Art

51 Cool, Easy Things to Paint for a Creative 2024

by: Kristy Bowen

Last Updated on Aug 23rd 2024

Looking for great ideas for things to paint? Painting can be a rewarding way to express your creativity and make beautiful pieces of art and decor for your home. While there are many different media and approaches, all help you see the world in washes of color and shadow that only the artist's eye can experience.

What is the easiest thing to paint? What objects can I paint on? We’ve rounded a few perfect ideas that are beginner-friendly and easy to master, using all sorts of approaches, inspirations and types of paint. Most are doable with just a few supplies and a little creative inspiration.

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Easy Things to Paint on Canvas

1. Flower Paintings

With their organic shapes and multitude of colors, one of the easiest things to paint can be found right outside your window. Flowers come in all varieties of shapes and sizes, and many budding artists can employ simple brush strokes to create stems and petals.

Flowers are one of the best canvas painting ideas for beginners since you can work by studying real life samples. They also are an equally great medium for watercolor, acrylics or oil painting.

flower easy things to paint — *via Canva*

2. Bleach Painting

This ordinary household cleaning supply can also create dynamic paintings that remove pigment rather than applying it. Give your canvas a wash of a deeper color like black, brown or scarlet then use a brush dipped in a mixture of water and bleach.

The chemical reaction will remove the color from the canvas. Since this may be a little smelly, make sure to work outside or wear a mask when working with bleach.

Great things to paint with this technique include florals and landscapes, as well as portraits, decorative motifs and word art.

3. Altered Thrifted Art

If you don’t know where to start, consider adapting an existing painting from the thrift store with some added elements. Many people love this trend for adding ghosts and other spooky details to landscape paintings during the Halloween season, but you can add any number of things and characters to any existing painting with some acrylic paint.

Since the scene is already set, this is an easy thing to paint on a canvas for beginners. If you're looking for canvases to augment, check out thrift stores, garage sales, flea markets and discount outlets.

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4. Dust Pan Painting

Beautiful swaths of color can be as close as your cleaning closet. Use a dustpan to apply paint to a canvas by creating rows of color paint on the pan then dragging it along the surface, allowing the color to spread out.

This canvas painting idea is great if you’re looking to fill a large canvas for your walls at home and want a bold and colorful piece of art.

5. Splatter Painting

Popularized by artists like Jackson Pollock, the splatter technique throws representation to the wind, using a brush or other object to create splatters and streaks of paint on a canvas.

This is a messy, but very fun technique. It’s great for large-scale canvases you can hang on a wall or lay on the floor as you work.

6. Mixed Media

Canvas is one of the best mediums for creating mixed media artwork that employs a number of materials, including paint, ink, embroidery and paper collage.

Since there is no wrong way to create a mixed-media piece on canvas, this is one of the best things to paint if you’re just starting out as an artist.

7. Pour Painting

Canvas is the perfect medium for pour painting , which allows you to create a design by pouring paint directly on the surface and then moving it around to manipulate the image.

The results are beautiful wavy and striated paintings that have a lot of texture and dimension. Place your canvas flat and allow the excess paint to run off the sides.

8. Self-Portraits

A great place to start your painting practice on canvas is to create a self-portrait. Even if your rendering skills are rusty, you can create more abstract versions of your reflection in the mirror or work from a photograph.

Great things to paint are various versions of your self-portrait in a number of styles like Picasso’s fractured point-of-view portraits or changing self-portraits in the style of Van Gogh.

Cool Things to Paint Around the House

9. Tote Bags

Painting on canvas tote bags is very similar to painting on a framed or loose canvas. Tote bag painting ideas include painting a whole scene or just decorative accents.

If your bag gets a bit of wear, make sure to add a spray fixative over the painted portion to keep it looking good.

tote bag easy things to paint — *via Canva*

10. Shoes

Another cool thing to paint are shoes. Create custom designs on the sides of your sneakers or paint a pair of high heels to look like a work of art.

There are numerous shoe painting ideas that are great for artists of all ages, many of which work with fabric paints or acrylics, as well as metallic paint markers.

