When you first pick up a paintbrush, the world of art can seem a little overwhelming. What should you paint? How do you start? For beginners, it’s essential to choose subjects that are both fun and simple to paint, allowing you to focus on developing your skills while enjoying the creative process. Whether you’re painting with acrylics, watercolors, or oils, the following guide will introduce you to fun and easy things to paint, perfect for those just starting their artistic journey.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best beginner-friendly painting ideas, tips to help you succeed, and how you can grow your confidence as an artist.
Understanding the Basics: Materials and Techniques
Before we dive into the list of fun things to paint, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the basic materials and techniques. When you’re starting out, choosing the right painting medium and learning simple techniques will make the process smoother and more enjoyable.
- Choosing Your Medium: Acrylic paints are often recommended for beginners because they dry quickly, are easy to work with, and allow for corrections. Watercolors and oils also offer unique benefits, but they require more practice to master. Start with acrylics if you want a forgiving medium that can be used for a variety of subjects.
- Brushes and Canvas: You don’t need expensive brushes to create beautiful paintings, but having a variety of brush shapes and sizes will help. Round and flat brushes are versatile and great for covering different areas of your canvas. For beginners, using canvas paper or smaller canvases can make practice more manageable.
- Basic Techniques: Mastering simple techniques like blending, dry brushing, and layering will significantly improve your painting. These techniques allow you to create depth, texture, and subtle transitions in your artwork. Don’t rush—practice will help you become more comfortable with your tools.
1. Paint Simple Landscapes
One of the best ways to start painting as a beginner is by creating simple landscapes. Nature scenes offer a wide range of possibilities, from rolling hills and serene beaches to vibrant sunsets and forests. Landscapes are forgiving and allow room for experimentation.
Start with basic elements like the sky, horizon, and ground. You can practice blending colors in the sky for a sunset or experiment with textures for trees and grass. Even if your first attempt isn’t perfect, landscapes are highly adaptable, and you can always add details or change colors to suit your vision. Plus, painting outdoors or from photos is a wonderful way to relax and connect with nature.
2. Paint a Still Life of Everyday Objects
Still life paintings are an excellent starting point for beginners because they teach you how to observe shapes, shadows, and light. Common household items like fruits, vases, or coffee mugs are ideal subjects. They’re simple, familiar, and can help you practice capturing details and proportions.
Begin by arranging a small group of objects on a table. Consider how the light hits the objects and pay attention to the shadows they cast. Use simple shapes to sketch the objects on your canvas, and then apply layers of color, focusing on shading and highlighting to create dimension. Still life paintings also offer the opportunity to play with different color palettes, helping you experiment with how colors interact.
3. Create Fun Abstract Art
Abstract art is a perfect starting point for beginners because it doesn’t require precise shapes or exact proportions. Instead, it’s about expressing emotions, patterns, and textures through color and form. Abstract paintings can be both relaxing and exciting, allowing you to freely experiment without the pressure of achieving realism.
Start with a few simple colors and paint shapes, swirls, or lines that appeal to you. You can layer different colors and textures, using brushes or palette knives to create unique effects. Don’t worry about the outcome—abstract art is all about the process and enjoying the movement of paint across the canvas. The beauty of abstract painting is that there’s no wrong way to do it.
4. Paint Flowers and Plants
Flowers and plants are beautiful, versatile subjects that offer plenty of variety for beginners. Whether you want to paint a single flower or an entire bouquet, you can keep the design simple or gradually add more complexity as your skills improve.
Start with basic flower shapes, like daisies or tulips, using simple strokes to create petals and stems. Focus on practicing blending different shades of green for the leaves and stems, or experiment with a wide range of colors for the flowers themselves. As you grow more confident, you can add details like veining in leaves or shadows in petals to give your painting more depth. Painting flowers also offers a chance to play with contrast and brightness, which can make your artwork pop.
5. Paint Easy Geometric Patterns
Geometric patterns are not only fun to paint but also teach you about symmetry and color balance. These patterns can be as simple or complex as you want, making them ideal for beginners looking to improve their precision and control with the brush.
Start by drawing simple shapes like circles, squares, or triangles across your canvas. Once you’ve created a layout, use different colors to fill in each shape, experimenting with contrasts and gradients. You can also add outlines or borders to your geometric patterns for more definition. Painting these patterns is both meditative and rewarding, as it helps you practice fine motor skills while allowing creativity to flow freely.
6. Paint Your Pet or a Simple Animal
Painting animals, especially pets, can be incredibly fun and a great way to personalize your artwork. For beginners, it’s best to start with simple animal shapes, such as a silhouette of a cat, dog, or bird, before moving on to more detailed portraits.
To get started, find a reference photo of your pet or an animal you like. Sketch the basic shapes of the body and face, keeping the proportions loose and simple. As you apply paint, focus on building up layers of color for the fur or feathers, and add details like eyes, nose, and texture gradually. Animals are wonderful subjects to paint because they allow you to practice different textures—such as fur, feathers, and skin—while capturing their unique personalities.
7. Explore Painting the Sky
The sky offers endless variations of colors, moods, and textures, making it a fantastic subject for beginners. From bright blue skies to dramatic sunsets, practicing sky paintings helps you improve your blending skills and experiment with various shades.
Start by painting a simple sky, perhaps with a few fluffy clouds or a gradient sunset. Focus on the smooth transition between colors, like the soft fade from orange to pink in a sunset, or the stark contrast of dark clouds against a blue sky. Adding details such as clouds, stars, or even distant mountains or trees can enhance your painting. Sky paintings can be both simple and majestic, offering plenty of room for personal interpretation.
8. Paint a Simple Portrait
Portraits may seem challenging for beginners, but starting with a simple, stylized portrait can be a fun and manageable way to practice. Focus on capturing basic facial features without worrying about intricate details. Simple portraits allow you to practice proportions, skin tones, and facial expressions.
Begin by sketching an oval for the face and adding lines to guide where the eyes, nose, and mouth will go. Start with simple, cartoon-like features, and as you get more comfortable, you can add shading and more realistic touches. Practicing simple portraits can help you build confidence, and as you improve, you can try more detailed and realistic faces.
9. Experiment with Painting Food
Food is a fantastic subject for beginners because it combines the simplicity of still life with vibrant colors and textures. From painting a single fruit to an entire dinner plate, food allows you to explore different shapes, shades, and textures.
Start with something easy, like an apple or a slice of watermelon. Focus on capturing the highlights and shadows that give the fruit its roundness and depth. As you gain more experience, you can try painting more complex foods, like pastries, sandwiches, or even beverages in glasses. Painting food can be both playful and realistic, offering a fun way to hone your observation skills.
10. Paint Your Favorite Quote
Combining text with art can result in a powerful and personal piece. Painting your favorite quote is a great way to experiment with typography and background design. Whether it’s an inspirational saying or a simple word that resonates with you, adding painted text to a canvas allows you to express both words and visuals in a creative way.
Start by choosing a quote or phrase that speaks to you. Use a simple font style to paint the text, and experiment with different background elements, such as abstract shapes, flowers, or gradients. You can also explore lettering techniques like calligraphy or block letters to make the text stand out. Painting quotes not only helps you practice precision but also gives you a meaningful piece of art to display.
Conclusion: Enjoy the Process of Learning
As a beginner, the most important thing is to enjoy the process of learning and creating. These fun and easy things to paint are meant to help you build confidence, practice essential techniques, and unlock your creativity. Remember, painting is not about perfection—it’s about self-expression and having fun. The more you experiment with different subjects, colors, and styles, the more you’ll improve. Read more article: how to draw a dog
