As someone who once stood at the threshold of this creative journey, I understand the mix of enthusiasm and uncertainty that comes with being a beginner. This blog post is crafted specifically for you who are new to art, offering a variety of canvas painting ideas that are both simple and engaging. (Related: don’t forget to read my post about the differences between oil and acrylic paint and how to get started with acrylic paint).
Here I’ll list you 36 unique and beginner-friendly painting ideas for acrylic and oil paint. From tranquil landscapes to vibrant abstracts, these ideas are picked to spark your artistic curiosity and build your confidence, no matter your starting point. Feel free to imitate these, paint your own versions and share the results, as there is no copyright to those images. I hope you find your inspiration from this blog post 🙂 So, let’s get started:
Table of Contents
Best Canvas Painting Ideas: All the Cool Things to Paint
Abstract Art
For easy canvas painting ideas, start with abstract designs. Use bold colors and spontaneous brushstrokes to express emotion. Play with contrasting colors for impact.
Landscape Painting
A classic among things to paint, landscapes offer endless acrylic painting ideas. Capture the beauty of nature with simple shapes and colors. Start with the sky, then add simple shapes for hills or water. Use a limited palette for cohesiveness.
Still Life
Ideal for painting ideas easy and straightforward, set up a still life scene with objects like fruits or bottles and observe the light and shadow. Choose simple objects and sketch their outlines first. Use light and shadow to create depth.
Floral Designs
Floral designs are versatile canvas painting ideas that allow you to experiment with different flower shapes and vibrant colors. Paint basic flower shapes like circles or ovals, then add petals. Experiment with different colors.
Geometric Patterns
For cool painting ideas, try geometric patterns. Use a ruler for straight lines and symmetry. Stick to a simple color scheme. Play with color combinations.
Color Block Portraits
Simplify portraits into basic color shapes for unique canvas painting ideas. This approach makes complex subjects easy and manageable. To start, sketch a simple portrait outline. Fill in large areas with solid colors, no shading needed.
Moonlit Night Sky
Capturing a moonlit sky can be one of the most magical easy painting ideas. Experiment with shades of blue and white for the moon’s glow. To start, paint a dark sky, then dab a sponge for stars. Add a bright circle for the moon.
Underwater Scenes
Explore underwater scenes for creative acrylic painting ideas. First use blues and greens for the water. Then add simple fish shapes or seaweed.
Fantasy Landscapes
Unleash your imagination with fantasy landscapes. These make for intriguing and cool painting ideas, blending reality with fantasy. Imagine a magical place and sketch basic shapes. Use vibrant colors for a whimsical look.
Silhouette Art
Silhouette art is among the easiest things to paint for beginners. Create a vibrant background and then add a black silhouette for contrast. Use black silhouettes of trees, animals, or cityscapes.
City Skyline
City skylines are great for painting ideas on canvas. Draw a simple city outline and fill it in black. Paint a gradient sky for contrast.
Animal Portraits
Animal portraits can be fun and rewarding canvas painting ideas. Choose a simple animal shape. Focus on basic features like eyes or fur texture.
Galaxy Painting
Galaxies are stunning and easy painting ideas. Blend dark colors with white to create a galaxy effect. Splatter white paint for stars.
Mountain Views
Mountains are timeless acrylic painting ideas. Paint triangle shapes for mountains. Add different shades for depth.
Botanical Illustrations
For painting ideas easy and elegant, try botanical illustrations. Sketch simple leaf shapes. Use various shades of green for realism.
Birds in Flight
Birds in flight are dynamic and cool painting ideas, although not the easiest to draw. Paint simple bird shapes in a blue sky. Use light strokes for a sense of movement. (For inspiration, here you have a huge database of bird photos for reference)
Rainy Day Scenes
Depicting a rainy scene is among the more challenging yet rewarding things to paint, focusing on reflections and the mood of the scene. Paint vertical lines for rain over a simple landscape. Use reflections for realism.
Sunrise Scenes
Sunrise scenes offer a spectrum of warm colors, making them great painting ideas for beginners. Start with a light-colored sky. Gradually add colors of the sunrise.
