Easy Paintings for Kids -Watercolor Ocean Painting Art
Are you looking for easy painting ideas for kids at home that don’t require many supplies or much prep time? This type of Watercolor and Ocean Painting Art project can be done with only watercolor paints, water, and school glue.
Easy painting ideas provide a fun and educational way for kids to explore their creativity, learn new skills, and express themselves artistically, promoting holistic development.

Watercolor Ocean Painting Craft
This art project is best done on thick paper, such as cardstock, to prevent the watercolor paint from bleeding through.
We have provided 12 FREE Fish Outlines to use with this project. They include several fish templates, a Dolphin template, a coral reef template, a seahorse template, and a starfish template. You can download these free templates below.
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Children love to paint, and fish and other ocean animals are popular subjects for young artists. If you’re looking for an easy painting project for your kids, try using our fish templates.
Print these templates on cardstock or construction paper, then paint them with watercolors or simple water-based paints.

You could also have your child trace the outline onto a canvas or art paper. Once the outline is complete, they can start filling in the details with their favorite colors.
If you want to add some dimension to the project, try using clear or school glue, as demonstrated below. With some creativity, your child will have a one-of-a-kind painting they’ll be proud to display.
Supplies needed for Watercolor and Glue Art – EASY Paintings for Kids
Printer (I use this one)
School glue (in your choice of style: glitter, white, or glow-in-the-dark)
Watercolor paints
Water
Paintbrush
Coloring page (Get the free resource at the bottom of the post)

This project can be done on any outline or shape you want. We chose to do this with ocean pictures because we love coloring the ocean blue. We also love all types of beautiful tropical fish with many colors.
Your coloring page should be on thick paper, like cardstock, for best results.

Trace the lines with glue, filling in small spaces. Then let the glue dry before adding watercolor paint to the picture.

Paint the picture using watercolor paints. Be creative and bring the picture to life. In the above ocean picture, it looks like the fish are swimming!

We used red, orange, yellow, and blue watercolors to paint the fish picture above. Then we added glue to the fish’s outline to give it a three-dimensional look.

Another idea is what we did in the octopus picture above. We left the inside of the outline white and painted the clear glue dots and the outline of the design with watercolor paint.
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This made the picture appear to have water droplets on the paper.

When you’re done, let the paint and glue dry completely. When the paintings are dry, hang them and let the kids admire their work. The kids will be so proud of what they have accomplished!
Painting can be a fun and easy way for kids to express creativity. And what could be more fun than painting fish? Fish and sea animals come in various shapes and sizes, making them ideal subjects for kids’ paintings.
We have provided many fun fish outlines for you to enjoy. Once the paint is dry, cut out the fish and hang it up for everyone to see. With just a few simple supplies, your child can create a colorful work of art that’s sure to bring a smile to your face.
Easy Paintings for Kids-Watercolor and Glue Painting
Are you searching for simple painting projects for kids that can be done at home with minimal supplies and preparation? This type of painting activity requires only watercolor paints, water, and school glue, making cleanup a breeze once the project is completed. For the best results, use thick paper, like card stock, to prevent the watercolor paint from seeping through.
Materials
- Glue (your choice - glitter, white, or glow in the dark)
- Watercolor paints
- Water
- Paintbrush
- Fish Painting Printable
Instructions
This project can be done with any outline or shape you prefer. We chose ocean-themed pictures because we love coloring the ocean blue. First, trace the lines with glue, filling in small areas. Allow the glue to dry before adding watercolor paint. Paint the picture using watercolors and let your creativity bring it to life. When painting the fish picture above, we used red, orange, yellow, and blue watercolors. Then, we added glue to the outline of the fish to give it a three-dimensional effect.
Notes
Your coloring page should be on thick paper, like cardstock, for best results. This is a simple art project and fun for kids of all ages. When you’re done, let the paint and glue dry completely. When the paintings are dry, hang them and let the kids admire their work. The kids will be so proud of what they have accomplished!













