Preparing something to draw or paint can be as fun as doing the art itself, whether it’s rummaging about on walks finding feathers and reeds for mark making or putting together a massive Knickerbocker Glory for a colourful and expressive painting.

The ideas on this page can be adapted to suit a wide variety of ages. I usually refer to an artist's work for inspiration, which is a good preparation for exam and coursework study.  Some of these projects involve more than one activity so should keep your children happy for several hours at a time!