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Check out these amazing Roy Lichtenstein Art Projects for Kids to learn about the artist who transformed comic strips into high end art!

I think that most people think painters are kind of ridiculous, you know? ~ Roy Lichtenstein

That seems to be a strange statement, coming from a painter himself, don’t you think? But that’s Roy Lichtenstein for you – the man who turned commercial hoardings and comic strips into high end art!

There are people who think of comic books and graphic novels as somehow ‘lower’ than more conventional literature, and Roy Lichtenstein’s paintings are a direct answer to them. Born in a regular middle-class family in America, Roy’s early life didn’t have any dramatic events to influence his art – it was the everyday life that did it. Much like Andy Warhol‘s soup cans, Roy Lichtenstein’s initial work featured cartoon icons – Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse!

As his career progressed, the subjects of his work also changed, including characters from DC Comics and other popular works. He also re-worked masterpieces of by Cézanne, Mondrian and Picasso in his own style, giving it the distinct Lichtenstein mark. His art is characterized by dots, lines and shapes, and the finished work often resembles an enlarged version of a comic strip panel.

With October being Lichtenstein’s birthday month, we can’t think of a better opportunity to introduce this wonderful artist to kids. After all, which child wouldn’t be interested in a painter who turned comic strips into art? Well we certainly would like to learn more, and that’s why we’ve lined up these amazing Roy Lichtenstein Art Projects for Kids!

10 Roy Lichtenstein Art Projects for Kids

1. Lichtenstein Style Portraits

Want to see yourself as a Lichtenstein painting? Well, then download the dots template from Art Projects for Kids and get sketching on it! Use a Sharpie to outline and then fill in the dots for a true Lichtenstein style portrait!

2. Bubble Wrap Lichtenstein Art

Here’s a genius way to get dots to create Lichtenstein art – use bubble wrap! Teach Beside Me shows us how to execute this genius idea to create fun pop art prints – even one that says ‘POP’!!

3. Lichtenstein Dot Art Self Portrait

Hand the kids a mirror and let them have some fun drawing their own faces on paper! Then, follow Pink Stripey Socks to fill in the portrait with dots, a la Lichtenstein. Use thick markers for younger kids, so it’s easier to fill up the empty spaces.

4. Roy Lichtenstein Onomatopoeia Collage

Roy Lichtenstein’s work featured a lot of onomatopoeia, which are words that are associated with a sound, as seen in comic books. This project from Paint on All the Tables creates a fun onomatopoeia collage with brightly colored paper in different shapes and sizes. Go ahead and make your own – Zap, Pow, Zoom or Pop!

5. Roy’s House by Susan Rubin

Lichtenstein is known for bringing focus to everyday objects in our lives, and that’s what his art was all about. The book Roy’s House takes the reader on a tour of his house, featuring all these everyday objects in nooks and corners, beautifully brought alive with the gorgeous artwork. A must read for all ages!

6. Pop Art Lesson

Pop art isn’t just randomly dotting a blank sheet of paper – it is so much more than that! Let kids get an understanding of Lichtenstein’s process with this pop art lesson from Craftsy. Learn how to compose the drawing first, and then decide upon primary colors and then about filling it in correctly.

7. DIY Pop Art Cards

We know that Lichtenstein was big on onomatopoeia, which makes his style perfect for greeting cards! Happy Strong Home has some free printable cards that you can download and dot away to your liking, so you get your very own Pop Art Cards!

8. DIY Pop Art Plate

Want to gift an art lover an art-inspired gift that’s also quirky? Then this diy pop art plate from Revel and Glitter is perfect for you to try! Just get good quality materials to make sure you have a nice finish and durable gift that’ll have pride of place in your loved one’s home!

9. Big Pop Art Apple

One of the first things kids learn to draw in art class is an apple, and Art Campla takes this a step forward with a huge pop art project that’s quite impressive-looking!

10. Quick and Easy Lichtenstein Art

Art History with Kids makes it really easy for beginners to learn about Lichtenstein’s style of art. Just download the template and start filling it in! The best part is that it’s perfect for little kids or older kids, who can use different shades and organize the filling in of dots to reflect depth and perspective.

Roy Lichtenstein said that though he would prefer to have a picnic under a tree, he was still interested in the signs of urban life, like gas pump signs, commercials and of course, comic books! So while most artists tend to paint real life, nature or surrealism, Lichtenstein went with the everyday, infusing color into the most mundane stuff of our lives. And that’s exactly what we can also try to learn with these Roy Lichtenstein art projects for kids!