Back to School Name Art Project All About Me Art Mixed Media Name Art Lesson

This Back to School name art project is a bright mixed media lesson where students explore paint, oil pastel, black marker, cardboard collage and line design in one artwork. The finished piece is layered, graphic and personal, a great way to start the year with work that is ready for display.

It is designed for classroom teachers, art teachers and homeschool educators working with elementary students. Students paint an abstract background with different kinds of lines, create their name on cardboard, decorate it with symbols and patterns, layer it onto construction paper and glue it onto the painted surface. The results work well for Meet the Teacher Night, classroom displays and beginning of year bulletin boards.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• Artastic Art Lessons Intro Page with prep tips and ways to use the lesson
• Lesson Plan Page 1 with the lesson focus, materials, big ideas, learning target, competencies, inquiry question and a preview of the finished art
• Lesson Plan Page 2, a Teacher Does/Student Does page from the opening hook to handing in the finished piece
• Art Rubric for execution, creativity and originality, evidence of process and responsibility
• Art Project Reflection Page for teacher and student, with scoring areas and room for feedback
• Example Artwork Page to show before the lesson
• Art Reflection Page where students describe their artwork and identify the Elements of Art and Principles of Design
• Artist Statement Page
• Poster or Title Page to introduce the project
• 16 Step-by-Step Tutorial Pages with visual and written directions
• 2 Bonus Color Me Pages for early finishers or extension activities

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

Students paint 3 to 4 sets of different lines across the page using three paint colors. They print their name in large letters on cardboard, trace it thicker with black felt marker, add symbols such as crowns, hearts, stars or emojis, color it with oil pastel and draw different lines inside each letter. Then they cut it out, glue it onto construction paper, cut it out again leaving a border and glue the name onto the painted background. An optional watery color wash adds depth to the background.

Along the way they practice name art and identity, mixed media techniques, collage layering, line variety and pattern, and the Elements of Art (line, shape, space, texture, color, form and value), then reflect and write an artist statement. Use it as a Back to School activity, an All About Me lesson, a name art bulletin board project or a lesson on mixed media and line design. You can project the PDF, demonstrate the lesson yourself and use the example artwork as your hook.

FAQ

Who is this for?

Classroom teachers, art teachers, homeschool educators and substitute teachers.

What do students make?

A mixed media name artwork with a painted line background and a bold cardboard name design layered on top with symbols, patterns and color.

What materials are needed?

Pencil, eraser, black felt marker, paint such as acrylic or tempera, oil pastels, card stock paper, construction paper, cardboard, paint brush, water and white glue.

How long does it take?

Usually 2 classes, or 2 to 3 depending on student age, class length, drying time and how much time you spend on reflections and artist statements.

Is it editable?

No. It is a non-editable PDF.

Get free, classroom-ready art lessons and printables in my Free Art Lesson Library.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist and educator who has been featured on NBC LX News and was the featured cover educator in OCO Magazine, October 2025. She designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers, homeschool families and art educators. She is the founder of Ms Artastic and hosts the Ms Artastic YouTube Channel and Podcast.

TERMS OF USE

Images and lessons are copyright products.

YOU MAY: use this in creative ways and have as much fun with it as you like. Clip art may be used as clip art, website graphics, binder covers or bulletin board decorations. Additional licenses are available for school use.

YOU MAY NOT: use this on OutSchool, put it on your blog, share it with other teachers, administration or districts (admin can buy additional licenses), sell it, give it out for free or photocopy it for others.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic