Share a Digital Art Time-Lapse
Create a digital drawing, record a time-lapse of your process using a drawing app or screen recorder, edit and share with an adult.
About this activity
Create a digital drawing, record a time-lapse of your process using a drawing app or screen recorder, edit and share with an adult.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Pick one fun thing to draw like an animal character a cool spaceship or a magical scene.
- 2
Step 2
Open your drawing app and start a new blank canvas at a size you like.
- 3
Step 3
Turn on your screen recorder or enable the app’s time-lapse feature so your whole process will be captured.
- 4
Step 4
Make a light sketch of the basic shapes and outline of your idea.
- 5
Step 5
Fill in the big color areas to block in the main colors of your drawing.
- 6
Step 6
Add details such as lines patterns and simple shading to bring your drawing to life.
- 7
Step 7
Put in finishing touches like highlights small textures and a background element.
- 8
Step 8
Stop the screen recorder or save/export the app’s time-lapse video of your drawing.
- 9
Step 9
Ask an adult to help open the video in a video editing app and trim or speed it up if needed.
- 10
Step 10
Ask the adult to help export the final edited video as a shareable file.
- 11
Step 11
With an adult share your finished time-lapse video on DIY.org.
Fun facts
How do I make and share a digital art time-lapse?
Start by opening a drawing app with built‑in time‑lapse or use a screen recorder while you draw. Sketch your idea, then build layers and color while the recorder captures your process. When finished, trim the recording, speed it up if needed, add a title or simple music with an editor, and export the video. Review the final clip with an adult, then share privately (family folder, private link) or post with parental approval and captions.
What materials and apps do I need for a digital art time-lapse?
You need a tablet, phone, or computer with a drawing app (examples: Procreate, ibisPaint, MediBang, Sketchbook) or software that records the screen. A stylus is helpful but optional. Use a screen recorder (built‑in iOS/Android or third‑party) and a simple video editor (iMovie, CapCut) to trim and add audio. Have an adult help with app accounts, permissions, and exporting files for sharing.
What ages is a digital art time-lapse suitable for?
Suitable for many ages: young children (5–7) can draw with hands‑on help and watch time‑lapses; elementary kids (8–12) can plan and record with some supervision; teens can handle advanced apps, editing and sharing. Adjust complexity, length, and supervision to match the child’s attention, fine motor skills, and comfort with devices and online sharing.
What safety and privacy tips should we follow when sharing a time-lapse?
Always get an adult’s permission before sharing. Remove or blur any personal info (names, school logos, backgrounds) and disable location data. Use private links or closed groups, review comment settings, and avoid showing faces if you want extra privacy. Keep account passwords secure, use family‑friendly platforms, and teach children to ask for help with downloads, messages, or unknown requests.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have a drawing app, screen recorder, or video editing app?
If you lack a drawing app or recorder, draw on paper following the steps (light sketch, fill big color areas, add details, finishing touches), prop a smartphone on a stable surface to record your paper as you work, and use the phone's built-in editor or a free app to trim or speed the clip before sharing.
What should we do if the screen recorder or the app's time-lapse stops working partway through the drawing?
If recording fails during step 3 or 7, pause, save your drawing file, restart the recorder, continue working on a new layer or duplicate file so you can stitch clips together later in the video editing app.
How can we change the activity for younger or older kids?
For younger kids simplify the task to picking a single shape and doing only the 'light sketch' and 'big color areas' while an adult handles recording and DIY.org upload, and for older kids add more layers, advanced shading in the 'add details' step, and more precise trimming/speed control in the editing app.
How can we improve or personalize the time-lapse before sharing it on DIY.org?
When an adult opens the video in the editing app (step 8), add a short title card, background music, and a 1–2 second pause on your final image to showcase the 'finishing touches' and your signature before exporting.