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Holiday Art with Heart: Poinsettias and Painted-Paper Candles

Hope Creek Studios
2 days ago
2 min read

Christmas Art with K–2: Poinsettias & Painted Paper Candles We’re bringing the season to life with a pair of holiday-inspired art projects that blend bold color, tactile materials, and a few unexpected art-history connections to keep things meaningful.

Four abstract paintings of red flowers with green leaves on a blue background, showcasing vivid color contrast and textured brush strokes.

First up: Georgia O’Keeffe Poinsettias. Drawing inspiration from O’Keeffe’s dramatic, close-up florals, we invite our young artists to think big. Instead of tiny petals on tiny paper, we use oversized sheets and sponge-painting techniques to encourage broad, confident movement. Students mix and layer vibrant reds, sometimes adding hints of pinks or deeper maroons, to create a textured, dimensional bloom. The process is slow, intentional, and almost meditative; you can feel the room settle as students swirl paint and watch the poinsettias take shape. Once dry, the results are bold, sculptural, and absolutely stunning lining our hallways during the Christmas season.

For our second project, we shift gears to Painted-Paper Candle Collages. Students begin by creating their own painted papers, experimenting with brushstrokes and texture so every sheet has a one-of-a-kind surface. As they work, we talk about light sources, gradients, and how artists create the warm glow of a flame. Students can achieve this glow in two different ways: they can blend yellows, oranges, and reds right in the wet paint to form the gradient as they paint, or they can wait for the paper to dry and then add a gradient with chalk pastels for a softer, more velvety transition. Both methods produce that warm, flickering candlelight effect—just with different textures and moods.

Colorful abstract paintings of candles with blue, green, and brown tones are arranged in a grid pattern on a wall.

When it’s time to build the collage, there’s always a moment of surprise—they’re ready to grab scissors, but instead we challenge them to tear every piece by hand. This intentional restriction gives the collages an organic, layered, homespun quality that scissors simply can’t replicate. The ripped edges create natural shadows and textures, helping even simple shapes feel lively and dimensional.

Why it works:These projects feel festive without slipping into anything overly commercial or kitschy. They’re grounded in real art vocabulary, skill-building techniques, and seasonal warmth. Students get the sensory joy of sponge painting and paper tearing (even if they question it at first!), but they also practice composition, color blending, and thinking about light and shadow. Best of all, both pieces frame the season beautifully—joyful, personal, and truly display-ready.