Northern Lights Art Project for Kids – Printable Arctic Animal Templates
- Jessie
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
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Bring the magic of the Arctic sky into your art space with this Northern Lights Art Project for Kids – Printable Arctic Animal Templates! This breathtaking mixed-media project invites kids to explore color, creativity, and imagination while learning about some of the most fascinating animals from the Arctic. Featuring printable templates of a moose, snow owl, narwhal, polar bear, and walrus, this art activity is perfect for classrooms, homeschool units, or a cozy creative afternoon at home.
This Northern Lights art project combines drawing, coloring, and watercolor techniques to help kids create a stunning night sky inspired by the aurora borealis. Children begin by drawing snowy mountains and landscapes, then use watercolor paints to create glowing northern lights dancing across the sky. The bold, kid-friendly Arctic animal templates are added to the scene, making each piece of artwork feel complete, polished, and truly magical.
Parents and teachers love this Arctic animal art project because it encourages creativity while still offering structure. The printable animal templates give kids confidence, while the open-ended northern lights painting allows for personal expression. No two projects ever look the same—some skies glow with greens and blues, while others burst with pinks, purples, and teal. It’s a beautiful way to let kids experiment with color blending and artistic techniques.
This project is also a wonderful way to connect art with learning. While creating their artwork, kids can learn about Arctic animals, cold-weather habitats, and the natural phenomenon of the northern lights. It pairs perfectly with winter units, geography lessons, science discussions, or animal studies. The moose, snow owl, narwhal, polar bear, and walrus each add a unique element to the scene, sparking curiosity and conversation.
The printable Arctic animal templates are designed with bold outlines and plenty of white space, making them ideal for coloring with markers or crayons. Once colored, they stand out beautifully against the watercolor background. This mix of materials keeps kids engaged from start to finish and results in artwork that looks impressive when displayed in classrooms, hallways, or at home.
Kids especially love how this project feels like “real art.” Watching the watercolor paints blend and spread to form glowing northern lights is exciting and mesmerizing, and adding their favorite Arctic animal makes the project feel personal and meaningful. It’s a confidence-boosting activity that helps kids feel proud of their finished masterpiece.
This Northern Lights art activity for kids is perfect for winter art lessons or anytime you want a calm but creative experience. It works well for a wide range of ages and can easily be adapted for younger kids or older students by adjusting the level of detail in the background drawing.
Whether you’re teaching about the Arctic, exploring winter themes, or simply looking for a stunning art project kids will love, this Northern Lights Art Project with Printable Arctic Animal Templates is a must-try. It’s creative, educational, and absolutely magical—an art experience that captures the wonder of the night sky and the beauty of Arctic wildlife all in one unforgettable project.
Northern Lights Art Project for Kids – Printable Arctic Animal Templates
Step 1: Download and Print
Begin by downloading the Printable Arctic Animal Template and printing it on 8.5x11 white cardstock paper or watercolor paper. Cardstock works great for bold coloring and durability, while watercolor paper is ideal if you plan to use a lot of water when painting the northern lights. Make sure your printer settings are set to “Actual Size” or “100%” so the template prints correctly and fills the page nicely.
Step 2: Draw the Snowy Landscape in the Goggles
Next, it’s time to add your snowy scenery inside the animal’s ski goggles. You can use a waterproof black pen that won’t bleed when painted over, or lightly sketch your design with a pencil and trace it later with a fine-point black pen after painting.
A helpful art tip here is to use the rule of thirds, which is a common technique artists use to create balanced and visually pleasing artwork. Imagine the goggles divided into three equal horizontal sections:
Bottom third: Draw a snowy field
Middle third: Add mountains or hills
Top third: Leave this area blank for painting the northern lights
Using the rule of thirds helps guide the viewer’s eye and keeps your artwork from feeling too crowded or flat. It creates depth and makes your scene more interesting and realistic.
Step 3: Draw the Background Behind the Animal
Now repeat a similar process for the background behind your Arctic animal. This time, let the sky take up about two-thirds of the space, leaving the bottom third for snow or ground. Lightly sketch your horizon line and mountains, again using pencil or waterproof pen. This larger sky area gives you plenty of room to paint dramatic northern lights and helps the animal stand out as the focal point of the artwork.
Step 4: Paint with Watercolors
This is where the magic happens! Use watercolor paints to bring your northern lights sky to life. Start with a wet-on-wet technique by brushing a thin layer of clean water onto the sky areas first. Then gently add watercolor paint using colors commonly seen in the northern lights—greens, blues, purples, pinks, and teal.
As the paint touches the wet paper, the colors will naturally blend and spread, creating a soft, glowing effect. Be sure to paint both the sky inside the goggles and the background sky behind the animal. Let the watercolor dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 5: Color the Animals and Details
Once the paint is dry, use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to color in the Arctic animals, borders, goggles, and sweaters. This step adds bold detail and contrast against the watercolor background.
✨ Fun Tip: Get creative with the sweaters! Add stripes, zigzags, snowflakes, or fun patterns to make your artwork truly unique. No two designs should look the same—this is your chance to show off your personal style!
How Do I Download the Northern Lights Art Project for Kids – Printable Arctic Animal Templates?
You can purchase the Printable Arctic Animal Templates directly from Artsy Kids Zone. The template is available in black and white (perfect for kids to color and customize).
After purchase, you’ll receive an instant digital download—no waiting, no shipping costs. Simply download the PDF, print at home, and start crafting! By purchasing, you’ll not only enjoy this fun project, but you’ll also be supporting Artsy Kids Zone so we can continue creating more creative activities for kids.
***These printables are intended for personal and school use exclusively. Unauthorized copying, uploading, republishing, distributing or alteration of these files in any manner is strictly prohibited. If you plan to showcase these printables, please ensure to include a link back to artsykidszone.com.
