july art challenge

It’s time for the July Art Challenge! 🎨🗓Each month, we follow a set of art prompts that are open to interpretation. The goal is to build an art practice that helps us explore new ideas and experience joy through self expression. Sometimes we need a little boost to remind us to create! All ages and skill levels are welcome. Use any media: pencil, paint, photography, 💃🏽 dance…it’s up to you. Grab a sketchbook and jump in anywhere, anytime.


❤️New this month! My daughters have been involved in this challenge for years, and my eldest volunteered to create all the line art shown around the July calendar. ❤️💃🏻


If you have children in your life, these prompts are made for you. 👩‍👧Share the daily prompt with your child and see what happens! 💫For summertime trips and downtime, the challenge can be your daily creative companion, giving your family an artsy brain break.

💃🏼HOW TO PLAY >>

  1. . Find a sketchbook or stack of paper. Beyond that, use any materials you like. Paint, pencil, collage papers, dirt. It’s up to you. You could even go paper-free and make this a photo challenge.
  2. If you’re on Instagram, you can follow and join the challenge there, too. Tag me @tinkerlab so I can reshare your posts in my stories. Upload your photos with the hashtags #tinkerlabartchallenge and #tinkersketch > July Art Challenge on Instagram
  3. Have Fun!
  4. Starts July 1

Cut and Paste Prompt List for the July Art Challenge

If you’d rather cut and paste the list into a document or something else, here’s the full list for the July Art Challenge:

  1. parallel
  2. torn
  3. air
  4. crack
  5. glitzy
  6. vintage
  7. equal
  8. yummy
  9. crush
  10. tangle
  11. wild
  12. spiral
  13. fresh
  14. dust
  15. dance
  16. walk
  17. east
  18. dinner
  19. wheel
  20. lazy
  21. diamond
  22. fuzzy
  23. even
  24. zigzag
  25. story
  26. clock
  27. spare
  28. zoom
  29. bubble
  30. texture
  31. orbit

FAQ

What is the TinkerSketch Art Challenge?

TinkerSketch is a daily sketchbook practice that invites you to experiment and play with ideas and materials in a low-stress, fun, and mind-stretching way.

Who is this Art Challenge for?

Anyone who wants a creative art boost. The stakes are low and it’s super easy to do, even if you have no experience or low confidence with making.

How much time will it take?

While you can spend as much time at this as you like, just set aside 5-10 minutes each day and you’re in business.

I need some tips for carving out 5-10 minutes

  • Carry a sketchbook in your bag and pull it out when you’re waiting in line
  • Designate “creative time” where you and your child draw in sketchbooks side-by-side
  • Wake up a little earlier than usual. You can make this more pleasant by lighting a candle, brewing tea, and sitting with your sketchbook for a few minutes before the rest of your home wakes up

What’s the goal?

  • Improve your drawing, painting, mark-making skills
  • Try and explore new ways of art-making
  • Land on new ideas that wouldn’t have emerged otherwise
  • Have fun
  • Model creative thinking for your child (if you’re a parent or teacher)
  • Celebrate the imperfection of your ideas
  • Think creatively

What Tools Will I Need?

  • A sketchbook or a ream of paper. Even post-its or old receipts will work.
  • Mark-making tools like pens and pencils
  • Paint and brush
  • “Attaching” materials such as glue and tape will come in handy
  • Collage materials such as scrap paper, newspaper, old homework, or magazines.
  • Anything else that strikes your fancy. We’ve used hole punchers, chalk markers, tea, and okra (they make beautiful stamps).

See our Resources Page for a full list of recommended supplies for tinkering, art journal keeping, and art making with kids.

Can I see Examples of How this Works?

To see images from TinkerSketch past, click over here or search Instagram for #tinkersketch. You’ll see so many inspiring entries.

How do I interpret the prompts?

You can interpret the daily prompts however you want. “Drips” to one person may mean flicking watercolors off a toothbrush and to another person it might mean covering a page in marker and then leaving the page outside on a drizzly morning. You can take the prompts literally or not — this is completely up to you.

july art challenge

5 Comments

  1. A good discovery for me on how Art can be thought to young children. Comprehensive and innovative Art project for children’s creativity.

    • This is a fun way to bring more art into our daily lives. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.

  2. A good discovery for me on how Art can be taught to young children. Comprehnsive and innovative Art project for children’s creativity.

  3. My kids will definitely love this, in this time of pandemic they will sure do this without hesitation. =) Thank you for this Rachelle!

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