If you love art projects that look impressive but feel totally doable with kids, this Alma Thomas inspired torn paper craft is such a winner. Alma Thomas is known for joyful color, rhythmic marks, and those beautiful “mosaic-like” sections that seem to dance across the page.
We took that same idea and recreated it with torn construction paper instead of paint, which makes it a perfect Black History Month activity for younger kids, mixed-age groups, or anyone who wants the Alma vibe without the mess.
This project is also a lovely way to slow down and notice color together. Tearing paper is calming, the pattern building is satisfying, and the finished piece looks like real wall art.
Who Was Alma Thomas
Alma Woodsey Thomas was an African American artist and art teacher who became a major name in 20th century American art, especially known for vibrant abstract paintings made of repeated strokes and blocks of color.
She studied at Howard University and spent a long year career teaching art before her painting career really took off later in life. Her work is associated with the Washington Color School, and her paintings are held in major museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
You can view some of her artworks at the Smithsonian link above.
She was also a trailblazer for women artists. In 1972, she became the first African American woman to have a solo exhibition at the Whitney Museum in New York, which is a huge milestone in American art history.
When we talk about an artist background or artist life with kids, Alma Thomas is such an inspiring one because it shows that creativity does not have an expiration date, and that success can happen later, after years of learning, teaching, and building your voice as an artist.
A Great Black History Month Art Project
Each February, Black History Month is a meaningful time to celebrate African American artists and share stories of creativity, persistence, and impact. Of course, this can be done all year round too!
Doing an Alma Thomas art lesson like this lets kids connect to a real artist, explore color and pattern, and also see how an African American woman helped shape modern American art in a way that still feels fresh and exciting today.
And as a bonus, you end up with bright, happy artwork that kids feel genuinely proud of.
The Concept Behind Our Torn Paper Version of Alma Thomas Art
Alma Thomas paintings often use repeated marks of color arranged in curved bands or blocky sections, almost like a musical rhythm across the canvas. We copied that “moving color” look by tearing small pieces of paper, sorting them by color, and then gluing them in curving rows to create that signature Alma color flow.
It is still an Alma painting inspired idea, just swapped into a collage style that works beautifully for kids.
Materials for your Alma Thomas Art Collage
You only need a few basics for this Alma Thomas art project.
Construction paper in bright colors (we used black, yellow, red, orange, and green), white paper or cardstock for the background, scissors (optional, but helpful for cutting the base paper), and a glue stick.
Choosing Colors for Your Alma Thomas Inspired Artwork
For our artwork, we chose a bold, high-contrast color palette using black, yellow, red, orange, and green. These strong, saturated colors echo the joyful energy often seen in Alma Thomas paintings and help each torn paper shape stand out clearly against the white background.
Using black alongside bright colors adds depth and rhythm, while the warm tones mixed with green keep the overall piece lively and balanced. One of the beautiful things about this project is how flexible the color choices can be.
You can use a warm palette with reds, oranges, and yellows for a glowing effect, cool colors like blues, purples, and greens for a calmer feel, or even limit the artwork to just two or three colors for a more modern look.
No matter the palette, repeating colors in patterns or bands helps create that signature movement and harmony that makes Alma Thomas inspired art so striking.
Step by Step Instructions for your Torn Paper Alma Thomas Art
Before we jump into the step by step, this is a great moment to pause and look at a few examples of Alma Thomas’s work together. Notice how her paintings are built from repeated shapes and bold color, arranged in gentle curves that seem to move across the page.
Let kids know that there is no single “right” way to do this project – just like Alma Thomas, they can make choices about color, pattern, and movement as they go.
Once you have your supplies ready and a feel for the style, you are ready to start creating your own Alma Thomas inspired artwork.
Alma Thomas Art Work
A bright and joyful torn paper art project inspired by Alma Thomas, using bold color, simple shapes, and flowing patterns to create a striking piece of Black History Month artwork kids will love making and displaying.
