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Free Art Tools for Kids

Updated on November 20, 2012

Kids and Art

KIDS LOVE ART

From the moment my kids were old enough to hold a pencil, they were trying to draw. Now that they're a bit older, they each have their own computers. Their designs have evolved from the real world into the digital world, giving them valuable computer skills.

NOTE: If you have older children, check out my Free Art Tools Online Page. The tools are a bit more complex but older children should be able to enjoy many of them.

Click to go to Hippo Paint
Click to go to Hippo Paint

Hippo Paint

Now your child can color anything they desire by searching for it at Hippo Paint. Just type in a subject and select an image from the results. It's easy and fun. The possibilities are endless. Us adults can have a little fun with this one as well.

Click to Go To Kerpoof
Click to Go To Kerpoof

Kerpoof

Kerpoof is a fun program for both children and adults. It's simple enough for the young users but versatile enough for adults to fully enjoy. The website is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company.

*Flash and Java browser

*Free to use and to download JPEGs

*Must have an account to save unfinished work

*Make artwork (even if you aren't good at drawing!)

*Make an animated movie (really! it's easy!)

*Earn Koins which you can trade for fun things in the Kerpoof Store

*Make a printed card, t-shirt, or mug

*Tell a story

*Make a drawing

*Vote on the movies, stories, and drawings that other people have made

Art Software for Kids

Click to Go To ABYya!
Click to Go To ABYya!

ABCYa! Paint Go

ABCya! Paint Go is the perfect tool for beginning little hands.

*Learn Mouse Skills

*Large Image Buttons for tools

*Stickers

*Shapes

Click to Go To Colouring Bugs
Click to Go To Colouring Bugs

Colouring Bugs

Colouring Bugs is a fun way to learn patterns and have fun coloring online.

*Easy point and click

*Large areas to color

*Several Bugs to choose From

Click to Go To Shidonni
Click to Go To Shidonni

Shidonni

Shidonni is a young child friendly browser paint tool.

*Free to use

*Colorful picture tool icons

*Prompted ideas on what to draw

*Sign up to play with drawing

Click to Go To Crayola Digi-Color
Click to Go To Crayola Digi-Color

Crayola Digi-Color

Crayola Digi-Color is a fun way kids can use all the different Crayola tools to create fun images and print.

*No save option

*No Registration Required

*Circular Tool Selection that might be difficult for younger users

*Choose size of tip and color on Tool Wheel

Digital Tablets for Kids

If you'd rather try to teach your children how to draw using a digital tablet, here are some affordable starter tablets to get them started.

Click to Go to Canvastic!
Click to Go to Canvastic!

TeCanvastic!

Canvastic is the fantastic student-focused graphics/text publishing tool for K-8. It features easy to understand tools and options with a clear, clean interface. There are no "toy" features that waste the students' time. It's perfect for primary students and the simple version is free.

*No Registration Required

*Point and click makes it easy for kids

*Text and Graphics Publishing Tool for K-8

*Clear On-Screen Display

*Grows With the User

*No Toy Features

Click to Go To Wixie
Click to Go To Wixie

Wixie

Wixie helps you learn to paint, add stickers, and add text. Students can use Wixie's paint tools, text options, clip art, and voice recording to develop online storybooks and Flash animations, building essential 21st century skills. Wixie comes with hundreds of curriculum activities. Teachers can also create customized content for their classes and distribute it to students in seconds.

Click to Go To Cubescape
Click to Go To Cubescape

Cubscape

Cubescape is a virtual place where you can build with lego cubes

*No Registration Required

*Save has been permentaly disabled

*Build a Lego world

*Blow it up

*Replay it to see how you did it all

Click to Go To Digital Drawn
Click to Go To Digital Drawn

Digital Drawn

*No Registration Required

*Uses Java

*Upload your Image to the gallery or your computer

*Lots of stickers to have fun with

*Create and Send E-Cards

Draw to Go To Draw Greetings
Draw to Go To Draw Greetings

Draw Greetings

Draw Greeting is a flash drawing tool where you can create designs with the provided symbols, paint, draw, add a message and send a message to someone. The interface is very simple and easy to use.

*No Registration Required

*Print your creations at Zazzle.com

*Send as an e-card

Click to Go To Dreezle
Click to Go To Dreezle

Dreezle

Dreezle Paint, Color and Stamp!

Click to Go To Tate Kids
Click to Go To Tate Kids

Tate Kids - Imaginary City

http://kids.tate.org.uk/games/my-imaginary-city/ has a bit more of an advanced interface that is best suited for older children. Artists use their imaginations to create scenes and places that are not real and that might never exist.

*Flash Player

*No Registration Required

*Bin sends selection into the garbage

*Tint the drawn city buildings, roads and more

*Resize by drag the mouse up or down

*Spot The Details allows children to see where objects where taken from famous artwork

*No Save option, but you can print or send to the Tate Kid Gallery

Click to Go To Jack Pullock
Click to Go To Jack Pullock

Jackson Pullock

Jackson Pullock is a very simple program that's easy for both kids and adults alike.

