Painting flowers and scenes while outside made the artist Claude Monet happy. In this MFA Playdates at Home, we read the book My Heart Fills with Happiness and ask: What makes you happy? Then we head outside to learn more about Monet and get step-by-step instructions on how to make a sidewalk chalk drawing of flowers, beautifying your neighborhood along the way!

You can explore more paintings by Monet on the MFA's Collections Search. My Heart Fills with Happiness (Orca Book Publishers, 2016), by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett, is available for purchase at a variety of booksellers, including Amazon, Bookshop, and Orca Book Publishers.

Make a Sidewalk Chalk Drawing

chalk drawing of sun shining down on red flowers and grass on blue sky backdrop

Materials

You will need:

  • Chalk! We recommend green, blue, yellow, and red chalk. Wide sidewalk chalk is best if you have it, but thin chalk works as well.
  • A grown-up to help you find a safe spot to draw

Step 1

different colored chalk on asphalt
Gather your chalk and head outside! Ask a grown-up to help you find a nice safe spot to draw.

Step 2

chalk drawing of grass blades on asphalt
To draw your grass, make some lines with green chalk at the bottom of your picture.

Step 3

chalk drawing of red flowers and grass on asphalt
For your flower stems, draw some longer green lines going straight up out of your grass. Next, in a different color, draw the outline of your poppy or other flower on the end of the flower stems.

Step 4

chalk drawing of red flowers with yellow centers and grass on asphalt
Now, use a second color to fill in the middle of your poppy or flower.

Step 5

chalk drawing of sun shining down on red flowers and grass
Set the scene with a shining sun, and anything else you want—maybe a blue sky or a bird!

Step 6

chalk drawing of sun shining down on red flowers and grass on blue sky backdrop
Now you have a beautiful poppy scene. Draw as many as you’d like on the sidewalk to beautify your neighborhood!
Tags
MFA Playdates at Home

Art Activity Instructions

detail of MFA Playdates at Home: In the Meadow activity sheet
detail of MFA Playdates at Home: In the Meadow activity sheet

Download and print out the instructions to follow along at home.

View Activity Sheet (PDF)