About This Video

In this guided activity video, JD leads participants through painting a Valentine’s Day heart tree on canvas with acrylic paint.

The activity begins with setting up a small canvas, paint brushes, water, paper towels, a palette, and acrylic paints. JD then guides participants through painting a warm yellow and orange background, adding a brown tree trunk and branches, and filling the top of the tree with red leaves in the shape of a heart.

Throughout the video, JD reminds participants that everyone’s painting will look different. The project gives participants a chance to practice background painting, color mixing, brush control, branch shapes, repeated leaf marks, and creative choice.

This video gives participants a seasonal acrylic painting activity focused on Valentine’s Day, color, layering, brush use, self-expression, and pride in finished work.

Supplies Needed

• Canvas, such as an 8 by 10 inch canvas or another small painting surface

• Acrylic paint, including black, white, yellow, brown, red, and pink

• Paint brushes, including a flat brush and a round brush 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, Valentine’s Day themes, trees, hearts, warm colors, seasonal art, or creative art activities.

• Caregivers looking for a guided seasonal painting activity with clear setup, flexible choices, and a finished project participants can give, save, or display.

• Adult day programs, home routines, or group activities about art, acrylic painting, holidays, color, 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 Valentine’s Day 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 heart tree does not need to match his exactly. Participants can change the background colors, make the tree taller or shorter, add more or fewer branches, use different reds and pinks, or simplify parts of the painting as needed.

Because this activity involves acrylic paint, water, brush rinsing, drying time, layering, and repeated leaf marks, 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, display, or give the painting to someone for Valentine’s Day.