I enjoy sharing easy kids’ activities that require minimal setup and use items you likely already have at home. This Painting with Circles art project uses disposable cups and other household items to create bold, eye-catching artwork. It’s a perfect activity to pair with a shape study and works well for group or individual art time. For additional ideas, try our DIY Shape Stickers for more shape-based inspiration.
If your kids enjoy this project and you want more similar ideas, explore other circle art techniques and projects for fresh inspiration.
Why kids will love circle painting
- Simple to prepare using materials you already have at home
- Open-ended, exploratory painting that encourages creativity
- Easy to personalize by changing colors, sizes, and placement
Supplies needed
- Easel paper or large white construction paper
- Tempera or washable paint in a selection of colors
- Disposable cups, bottle caps, lids, or paper tubes in various sizes
- Paper plate or tray to use as a paint palette
How to make circle art
Gather a variety of disposable cups, lids, bottle caps, or paper tubes to create different circle sizes. A larger cup makes a bold circle while small bottle caps create tiny dots—mixing sizes adds visual interest. Cover your work surface and lay out a large sheet of easel paper or construction paper.
Squirt several paint colors onto a paper plate or tray to form a palette. Keep the colors mostly separate so they stay vibrant—orange, red, green, and pink work well, but choose any colors you like.
Dip the rim of a cup into a chosen paint color (the drinking end) and press it firmly onto the paper to stamp a circle. Most cups will stamp two to three times before needing a reload of paint. Vary the placement of the stamps—random, patterned, overlapping, or spaced apart—to change the look of the composition.
Repeat the stamping with different-sized tools and paint colors. Let circles overlap for layered effects, have them touch for connected shapes, or leave space for a minimalist look. This technique requires no brushes and allows kids to experiment with pattern, color mixing at edges, and composition. Once the painting has dried, display it on a wall or use the colorful sheet as unique wrapping paper.
The simplicity of painting with circles makes it ideal for classroom centers, rainy-day projects, or quick creative sessions at home. It helps children explore size, color, repetition, and negative space while producing satisfying, colorful results.
Frequently asked questions
This project is well suited for preschoolers and up; younger children may need some assistance with stamping and handling paint.
Using at least four different sizes offers plenty of variety and visual interest, but you can use as many or as few as you like.
Related posts
- Watercolor Circle Art
- Playing with Paint Activities
- Shape Sorting