October is a month filled with mystery and magic, and we’re inviting the seasonal spirits to move us with a set of playful Halloween blind drawing exercises to help kids loosen up and have a little fun with their October art-making.

I’ve put together a mix of Halloween-inspired blind drawing project ideas that blend spooky themes with open-ended art exploration.

Some of these ideas draw inspiration from the spiritual and abstract works of artists like Hilma af Klint, while others put classic Halloween imagery to use. Some include sensory experiences or invite kids to discover creatures, scenes, or symbols that emerge from the chaos.

The overarching goal behind all of these ideas is to drive home the message that unexpected outcomes are always the MOST fun! And there are so many ways to use the projects to reflect Halloween’s mysterious atmosphere.

Inspiration: Hilma af Klint’s Seance Work

Hilma af Klint was a groundbreaking Swedish artist, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of abstract art. What made her work especially unique was her connection to spirituality. Af Klint, along with a group called “The Five,” regularly held séances—spiritual gatherings where they believed they communicated with otherworldly guides.

During these séances, af Klint claimed to receive directions from these spirits, which she translated into her artwork. Her vibrant, swirling shapes, symbolic forms, and abstract designs were often said to be guided by unseen forces, long before abstract art became popular.

Many of Af Klint’s works are LARGE, and I encourage you to consider finding your own large canvases too! A Roll of butcher paper laid across the floor or big cardboard boxes make great canvases kids can really let loose on.

Just as af Klint embraced the idea of her hand being led by something beyond her control, kids can explore similar themes in blind drawing exercises—trusting their creativity and embracing the surprises that come from drawing without sight.

For another female artist-inspired Halloween project that embraces the ethereal along with October themes, visit our spider web kids installation art project.

To set up your own Halloween blind drawing exercises, you’ll need:

Note: We prefer to shop locally or use what we have at home, but this list contains Woodpeckers Crafts, Etsy, Blick Art Materials, Bookshop.org and/or Amazon affiliate links for reference. As affiliates (and Amazon Associates), we make a small commission on qualifying purchases.*

BASIC SUPPLIES:

Paper (large pieces of newsprint, butcher paper or bulletin board paper rolls, plain white paper, construction paper, colored drawing paper, or vellum)
Drawing and mark-making supplies like pencils, crayons, markers, fingerpaints, charcoals, ink, and a brush, colored gel pens, or refillable paint daubers (like these)

OPTIONAL PRINTABLES:

OPTIONAL SUPPLIES:

Blindfolds, sleep masks, or a Halloween mask
Sensory items like small Halloween toys, fabric swatches, fall nature items, scented candles/oils
Watercolors
Decorative elements like googly eyes, Halloween stickers or cutouts, or colored tissue paper
Flashlights or lamps
Glow-in-the-dark glue
A UV marker and a UV flashlight
Scissors
School glue

How to Set Up Halloween Blind Drawing Exercises for Kids

Turn any space into a creative Halloween art station that encourages kids to experiment with art supplies and let their creative minds wander through the process of blind drawings.

Choose a workspace.

Select a flat surface like a table or desk or even the floor, with plenty of room for kids to spread out their materials. Make sure kids can move freely without bumping into things.

If working with multiple children, give each child their own space to avoid interference when drawing blindly.

Cover your work surface with old sheets or a plastic tablecloth – some of these projects can get messy!

Organize the supplies.

Place the drawing materials (pencils, crayons, etc.) within easy reach for each child.

For sensory activities, group your optional items (textured objects, scent oils, etc.) on a separate tray, so kids can grab them easily.
Use short-sided bowls or containers to store decorative items like googly eyes, stickers, and glitter for later use.

If using blindfolds or masks, place one at each station for kids to use during their blind drawing sessions.

If you’re doing the glow-in-the-dark projects, designate a dark area or have a way to quickly dim the lights.

Prepare the blindfolds or masks (optional).

While you don’t NEED masks or blindfolds, they do add an element of fun, and Halloween masks truly fit the theme! They’re also typically easier for kids to take off and put back on themselves.

Tape a piece of scrap fabric or paper across the back to cover the eyeholes.

Set the scene (optional).

Dim the lights or play a Halloween-themed playlist or ambient spooky sounds in the background to set the mood!

Explain the process.

Blind drawing is a concept that may be new to kids (I don’t remember it being something we did in art class until I was much older) so a quick walk-through of the process can be really helpful!

Take the kids through the concept of blind drawing and encourage them to let go of perfection. Emphasize that it’s about having fun and being creative, not making exact or realistic pictures.

Introduce the different exercises they can try, like blind drawing pumpkins, or making continuous line drawings they’ll transform into creatures, for instance.

Encourage experimentation – there’s no “right” way to do these projects.

And be ready to take lots of pictures…the process is often as interesting as the final product!

Start drawing!

Let the kids select their first exercise and get started. Remind them to put on their blindfold or mask and to feel free to explore with their materials.

Depending on the activity, give them a set amount of time (e.g., 5 minutes) to create their drawing.

Encourage reflection and play.

After completing their blind drawing, have kids remove their blindfolds and examine their creations.

If the exercise includes interactive elements (like adding googly eyes or stickers), provide time for them to play around with their drawings and enhance their final piece.

For abstract or sensory drawings, encourage kids to talk about what they imagined while they were drawing.

13 Halloween-Themed Blind Drawing Exercises

1. Blindfolded Jack-o-Lantern Faces

Begin by laying out some October nature favorites like pumpkins, gourds, and leaves, inviting kids to add jack-o-lantern features to their drawings as a next step.

2. Ghostly Shapes and Monster Mash

Blind draw the outlines of ghosts. What spooky or silly ghostly features or monster shapes appear as you look at your final products?

3. Spooky Sound Drawings

Listen to Halloween soundscapes like howling wind or cackling witches (here’s a playlist that’s a little more kid-friendly than some!) and try to blind draw what you think the sound looks like.

4. Mystery Texture Drawings

While blindfolded, feel different Halloween-themed objects (like a rubber bat, gummy worms, a pumpkin stem, wax fangs, or a skeleton key) and draw what you imagine based on the textures.

6. October Aroma Art

Smell classic fall scents (like cinnamon, cloves, or pumpkin spice) while drawing something inspired by the scent (a haunted forest, witches, or a Halloween feast) without looking.

7. Fortune Teller’s Spinner

You can use some of your previously created blind drawings to create your own set of mystic symbols!

Cut apart or blindly tear some of drawings. Use the lines in the pieces to create unique signs or symbols, assigning each a meaning.

You can take this even further by gluing them into a hand-drawn crystal ball (or use our free printable crystal ball template) or creating your own set of tarot cards.

8. Wiggly Spider Dance

Separately draw a spider and a spider’s web with your eyes closed. Once finished, cut out and glue your spider crawling along its web.

Webs are always a fun theme to play with, and here are a couple more variations…

Spider Web Spirograph: Use a simple DIY spirograph while blindfolded to create intricate web patterns.
Spider Web Spin: Tape a marker to the end of a yardstick and draw a spider’s web around yourself while spinning in a circle blindfolded (make sure you have a spotter for this one!).

9. Two-Part Collaborative Magical Blind Mazes

Blind draw a winding, spooky path or maze. Once finished, everyone can combine their path, adding Halloween details along the way.

Flying Witch’s Path: trace a “flight path” across the paper using one hand. Then, remove the blindfold and add a witch or broomstick following the erratic line.
Create an “enchanted forest” scene using only curvy lines, encouraging exploration of shape and form.

10. Two-Part Magic Spell Drawing

Have kids draw a random magical symbol or scribble blindly. Afterward, “activate” the spell by adding color, sparkles, or mysterious items (like sequins or stickers) to their drawing.

(This is a fun prompt to pair with our printable potion and spell recipe cards, printable cauldron art templates, crystal ball drawing prompt, or printable DIY tarot card bundle).

11. Phantom Portraits

Blindly draw a “phantom” face, then swap your drawing with a partner who has to complete the portrait with wild hair, silly eyes, or mysterious accessories (like a top hat or scarf).

12. One-Line Halloween Blind Drawing

Draw a series of Halloween symbols (bat, moon, pumpkin) using one continuous line without lifting the pencil or looking, an exercise in fluid creativity.

13. Costume Glove Drawings

To add an extra layer of spontaneity and fun, draw while wearing an oversized glove!

Next Steps: Halloween Blind Drawings With a Twist!

Below are some project ideas that involve an extra touch of Halloween magic…

These exercises incorporate more interactive elements, surprising reveals, and multi-step processes to make the drawing experience more engaging and unpredictable for the children.

Ghost Reveal: Blind draw a ghost, cut out the result, then use a flashlight to cast shadows and “reveal” them on the wall.
Witch’s Brew Reveal: “Draw” with powdered paint by gently sprinkling it in lines across the page, then spray with water to watch colors blend and “brew” together.
Haunted Scratch Art: Cover paper with many layers of crayon, then black paint. Blindly scratch a spooky scene to reveal colors underneath.
A Frankenstein Monster Mash: Draw monster parts separately while blindfolded, then cut them out and assemble them into mix-and-match creatures. Use craft brads to create moveable monster creations!
Ouija Board Art: Use a homemade cardboard planchette to guide the pencil while drawing with eyes closed, creating abstract “spirit messages”.
Ectoplasm Art Blindly squeeze glow-in-the-dark glue to ghost shapes. Turn off the lights to reveal the final results.
Invisible Ink Spells: Write or draw “magic spells” blindfolded using invisible ink, then “cast” them by using a UV light to reveal them.
Ghostly Negative Space: Apply painter’s tape in shapes on paper, blindly paint over the entire page, then remove the tape to reveal your ghostly silhouettes.
Spirit Scribble Stories: Blindly scribble across the page, feeling the flow of the pen or crayon. Afterward, study the shapes and lines, and turn parts of the scribble into Halloween characters or scenes by adding details like eyes, arms, or wings.
Mystical Pattern Reveal: Close your eyes and create a repeating pattern of swirls, zigzags, or dots all over the paper. Afterward, choose a few areas at random and transform them into magical symbols, haunted landscapes, or hidden creatures by coloring and layering.
Sensory Smudge Art: Blindly draw a simple, abstract Halloween-themed figure like a bat or witch’s hat using charcoal or pastels. Once done, experiment with smudging and blending the lines with your fingers to create eerie, abstract shapes that resemble shadows or mysterious smoke.
Hidden Layer Drawings: Blindly draw overlapping shapes in different sizes, then use tissue paper, translucent paint, or markers to add layers on top of the drawing. The final piece can look like a mysterious scene unfolding through mist or fog, with parts of the original drawing peeking through.
Spirits in the Shadows: Blindly draw a collection of free-form shapes, focusing on filling the page with lines, curves, and odd angles. Then, selectively fill in some shapes with black to create shadowy forms or creatures that seem to “emerge” from the darkness of the abstract background.
Temporal Textures Collaborative Mural: This can be a multi-day project where kids add a new layer or element each day – dripped wax, blindly torn tissue paper, found objects, scratches in the paint. It’s a cool way to show how ideas and art can evolve over time.

More Halloween Process Art Projects for Kids

Help kids explore painting processes with a magic potion lab, create a gallery of emotive scrap paper ghosts, or weave a mysterious yarn web using fabric scraps and other found objects.

Halloween Blind Drawing Exercises for Kids