11. Fabric

What is the most popular thing to paint? Fabric, particularly denim, can be a fun way to customize your clothes with your own style. Add flowers or favorite decorative motifs to items like jeans, jackets and hats. Use fabric paint that can withstand wear and washing.

12. Stenciled Housewares

Stencils are some of the easiest things to paint on decorative objects around your home. Add your favorite design to objects like lamps, storage boxes, mirrors or along wall borders. They also work great for textiles and soft materials like napkins, tea towels and tablecloths.

13. Wall Mural

If you have a big blank wall and want to make a bold statement, consider hand painting a mural. This is particularly great as a fun accent wall for a kid's room or nursery, as well as a way to add interest to spaces that need a little livening up like stairways, hallways and alcoves.

Paint a fun landscape or scene or use an ombre approach that starts with a deeper color on one side or the top and spreads to become lighter at the edges.

painting on black brick wall — *via Canva*

14. Dishware

Dishware can be a fun thing to paint, especially if you are looking for a way to personalize thrifted or hand-me-down finds. Create personalized wine goblets with these great wine glass painting ideas. Or add a fun accent to your favorite coffee cup with these mug painting ideas.

15. Planters

With lots of surfaces for decorating, a great thing to paint are planters and flower pots. You can create vertical or horizontal stripes, patterns or botanical imagery to make even the most boring plastic or terra cotta planter extra cute with these fun flower pot painting ideas.

16. Face or Body Painting

One of the most fun things to paint may be yourself! Face and body painting are fun ways to decorate your skin no matter the occasion, be it your favorite sporting event, a concert, a celebration or a holiday.

Skin-safe paint is available at craft and hobby stores in all sorts of colors and makes a great activity for kids or adults. There are face paint ideas that suit any occasion you can think of.

17. Rocks

If you are looking for a fun way to liven up your outdoor space, find the biggest rock you can find and get creative. Rock painting ideas are plentiful.

Just use acrylic paint to turn your ordinary rock into a decorative object. Cute variations include painting rocks to look like insects, woodland creatures or pets. Or just paint the surface with some floral or leaf accents.

18. Wood Plaques

Wood plaques can be found at craft stores or lumber yards and make a perfect surface for painting. You can even upcycle old word art pieces into new paintings by painting over existing images or flipping them to the back.

Make a cute welcome or custom garden sign. Or paint a cutting board for a beautiful decorative piece for your kitchen.

19. Paving Stones

Another creative thing to paint for your outdoor space are paver stones. Turn ordinary cement or stone tiles into decorative objects that wind through your yard.

You can use acrylic paint to paint the surface, then seal with a water and weatherproof sealant to keep your design looking like new.

20. Hand-Painted Wallpaper

Wallpaper can be expensive and tricky to apply perfectly, but you can get a similar patterned look by painting a design by hand or using a stencil or sponge.

While larger spaces may take some time, this distinctive way of decorating your walls is one-of-a-kind and customized to your decor, making it a great way to get exactly the look you want.

21. Tiles

If you have lackluster tiles in your kitchen or bathroom, consider adding some decorative accents with paint to them. Seashells, flowers and other natural elements are lovely things to paint that make your tile look much more custom and expensive.

You can even create a multi-tile mural on the wall of your shower or on the floor of your entryway. Just seal the paint with a sealant to keep it from rubbing away.

tiles easy things to paint around the house — *via Canva*

22. Apothecary Jars

Create vintage colored apothecary jars and glass bottles with a mix of Mod Podge and acrylic paint. Pour the mixture into the bottle or jar and slosh it around until fully covered.

The clear substance will dry with the tint of your desired color. Use them as decorative objects, vases or rustic storage containers on a bathroom vanity.

23. Furniture

Wooden furniture is a great thing to paint for a custom look. Add flowers or other botanical imagery to an old chair or dresser with a brush. Paint a scenic landscape on your headboard or a side tabletop using acrylic paints and a coat of polyurethane.

24. Ornaments

Holiday ornaments are a fun and creative thing to paint no matter the time of year. You can buy ornament blanks in all shapes and sizes from craft and hobby stores, including rectangles or globes.

Paint a snowy scene or a customized message on ornaments to give as gifts or keep for yourself.

Cute Things to Paint on Paper

25. Art Journaling

Exploring creative art journal ideas can be one of the best ways to foster creativity and meditation, practice your artmaking skills and experiment with different media, including painting.

Fill a sketchbook with watercolors, acrylics and other types of materials for a fun thing to paint that preserves your artwork and provides a capsule of your work over time.

art journal easy things to paint on paper — *via Canva*

26. Masks

A fun thing to paint for kids, you can make or buy simple paper masks any time of year, with Halloween season being the most popular time to make hand-painted masks.

You can pick up masquerade masks made of paper fiberboard at party stores and places like Michaels or Hobby Lobby. Use them for masquerade parties or hang them on the wall as art.

27. Botanical Prints

For a rich botanical piece, consider painting with natural materials like flowers and leaves. Dip the material in paint and use it to apply to the canvas.

Or lay the materials on the paper and paint over them, leaving a print when you remove the leaves or flowers.

28. Lanterns

Another cool thing to paint from the party store, inexpensive paper lanterns come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Use acrylic paints to add scenes or small accents like flowers, hearts or other details on the outside of the lanterns that will light up when you add a bulb inside.

29. Handmade Cards

A handmade card can be a memorable keepsake. Instead of a store-bought greeting card, use handmade paper or cardstock to paint a custom card for any occasion.

Watercolor works particularly nicely, as the paint will seep into the paper with a rainwashed look.

painting handmade paper cards for the holidays — *via Canva*

30. Faux Oil Paintings

If you have a paper print or piece of art that you love and would like to hang it in a frame, you can easily make it look like an antique oil painting with a few modifications. Use Mod Podge and a brush to create strokes on the paper that look like the work of an old master.

31. Ink Painting

When it comes to finding interesting things to paint, you are not limited to common materials like watercolors, oils and acrylics, but can also purchase colored inks that apply very much like paint.

Alcohol inks are especially great for creating rich florals and apply much like watercolor, but have a bit more durability and vividness.

32. Hand-Painted Gift Wrap

Looking for a way to add pizazz to the gifts you give? Make your own hand-painted gift wrap. Ordinary inexpensive kraft paper makes a great thing to paint. Use seasonal decorative motifs or paint some simple flowers and easy doodles for a personalized way to present your gift.

33. Coffee Painting

Another fun medium to set to the page is coffee. With its deep brown color, it can create beautiful florals, landscapes and scenes. For a unique thing to paint on paper, create a work of art from the round your morning cup leaves on a sheet of paper by adding embellishments with additional coffee and a brush.

easy things to paint coffee painting — *via Canva*

34. Altered Book Pages

A great bookish gift is a work of art created on a framed book page. You can create all manner of images on old book pages using watercolor or acrylics.

For a fun, more in-depth project, make an altered book using paint, collage, cut-out pages and other mediums from an old volume.

35. Envelopes

For a delightful and sneaky thing to paint on paper, add some artwork to the inside of envelopes before you send your next greeting card, invitation or personal note. The inside, when opened, will charm the recipient and make the envelope a fun keepsake.

36. Jewelry

Glass pendant kits are available at craft stores and on Etsy in abundance. Use a glass tile, a metal bevel and some Mod Podge to create custom jewelry from your miniature paintings, collages or drawings.

Coat the piece with adhesive to protect it, place it inside the pendant and add more adhesive to attach the glass tile. Add a chain and wear your own art or give it as a gift.

37. Collage

This papery medium is perfect for augmenting with paint like watercolors, where the soft wash of color can remain transparent, allowing you to see the details underneath.

For a cool thing to paint, bring your collage ideas to life on paper, then add details and wash over certain objects with some gorgeous pastel colors.

collage easy things to paint — *via Canva*

37. Sponge Stencil

For a simple and fun thing to paint for kids, sponges make excellent inexpensive and easy-to-hold stamps for making shapes on paper. Carve out shapes with scissors like flowers and hearts and soak the bottom in acrylic paint before applying to the paper.

38. Custom Book Edges

For a historic method that antique bookmakers used to create beautiful objects, consider adding something special to your favorite volumes. Use some acrylic paint on the page ends to create a scene or design.

Or use a stunning gold or silver metallic paint. Make sure to clip or tape the pages securely together to prevent getting paint on the pages themselves and allow them to dry thoroughly before opening.

