Basquiat Art Project Smiley Face Art Lesson Kindergarten Black History Month

This Basquiat Smiley Face Art Project lets young students explore bold line, playful symbols, bright color and creative freedom. They create a smiley face inspired by Jean-Michel Basquiat using oil pastels and paint, with a crown, an expressive face, scribble marks, letters and symbols in bright yellow, red, white and black.

It is made for teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers working with Kindergarten to Grade 3, and fits primary art, portrait art and artist study. The lesson encourages creative risk-taking, bold mark making and self-expression.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING

★★★★ “I teach an extended day art class to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.My students really enjoyed using this resource.” Ronalee P.

WHAT'S INCLUDED (NON-EDITABLE PDF)

• About the Resource page
• Critical Thinking Questions page
• 3 lesson plan pages
• Jean-Michel Basquiat poem hook page
• Student reading page about Jean-Michel Basquiat
• Rubric page
• How to Draw: Basquiat Smiley Face page
• KWL chart page
• Reflection pages: The Message, Questions and Wonders, Artwork Reflection, Peer Feedback and 3 Stars and a Wish
• Artist's Statement pages
• Full-page example artwork
• PDF step-by-step tutorial pages: drawing the smiley face, crown, letters, scribble marks, eyes and mouth, and layering paint over oil pastel

WHAT STUDENTS LEARN

The poem and the simple, age-appropriate reading teach students that Basquiat loved bright colors, words, symbols, crowns and expressive lines, and that he made art in his own unique way.

Students then scribble, draw symbols, add letters and use strong color to build an expressive face, and finish by layering paint over their oil pastel. The bold finished pieces stand out on bulletin boards, hallway displays and classroom walls.

FAQ

Who is this for?

Teachers, art teachers and homeschoolers looking for a Basquiat art project, kindergarten or first grade art lesson, or primary artist study.

How long does it take?

Most classes finish in about 2 to 3 art classes, depending on student age and skill level, class behavior, teaching style and class length.

What materials are used?

Oil pastels, card stock or thicker paper, watered-down tempera or watercolor paint, paint brushes and water.

Is it editable?

No. The resource is non-editable.

ALL TEACHER REVIEWS (4)

★★★★ “Myself and my students learned a lot from this resource/ activity. Thank you!” Angelica A.

★★★★ “Students enjoyed. This activity was fun to do with the students” Jessica P.

★★★★ “Good results came from this resource! I used with my younger students.” MissClay'sArtLessons

★★★★ “I adore basquiat and loved this lesson for my little ones. TY!” Sara's P.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen McGiveron (Ms Artastic) is an artist who has been featured on NBC LX News and designs art lessons for kids and educational resources for teachers. She was the featured cover educator in OCO Magazine for October 2025. 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 resource as a single educator. Please purchase additional licenses if more than one teacher will be using it.

YOU MAY NOT: share, copy, upload, post online, distribute or resell this resource in any form.

Sincerely,

Ms Artastic