*To Registration Required

*Just move your mouse over the screen

*Click to change colors

*Move the mouse faster for thinner lines and slower for fatter ones

*No Save Option

Click to Go To Jungle Art
Click to Go To Jungle Art

Jungle Art

Jungle Art

*Uses Shockwave

*Mix and match plants, animals, and other scenery

*Add weather effect

*The AUTO button is great for getting ideas

*No save option but you can print

Click to Go To Paintbox
Click to Go To Paintbox

Paintbox

Paintbox a Shockwave program that's fun for kids of all ages.

*No Registration Required

*No Save - Take a screenshot or print

*Easy to use - just point and click

*Several background pictures and colors

Click to Go To Collage Machine
Click to Go To Collage Machine

Collage Machine

Collage Machine Collage Machine is fun for children of all ages. Click a menu picture and see what happens, or roll over the question mark and hold down the mouse button to learn how the program works. Use the AUTO button for collage ideas. It will make a new arrangement each time you click.

*No Registration Required

*Point and Click

*No Save - take a screenshot or print

Click to Go To Pixel Face
Click to Go To Pixel Face

Pixel Face

Pixel Face uses Shockwave to create artwork from the color pallete of famous artwork.

*No Registration Required

*Easy to use

*Several brushes

*Point and click

*No Save Option - take a screenshot or print

Click to Go To PhotoOp
Click to Go To PhotoOp

PhotoOp

PhotoOp is a two-part interactive activity that introduces you to digital photography and photo editing. Use the virtual camera to create snapshots and explore lighting, focus, shutter speed, and compositional effects. After you have taken some photos, transform your pictures into something completely different.

*No Registration Required

*Point and Click

Click to Go To Wallover
Click to Go To Wallover

Wallover

Wallover is a symmetrical designs painted on a virtual wall. Select a square or hexagonal grid and choose a pattern and background color, then watch what happens as you draw. Change the brush size or color to vary the patterns. The rainbow brush cycles through colors as you hold down the mouse.

*No Registration Required

*Simple to use

Click to Go To See-Saw
Click to Go To See-Saw

See-Saw

See-Saw lets you select photographs of natural and man-made objects, then assemble the pieces to create a seascape or an abstract composition. The BUILD tool helps you construct animated characters. ADD them to your scene as still objects, movers, rockers, or rollers. Hit the green PLAY button to set the scene in motion.

*No Registration Required

*Uses Shockwave

*Use AUTO button to generate pre-made scenes

Click to Go To Faces and Places
Click to Go To Faces and Places

Faces and Places - Create Folk Art

Faces and Places is a two-part interactive activity inspired by the National Gallery's extensive collection of American naïve artists, a gift to the nation from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. Elements from more than 100 paintings have been included in these presentations. Using these two programs, young artists can create portraits, landscapes, or genre scenes of daily life.

*No Registration Required

*Uses Shockwave

*Animates the picture when you're done

*Sound Effects when you click on objects

Click to Go To Dutch Dollhouse
Click to Go To Dutch Dollhouse

Dutch Dollhouse

The Dutch Dollhouse is an interactive dollhouse in the 17th century. Children learn perspective as they move items around the room. Discover the camera in the menu and take pictures of the room. Look around to see where the snapshot goes! Change the floor, wall, windows, and more.

*No Registration Required

*Uses Shockwave

*Takes a little playing around with to get used to

*May be too difficult for new computer users

Click to Go To Tux Paint
Click to Go To Tux Paint

Tux Paint

Tux Paint is a drawing program for children ages 3 to 12. Tux Paint is used in schools around the world as a computer literacy drawing activity. It combines an easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who guides children as they use the program.

*Requires a Download

*Fun sound effects are played

* A penguin appears at the bottom to give tips and hints

*Stamps and Special Effect Tools

Click to Go To Do Ink
Click to Go To Do Ink

Do Ink

Do Ink is a place to enjoy art and animation, and make your own.

*No Registration Required

*Better Suited for Older Children

*Re-use the work of thousands of other users

Click to Go To Wambie Coloring Games
Click to Go To Wambie Coloring Games

Wambie Coloring Games

Wambie Coloring Games has a variety of coloring pages to choose from. Tailored more towards girls.

*Free to Use

*No Registration Required

*Point and Click to pick up and drop colors on the picture

*Easy for young children

Click to Go TO Mini001 Coloring Pages
Click to Go TO Mini001 Coloring Pages

Mini001

Mini001 Coloring Pages offers several coloring pages best suited for young artists.

*No Registration Required

*Point and Click to Color

*Easy to Use

Click to Go To WiiPlayable
Click to Go To WiiPlayable

WiiPlayable

WiiPlayable allows you to paint with the markers with your mouse.

*No Registration Required

*Several Colors

*Easy to use

*Fun for all ages

*Point and Click

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