39. Neon Painting

For a trippy painting idea, use some black construction paper and neon paints to create blacklight images to hang on your walls. These bright hues will glow in the dark and can be great for parties and decor.

40. Make a Color Swatch Sheet

Artists who use a lot of different colors in their work often create colorful sheets that mix the colors in their watercolor tubes or sets. They also are beautiful to behold visually and help you to be able to reproduce your favorite shades when painting.

Simply create rectangles or squares of blended color on the page and carefully label them with a pencil or pencil.

Best Things to Paint With Watercolor

41. Ombre Painting

Watercolor’s soft transparency as a medium makes it perfect for blending colors. Start with a darker shade at one end of the page and blend to various lighter shades down the page. The medium will blend seamlessly between colors.

42. Drip Paintings

For an easy thing to paint with watercolor, make drip paintings that capitalize on the medium's wetness. Apply the watercolor paint liberally to the paper and turn it on its side, allowing the image to form as the paint runs down.

You will get rich overlaps and color combinations if you use many colors and allow them to subtly blend together.

43. Abstract Landscapes

Another easy thing to paint if you are a beginner is abstract watercolor landscapes. Create a horizon line on the paper and work from there, adding elements like sky, trees and foreground.

Abstract landscapes are usually less detailed, so make a great beginner-friendly form to start, with many landscape painting ideas for all skill levels. You can also find beautiful sunset painting ideas that incorporate dreamy warm colors.

44. Scenic Postcard

One of the best things about watercolors is that they are portable, making them perfect for use out in the world where other kinds of paint may be too messy.

For a memorable thing to paint, keep a small set in your bag and use it to create scenic postcards from your travels like landscapes and street scenes.

45. Abstract Watercolor Florals

Flowers and other botanical elements are some of the easiest things to paint for beginners. With soft colors and organic shapes, it’s simple to create beautiful abstract florals with few rendering skills.

Begin by making marks with the brush and creating petals, stems and centers. For more advanced artists, it's a great medium to explore other watercolor painting ideas that delve into more detailed work.

watercolor flowers easy things to paint — *via Canva*

46. Hand-Tinted Photos

Old black and white photos can be given additional interest by hand painting some watercolor details over the images. The paint allows the original detail to show through with a soft wash of color.

Find some old photos and postcards at a thrift or antique store and make them into works of art for a fun thing to paint with watercolor.

47. Fashion Sketches

Fashion designers love using watercolor as a medium for their sketches and mock-ups, but the use is by no means left only to professionals.

Use watercolors as a fun way to render your own imaginary fashions even if they only remain on the page. You can vary your intensity of color by adding more or less water as you work, resulting in deeper shades of color.

48. Pet Portrait

A fun and easy thing to paint with watercolors is a portrait of your pet. They can range from abstract and cartoonish to highly detailed likenesses. These fun portraits create a memorable piece of artwork and can be framed or given as gifts.

Learn to Paint in Local Art Classes

49. Art Classes

Art classes are one of the best ways to get acquainted with mediums and artistic techniques. They can be found in your community at venues like craft stores, libraries and educational institutions.

Learn to paint on canvas, wood, sculpture and other materials at art classes near you, including art classes in Seattle, art classes in the Bay Area or art classes in Nashville.

practice easy things to paint in local art classes — *via Classpop!*

50. Paint and Sip

A more laid-back venue than a traditional art class, paint and sips allow you to create fun and unique pieces of art amid a laid-back environment that includes cocktails and ample socializing.

They are great for giving an introduction to various media for new artists or for sharpening your skills.. Find a paint and sip near you, including paint and sips in Boston, paint and sips in Denver or paint and sips in Kansas City

51. Pottery Classes

Like art classes, pottery classes are offered at all skill levels and varieties. Learn to make mugs, planters ornaments or jewelry with close access to materials like glazes and a kiln under the guidance of a skilled potter.

Learn great pottery painting ideas at pottery classes near you, including pottery classes in Los Angeles, pottery classes in Miami or pottery classes in NYC.

These easy-to-master ideas for things to paint will have you picking up the brush in no time for a year filled with dynamics creating and making.

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