Shadow tracing is a simple, engaging drawing activity for kids! Build grape sculptures and draw shadows for an edible art experience!
Updated April 2025
We combined two of our favorite simple art activities for this activity: kids’ shadow art and grape sculptures.
We did our shadow tracing with grape sculptures, but there are so many different ways to build toothpick sculptures. You could also trace a bouquet of flowers, a still life, a favorite toy, the possibilities are endless!
This was a fun drawing activity that ended with a snack!
Shadow Tracing with Grape Sculptures
MATERIALS
- Grapes
- Toothpicks
- Paper
- Pen or pencil
- Light source (window, lamp, or outside!)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Crate your sculpture
Start by connecting your grapes with toothpicks. Continue to connect and build the structure higher up.
When you have a nice 3-dimensional grape structure, you can either A.) eat it, or B.) draw it.
- Trace your shadows
With a good angled light source, there will be interesting shadows cast by the sculpture. If you don’t have a good light source, you can create one with a lamp.
Once you see the shadows you want to trace, position a piece of paper so that the shadows fall across it. Then start tracing the shadow perimeters.
By the time you finish, you may notice that the shadows have shifted. That’s okay! It’s interesting to notice how the shadows move as the light changes.
When you’re finished with your shadow tracing, you can leave it as is or you can color it in.
Have you tried shadow tracing yet with your kids? It’s such a simple yet engaging art activity and well worth setting up. And if you do it with grape sculptures you can snack and draw at the same time!
More Drawing Activities for Kids
- 12 Kids’ Drawing Games for Creative Fun
- 16 Drawing Printable Art Activities for Kids
- The Scribble Drawing Game for Kids
- How to Draw Shadow Art for Kids
- How to Combine Read Aloud Time with Drawing Time
- Observational Drawing Using a Wood Mannequin
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