Wild Creature Creations: A Colorful Twist on Fantasy Animals for Kids
Let me tell you: if you ever need a reminder that kids are the absolute masters of imagination, just hand them some oil pastels and black paper and get out of the way.
That’s exactly what happened when we made these magical, made-up animal creations. We had creatures with rainbow wings, horns galore, and some suspiciously adorable chicken-feet situations. Basically, it was pure creative chaos — and I loved every minute.
These colorful hybrids came straight from the brilliant minds of my elementary artists. We mixed parts from real animals, cranked up the fantasy, and let our imaginations go wild.
This giraffe-unicorn hybrid with rainbow wings kicks off the creative chaos of our wild creature art project.
How We Made Our Made-Up Animals
Here’s the lowdown if you want to recreate this magic in your classroom or at home:
Materials:
● Oil pastels (we used Pentel, but anything buttery and blendable works!)
● Black construction paper (9x12 or 12x18)
● Tissues or blending stumps (optional, but helpful for soft textures)
● Imagination — mandatory!
Steps:
We brainstormed: horns, tails, beaks, wings... what combos could we invent?
Students lightly sketched their creatures in pencil.
Then came the oil pastels — layering, blending, and brightening up those bold designs.
We filled in the background with color or simple shapes to make those creatures POP.
Layering and blending with oil pastels made these fantasy creatures pop right off the black paper.
If you want a structured version of a lesson like this, you might love the How to Draw a Reindeer Step-by-Step — it teaches character-building basics that you can adapt for any wild animal fantasy!
Art Concepts We Snuck In (Like Ninjas)
● Line and Shape: Curvy horns, zigzag fur, swirly wings — oh my!
● Texture: Soft blending vs. scratchy fur marks.
● Contrast: Bright pastels against black backgrounds? Instant drama.
● Creative Thinking: Encouraging "what if" questions the whole time.
Want to dive even deeper into blending art with academics? Check out our Creativity First Methodology for a ready-to-roll approach.
The cat-frog creature is a perfect example of student creativity when there's no “wrong” answer in sight.
Quick Tips for Teachers and Homeschoolers
● Choice is key! Let kids combine whatever creatures they want.
● Talk it out: Ask students to describe their animal. ("What does it eat? Where does it live?")
● Celebrate weirdness: The stranger the creature, the better!
● Use as a writing prompt: After they draw, have them write a story about their creature’s adventures.
Want more simple, colorful project ideas? Shop my most loved art lessons here.
This rooster-dog hybrid shows off wild contrast and texture, plus a little pastel-powered drama.
Wrapping It Up
These made-up animals gave my students a major confidence boost — because in a project like this, there’s no “wrong” answer. Just joyful, vibrant art that’s so them.
If you try this, tag me over on Instagram or shoot me an email — I’d LOVE to see what your kids dream up!
🎨🐉🦄🦔
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Perfect for anyone who thrives on hands-on, visually engaging activities, the Social Emotional Skills with Vincent Van Gogh pack brings art and emotion together to support holistic growth. Ready to make a meaningful impact on your homeschool journey?
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Get to know Amanda Koonlaba!
Hi! I’m Amanda. Teaching children to be creative thinkers is my greatest joy. I’m here to help you bring that same joy to your classroom.
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