Alma Thomas is known for her bright colors, joyful patterns, and paintings made from repeated brushstrokes and shapes. Her artwork is a wonderful inspiration for children because it focuses on color, rhythm, and creativity rather than perfect drawing. Alma Thomas’s style encourages students of all ages to relax, experiment, and enjoy the process of making art.
In these Alma Thomas–inspired art lessons, students explore simple ways to create beautiful abstract artwork using repeating marks, color patterns, and layered shapes. These projects work well for preschool through older students and can be adapted with a variety of supplies, including paint, markers, dot tools, or even paper collage. The goal is not to copy her paintings exactly, but to learn from her use of color and pattern while building confidence and creativity.
Below you’ll find my Alma Thomas art lessons, along with the videos and resources connected to each project. These lessons are designed to be calm, flexible, and meaningful—perfect for homeschool, classrooms, and creative Bible learning.
Alma Thomas’s joyful use of color is also a wonderful reminder that God is the Creator of beauty, order, and variety. Don’t miss her Resurrection painting! We might add an inspired art lesson soon.
Full name: Alma Woodsey Thomas
Lifespan: September 22, 1891 – February 24, 1978
Based in: Washington, D.C., United States
Known for: Vibrant abstract “tessellated” color paintings, nature and space themes
Notable first: First African-American woman in the White House permanent art collection
Alma Thomas–inspired art is wonderfully flexible and can be created using many different materials. These lessons work well with paint, markers, dot markers, watercolor, oil pastels, collage paper, and even simple crayons. The goal is to explore color and repetition in a way that feels fun and approachable.
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