About This Video

In this guided activity video, JD leads participants through painting a beach sunset on canvas with acrylic paint.

The activity begins with setting up paint brushes, a palette, water, paper towels, and painting clothes or an apron. JD then guides participants through building a sunset scene with layered colors, including red, orange, yellow, and blue. Participants practice blending colors together to create the feeling of a bright sky over the beach.

Throughout the video, JD reminds participants that everyone’s artwork will look different, and that is part of the creative process. The project gives participants a chance to practice layering paint, blending colors, using different brushes, and creating a relaxing beach scene even from home.

This video gives participants a step-by-step acrylic painting activity focused on color, layering, blending, brush control, creative choice, and pride in finished work.

Supplies Needed

• Canvas, such as a rectangular canvas or another similar painting surface

• Acrylic paint, including red, orange, yellow, blue, and other colors for the beach scene

• Paint brushes, including wider flat brushes and smaller detail brushes if available

• Cup of water for rinsing brushes

• Paper towels

• Paper plate or palette for paint

• Paint apron or clothes that can get messy

Good For

• Adults with IDD who enjoy painting, beaches, sunsets, color mixing, nature scenes, or creative art activities.

• Caregivers looking for a guided painting activity with a calming theme, clear setup, flexible choices, and a finished project participants can display.

• Adult day programs, home routines, or group activities about art, acrylic painting, color, layering, fine motor practice, following directions, and self-expression.

• Participants who benefit from visual modeling, encouragement, creative choice, and a step-by-step project they can complete with support nearby.

How to Use This Video

Use this video as a guided acrylic painting activity for a home routine, day program, small group, or supported creative time.

Caregivers can gather the supplies ahead of time and help participants set up their canvas, paints, brushes, water cup, paper towels, and palette. Because acrylic paint can stain clothing, it may help to protect the table and have participants wear an apron or clothing that can get paint on it.

JD gives step-by-step instructions, but the beach sunset does not need to match his exactly. Participants can use different sunset colors, make the sky brighter or softer, change the beach details, or simplify parts of the painting as needed.

Because this activity involves acrylic paint, water, brush rinsing, layering, blending, and drying time, caregivers can provide support with setup, managing spills, cleaning brushes, portioning paint, staying oriented on the canvas, and letting the finished painting dry safely.

At the end, participants can sign their artwork, let it dry, show it off, and save or display it as part of their art collection.