Materials
- Construction paper in your chosen colors to rip
- Cardstock for the background
- Glue stick
Instructions
- Gather your supplies
Lay out your colored paper, white background sheet, glue stick, and scissors. This is a great moment to talk about how this is inspired by Alma Woodsey Thomas art, and show one or two examples of her work if you are doing an Alma Thomas art lesson as part of Black History Month. - Tear your colored paper into small pieces
Have kids tear each color into small, roughly square-ish pieces. They do not need to be perfect. The torn edges actually make it look more textured and painterly, which is perfect for an Alma art inspired piece. - Sort the torn pieces by color
Place each color into its own little pile. Sorting is oddly satisfying, and it makes the next step much easier. You can also use this to talk about Alma Thomas and how color is such a big part of her style and why people call her a color artist.
- Plan your pattern on the background paper
Before gluing, try laying a few pieces down in curved lines to get the feel of it. We made wavy bands that move across the page, kind of like colorful paths. This is where you can encourage kids to think like an artist and decide how they want their Washington color inspired bands to flow. - Start gluing your rows
Use a glue stick directly on the background paper, then press the torn pieces down. Work in small sections so the glue does not dry before pieces go on. Leave a little white space between pieces, because that negative space helps the colors pop and gives that Alma Thomas look.
- Add more rows and vary the colors
Keep building your pattern. You can repeat color orders, alternate colors, or create sections that feel like they weave around each other. If a piece overlaps the edge, let it hang off for now. - Trim the edges for a clean finish
Once everything is glued and dry, flip the paper over and trim any pieces that stick out, or carefully snip around the edges from the front. This step makes it look extra polished.
- Let it dry, then display it proudly. When the glue is fully set, your piece is ready to show off.
Easy variations to try
If you want to stretch this into a longer Alma Thomas art lesson, you can try changing the shape of the rows. Some kids will love straight lines, others will want big rainbow curves, and older kids can create “patchwork” sections that look like a loose grid. You can also limit the colors for a more calm look, or go full rainbow for maximum energy.
If you are doing this with a group, it is fun to give everyone a choice of colors and let the design be totally different. The results always look unique, even with the exact same supplies.
You can also try this project using paint instead of paper for a slightly different take on the same idea. Using a paintbrush, cotton swab, or even a small sponge, kids can create repeated dabs of color in curved rows, mimicking the rhythmic patterns seen in Alma Thomas paintings.
It’s a lovely option for older children or anyone who wants to explore blending colors and brush control, while still keeping that joyful, movement-filled style that makes Alma Thomas inspired art so recognizable.
If you like adding a quick reflection, you can ask kids what they think the artwork “sounds like” or “feels like” and write their words on the back. Alma Thomas often spoke about color and beauty as something uplifting, so it is a nice way to connect the making process to the idea behind the work without getting too heavy.
This torn paper Alma Thomas art project is one of those crafts that is easy enough for kids, but still feels like real art you want to keep. It is colorful, hands-on, and a meaningful way to celebrate Black History Month while learning about Alma Woodsey Thomas, an African American woman who made a huge mark on American art.
More Black History Month Arts and Craft Projects for Kids
If you’re looking to keep the creativity going, there are so many meaningful Black History Month arts and craft projects for kids that combine learning with hands-on fun.
Exploring different artists, styles, and stories through art is such a natural way to help children connect with history, celebrate African American artists, and express what they are learning in their own creative way.
- Black History Month Watercolor Art Project
- Martin Luther King Jr Art Project for Kids
- Black History Month Coloring Pages (Free Printables)
Black History Month Printables for Kids
Alongside crafts, Black History Month printables for kids are a great way to extend the learning with quiet activities, discussion prompts, and age-uitable worksheets. They work really well for classrooms, homeschool, or as a follow-up to an art project, helping children reflect on important figures, themes, and moments in a way that feels accessible and engaging.
- Black History Month Word Search Printables (Civil Rights Activists)
- 25 Black History Worksheets to Celebrate Iconic Figures
If you found this project helpful or inspiring, please share this blog post with friends, teachers, or other parents. It really helps more families discover creative ways to learn about Black History Month, and we love seeing these activities being used and enjoyed.
