About This Video

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

The activity begins with setting up a canvas, paints, brushes, water, paper towels, and a palette. JD then guides participants through lightly sketching a sunflower with pencil before painting a blue background, yellow and orange petals, a green stem and leaves, and the center of the flower.

Throughout the video, JD encourages participants to relax, have fun, and not worry about perfection. Participants can experiment with color mixing, brush strokes, blending, and small details as they build the painting step by step.

This video gives participants a calm, creative art activity focused on acrylic painting, color mixing, brush control, creative choice, and pride in finished work.

Supplies Needed

• Canvas, such as a 9 by 12 inch canvas or another similar painting surface

• Pencil

• Acrylic paint, including black, white, green, orange, red, yellow, brown, light blue, and dark blue

• Paint brushes, including a flat brush and smaller round 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, flowers, sunflowers, color mixing, nature themes, or creative art activities.

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

• Adult day programs, home routines, or group activities about art, acrylic painting, 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 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, pencil, 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 sunflower does not need to match his exactly. Participants can make the flower larger or smaller, use different shades of yellow, orange, green, or blue, add extra details, or simplify parts of the painting as needed.

Because this activity involves acrylic paint, water, brush rinsing, drying time, color mixing, and multiple steps, 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.