but the results are stunning!
- Teaches Art History in a Fun Way: This art project can let your child learn about Basquiat’s life and artistic style.
- Perfect for All Skill Levels: Perfect for toddlers to preschooler and even kids as old as 12 years old.
Who Was Jean-Michel Basquiat? (For Kids!)
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist who became famous in the 1980s for his unique paintings. He started as a graffiti artist in New York City, using walls and buildings as his canvas before moving on to painting on large canvases.
His artwork often included words, symbols, and crowns, representing power and self-worth. Basquiat wanted to tell stories about history, identity, and culture through his art. He believed that anyone could be an artist if they had something important to say. Today, his work is celebrated in museums all over the world!
Learn more by watching this video on Youtube:
Materials You’ll Need
- Watercolor paper
- Jean-Michel Basquiat style self-portrait printable ( download below)
- Oil pastels
- Watercolor paints
- Paintbrushes
- Water cup
How to Make Your Own Basquiat-Inspired Art
1. Print and Prep
Download and print the self-portrait template on watercolor paper for best results. Find the free printable at the end of this post.
Talk to kids about Basquiat’s style—he often used bold colors, overlapping lines, and expressive shapes.
2. Outline with Oil Pastels
Use oil pastels to trace over the self-portrait outline.
Don’t forget to outline the extra details like the crown. Remember if your child would like to try and draw their own self portrait, show them this example and invite them to create their own and add extra details like crowns, symbols, or words—just like Basquiat did! This is perfect for older more experience artists!
3. Paint with Watercolors
Use bright, vibrant colors to paint around and inside the portrait.
Layer colors and let some areas blend while keeping other parts bold and sharp.
4. Add Final Touches
Go back with oil pastels to make any lines stand out.
Encourage kids to add symbols, words, or patterns that reflect their personality.
Tips for Success
- Let Kids Be Free – Basquiat’s work wasn’t about perfection—it was about expression. Encourage kids to be bold!
- Use Contrast – Layering dark oil pastels over bright watercolors makes the artwork pop.
- Discuss Their Art – Ask kids to explain their choices and what their self-portrait represents.
Play2Learn Toddler & Preschool Programs for Curious Toddlers
There is no limit to your toddler’s energy and curiosity. That energy and curiosity although a joy can be challenging at times. Their interest in just about everything around them is what makes them great learners. One and two year olds can soak up so much just from their senses!
But as a teacher or parent that thirst for learning can be exhausting. That is why I created this toddler and preschooler program. To help you get the most out of this time with your curious toddler without having to come up with creative ways to play and interact with them.
Play2Learn for Toddlers includes 20 Units for toddlers. Each 2-week toddler unit has 20 super easy to set up and engaging activities for toddlers 18 months to 3 years.
Play2Learn Preschool which includes 20 Units for preschoolers. Each 2-week preschoolers unit has 20 unique and easy to set up and engaging activities for preschoolers 3 years to 5 years. That’s over 800 learning activities for your toddler and preschooler at your fingertips! So many ideas you and your child will never be bored again!
These toddler and preschool lesson plans and activities will definitely keep you and your toddler and preschooler busy playing and learning!
Click here for more information: Play2Learn
Book: Exciting Sensory Bins for Curious Kids
Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids. Or grab your copy at Amazon.
Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.
Designed for toddlers 18 months and up.
Book: Super STEAM Activity Book for Kids
Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more.
Find out more and grab your copy here.
Designed for preschoolers 3 years old and up.
Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids
Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids, of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles tha. t show them how to think outside the box.
- 350 riddles for kids—Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
- Level up their skills—Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
- Double-check their work—Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.
Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!
Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.
TV Show: Curious Crafting
I’m so excited to share my crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched in July 2022 on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube! Season 2 aired in August 2023! My show was also nominated in 2023 for Best Live Action Preschool Series by the Youth Media Alliance Awards of Excellence.
Curious Crafting Season 1 is also now airing in Australia on ABC! Watch it here!
Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.
In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create.
Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.
This show designed for toddlers and preschoolers 2.5 years old and up.
