Easy Pet Portraits for Kids

Get ready for a “paws-itively” fun time with these easy pet portraits for kids. Try this fun preschool drawing activity and watch your little artists create vibrant, playful pet art that will make tails wag with joy.

The final version of an easy pet portrait for kids featuring a Labrador retriever, outlined with a rainbow of marker colors on white paper, mounted on green cardstock. The vibrant, layered lines give the portrait a dynamic and joyful appearance.

Get creative with these easy pet portraits for kids

If you’re looking for a fun, low-mess, and super creative project for your little ones, look no further than these easy pet portraits for kids.

This activity is purr-fect for animal lovers and gives kids a chance to celebrate their furry friends in a truly unique way.

Your kids will LOVE turning their sweet pets into a colorful work of art.

A straight-on close-up view of an easy pet portrait for kids, showcasing a Labrador retriever's photo outlined with multiple colorful marker lines. The bright colors make the portrait visually engaging and fun.

Why you’ll love this easy pet portraits for kids activity

This drawing activity for kids is not only a blast, but it’s also an awesome way to help kids practice fine motor skills.

Plus, it’s a preschool pet theme project that gives your child a chance to focus on their beloved pet, adding a personal touch to their artwork.

Another pawsitive? You probably have everything you need already on hand!

And don’t worry if your pet isn’t a dog or cat – this works for any beloved pet, whether it’s a hamster, a fish, or even a stuffed animal.

We LOVE drawing activities for kids, including these faves:

Materials

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A printed photo of your pet
White paper or cardstock
Colorful markers – the more, the merrier!
Scissors
Glue stick
Colorful paper or cardstock – optional

An adult hand drawing red marker outlines around a cut-out photo of a Labrador retriever, with colorful markers scattered in the background. The creative process of making an easy pet portrait for kids is in full swing.

How to make easy pet portraits for kids

Start by cutting out the photo of your pet, carefully trimming around the edges.
Glue the photo onto the center of a piece of white paper or cardstock.
Using a marker, outline the shape of your pet, staying close to the edge.
Pick another color and outline the previous line, gradually moving outwards.
Continue outlining with different colors until you reach the edge of the paper.
Optional: Glue your paper onto a slightly larger colorful piece of paper as a fun “frame.”

Hands holding scissors and carefully cutting out a photo of a Labrador retriever, surrounded by colorful markers, glue, and a green piece of cardstock. This image captures the beginning stages of creating an easy pet portrait for kids.

“Paw-some” collaborative pet portrait gallery idea

Turn the pet portrait activity into a collaborative project by having the entire class contribute to a large mural.

Each student can create a portrait of their pet or favorite animal, and then all the pieces can be assembled on a big piece of paper or a bulletin board to form a vibrant, colorful classroom mural.

This fosters teamwork and gives the students a sense of pride in contributing to a shared masterpiece.

close-up shot of an easy pet portrait for kids featuring a cut-out image of a Labrador retriever, surrounded by vibrant marker outlines. The portrait is framed on green cardstock, highlighting the playful and creative design.

Pet-themed storytime: Books to pair with the activity

Add an extra layer of excitement by introducing pet-themed books to read before or after the art activity.

Here are some of our favorite preschool pet books:

“Nat Geo Kids: Little Kids First Big Book of Pets”

Miss Michelle’s FAVORITE books are anything from the Nat Geo “First Big Book of…” collection. These books have stunning photos, fabulous information, and they’re fun for kids (and adults!) of all ages.

See on Amazon

“Can I Be Your Dog”

Arfy is an adorable dog looking for a home. In this sweet story, he tells why he would be a great pet as he looks for the perfect family. This story is as fun as it is heartwarming.

See on Amazon

“Some Pets”

Brendan Wenzel is one of my favorite illustrators ever, ever, ever! From the publisher: “Come one, come all, to the pet show! With dogs and cats, horses and chickens, hamsters and chinchillas—and many, many more!—this book celebrates animal companions of all shapes and sizes.”

See on Amazon

“Raising a Hero”

As you might know, I am a volunteer puppy raiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind and raising service dogs has been a love of my life (I currently have a yellow lab snoring on my feet). This book is a beautiful story about raising service dogs and sharing them with someone in need.

See on Amazon