Fruit and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are classic still life subjects and easy painting ideas, perfect for practicing shapes and shadows. Paint basic shapes of fruits or vegetables. Use bright, bold colors.
Butterfly Art
Butterflies are fun and colorful canvas painting ideas. Experiment with patterns and bright colors for the wings. Sketch a symmetrical butterfly. Fill in with patterned designs. (Here you can find a nice gallery of real butterfly photos for inspiration).
Seasonal Trees
Painting trees in different seasons allows for a variety of color palettes and is one of the more versatile acrylic painting ideas. Paint a basic tree shape. Change leaf colors according to the season.
Beach Scenes
Beach scenes are relaxing and easy painting ideas. Paint a horizontal line for the horizon. Add simple shapes for sand and waves.
Patterned Fish
Patterned fish are playful and creative things to paint, ideal for experimenting with colors and shapes. Paint fish shapes, then add patterns with different colors.
Desert Landscapes
Desert landscapes offer a unique palette of warm colors and are straightforward painting ideas for beginners. Use warm colors for sand and simple cactus shapes.
Northern Lights
Capturing the Northern Lights can be a captivating challenge, offering cool painting ideas with vibrant, flowing colors. Create a night sky, then add wavy lines of bright colors for the aurora.
Folk Art Patterns
Folk art patterns are rich in culture and make for intriguing and colorful canvas painting ideas. Use simple shapes and repetitive patterns. Stick to a limited color palette.
Zen Doodle Art
Combine Zen doodles (Zentangle) with acrylics for unique and creative painting ideas on canvas, great for practicing line work and patterns. Make random doodles, then paint over them.
Mandala Art
Mandalas are meditative and symmetrical, making them excellent and easy painting ideas for concentration and precision. Start from the center and work outwards with symmetrical patterns. Paint with thin paint washes.
Hot Air Balloons
Hot air balloons in the sky are playful and imaginative things to paint, great for practicing curves and colors. Paint balloon shapes in the sky. Use bright, contrasting colors for a cheerful effect, muted colors for a calm winter mood.
Space Themes
Space themes are among the coolest painting ideas, allowing for creativity with planets and stars. Paint a dark sky. Add planets as simple circles with rings or spots.
Whimsical Houses
Painting whimsical houses lets you play with colors and simple architectural shapes, perfect as painting ideas for beginners. First paint boxy house shapes. Then add colorful roofs and windows. And voila! Now you have a whole colorful village.
Ocean Waves
Ocean waves can be both challenging and rewarding as acrylic painting ideas, focusing on movement and texture. Use curved strokes for waves. Blend blues and whites for a foamy look.
Snowy Landscapes
Snowy landscapes offer a serene and monochromatic palette, ideal for beginners looking for easy painting ideas. Paint a white ground. Add simple shapes for trees or houses.
Fireworks Display
Capturing a fireworks display is a dynamic and colorful choice among canvas painting ideas. Use a dark background. Flick different colors from a central point for fireworks.
Fairytale Castles
Fairytale castles can be magical and detailed, offering a range of cool painting ideas from simple to complex. Sketch a basic castle shape. Use light colors and add simple towers or flags.
Famous Artwork
Recreating famous artworks can be both educational and inspiring. For doing that, I recommend to visit Google Arts and Culture webpage. Also, MoMa has a great list of artists to browse for inspiration. Choose a well-known artist and artpiece that resonates with you, and try to replicate it in your own style. This exercise helps in understanding composition, color usage, and brushwork techniques used by master artists.
It’s also a great way to explore different art styles and periods. Don’t worry about making an exact copy; focus on the learning process and how it enhances your skills. This approach is a fantastic way to pay homage to great artists while developing your own artistic voice.
(Joaquin Sorolla, Public Domain)
Conclusion
And there you have it – 36 fun and creative canvas painting ideas to kickstart your artistic journey 🙂 Whether you’re dabbling in abstracts, trying out landscapes, or even taking a crack at replicating a famous artwork, there’s something here for everyone. These projects are all about exploring your creativity and enjoying the process, for sparking your inspiration – so don’t stress about perfection.
Grab your brushes, pick an idea that catches your eye, and just have fun with it. Here’s to the beginning of many amazing painting adventures. Can’t wait to see what you create!
