Art Project for Kids: Emil Nolde Poppies
Emil Nolde is one of my favorite artists who paints flowers. I especially love his delicate yet loose poppy watercolor paintings. I bought several art books for my daughter but none of them contained my favorite poppy paintings of his. I’ve collected them instead on my Pinterest Board, Virtual Art Museum.
I also have a Veteran’s Day craft and book here.
Image from Visualize Us
Image from The Red List
My 12-year-old daughter’s art assignment was to look at Emil Nolde’s flower paintings and then do one of her own. She used very wet acrylic on thick watercolor paper to make a beautiful painting she sold as a wedding card.
Here’s another painting she did that is less watery, also in acrylic.
If you need inspiration from actual poppies, I can sympathize. I tried to grow poppies to paint but they have a very short blooming season. Still, if you are able to grow them, this would make a nice Spring art project. I now collect them on my Pinterest board, Flowers to Paint. Here are a few of the poppies but there are more if you need flowers year-round to paint.
image from Public Domain Pictures
Untitled photograph by Narelle Sartain on Flickr (discovered via Unspiration Daily). Find more from Narelle in her portfolio and online shop.
If you want to see other works of art by Emil Nolde, here are some resources.
Emil Nolde: My Garden Full of Flowers
Emil Nolde: Flowers
Sticker book of Emil Nolde Paintings
p.s. Here are books for kids for Veteran’s Day as well as crafts.
p.p.s. Remembering the Veterans in my Life: A Book List honoring the 442nd Regiment of WWII
To examine any of the items listed, please click on image of item.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Well you KNOW this post is right up my alley! I love poppies, too. They are soooo beautiful, and fleeting. I will have Fen try flower painting on some cards- love it!
Hi Artchoo,
My first art lesson post; I have ideas but I have to get my kids to do them. This project was done by my oldest at her art lesson. I loved the way it came out but I love, love, love poppies too!
I love the inspiration and it made a perfect wedding card!
A long time ago I though it would be cool to paint poppies all over my bedroom walls inspired by The Wizard of Oz. Never got around to it but still think poppies are so poppy!
Hi Ann,
I love poppies. There is something about them that makes they so perfect for watercolor!
This is an awesome lesson. My six year old’s art classes with a working artist were cancelled for fall due to unforseen circumstances. This will make for some excellent inspiration while we wait for the winter term. Thank you so much!
Hi Snowden Support,
If you end up doing this project, I’d love to add your 6 year old’s piece to this post! Just send me the image and I’ll update the post.