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How to Make Pet Portraits for Kids

by The Artful Parent Editorial Team
July 1, 2025
pet portrait

Learn how to make colorful pet portraits with your kids using oil pastels and a bright watercolor background!

Do you have a special pet at home? Or are your kids animal lovers? Or maybe both?! Turn that love into a creative art project by helping them make a portrait of their pet using oil pastels and watercolor paint! This watercolor resist activity is a fun way to explore drawing and painting while celebrating a furry (or feathered or scaly!) friend.

We’ve made these pet portraits several times and it’s so cool to see how they evolve as our kids get older. They also make a really special memorial for pets who have passed. And if you don’t have a pet at home, your child can choose a favorite animal to draw instead, or a favorite stuffy!

How to Make Pet Portraits for Kids

MATERIALS

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Sketch your pet in pencil

    Start by lightly sketching your pet’s head (and body, if you’d like) on the paper. Keep the shapes simple and focus on basic features like ears, eyes, and a tail. If kids need to, they can look at a photo or have your pet nearby for inspiration.

    drawing a cat

  2. Add color and details with oil pastels

    Once your sketch is done, outline the drawing in black pastel or sharpie.

    coloring a cat

    Then fill in the fur, feathers, or skin with colorful oil pastels. Encourage your child to mix and layer colors to match their pet’s coloring.

    black cat

  3. Paint a watercolor background

    Using watercolor paint, fill the background with bold, vibrant color. The oil pastels will resist the paint, so the pet drawing stays clear and defined. We used a neon color to contrast with the dark colors we used on our cats.

    painting a black cat

    Let the paint dry completely and then hang your pet portrait in a special place!

We love these portraits of our new kitties. It’s a fun and creative way to celebrate the animals that bring so much joy to our lives.

More Animal Art Activities for Kids

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