70 Easy Things To Paint As A Beginner Artist That Is Enjoyable

Learning to paint is an enjoyable process but this doesn’t mean that you can’t get easily frustrated sooner than expected.

At some point, you’re going to feel confused and stressed when deciding what to paint and tackling the doubt of whether it will turn out well like the tutorial or if you even have the skills yet to tackle that big project.

From experience, I can tell you that if you’re just starting out as a beginner artist, it’s best to just keep things simple and stick to the basics which is why I created this list of easy things to paint that will solve all your problems.

And if you’re worried or concerned that you aren’t good enough to create these paintings, no worries.

Here’s an example of a watercolor building painting I did recently:

As I was painting this, it was uncertain how it would turn out but I focused on just enjoying the process and see where things take me.

Give it your best shot and you’re bound to learn some valuable information when learning how to paint these easy subjects.

The following list of ideas can be applied to any type of medium, whether that’s gouache, oil, acrylic, and watercolors.

Easy Painting Ideas For Beginners

Each of these painting ideas and tutorials can be done at whichever level you are at in terms of painting.

Whether you’re a beginner or pro, you’re bound to be satisfied and pleased.

Starting off with this list of easy painting ideas is the perfect place to begin your journey.

1. Sunsets

Sunsets are one of the easiest and best things to paint as a beginner.

There isn’t anything complicated to it but you will have to learn how to paint gradients if you want that perfect look.

However, painting sunsets is a great way to experiment with colors while creating beautiful masterpieces.

2. Flowers

You may feel like you need to paint a complicated rose to create a stunning painting but that’s not at all it.

There are easy flower paintings you can do that just require a few strokes and colors.

Just painting random flowers on a canvas, it can also make you feel relaxed and inspire you to come up with new ideas.

3. Animals

This is a great place to begin if you want to create awesome paintings of lovable creatures.

Painting pandas, cats, dogs, and birds are best if you’re a beginner.

However, I wouldn’t recommend painting something like a lion since this will require a bit more skill and knowledge.

4. Leaves

Painting leaves is always a fun activity and you don’t always need to make them look perfect or identical to a picture.

It’s a great place to start if you just want to dip your toes into painting and painting palm trees or something like this Monstera Leaf is one that’s worth trying.

Here’s a quick tutorial you can follow:

5. Boats

When I was a beginner at painting, for some reason boats make me feel a little nervous to paint at first. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get the shape right until I came across an artist who said to draw an infinity loop shape and draw a line on either side and a line on the bottom to connect it.

Related Post: Should I Learn To Draw Before Painting?

Or you could try using the grid method to easily transfer a sketch and get the shape correct. But of course, that’s only one part of it.

I found this tutorial by the Art Sherpa really helpful when it comes to painting boats.

She takes you to step by step through the entire process and shows you how to mix the colors you need.

6. Butterfly

Here’s another really easy painting idea any beginner can do and that is butterflies.

They’re also incredibly easy to draw and I’m sure as a kid you must have drawn at least one butterfly.

The great thing about painting a butterfly is that you can keep the background really simple to draw attention to the main subject.

This way you won’t have to worry about the background spoiling the way the butterfly looks.

7. Galaxy

If you’re not good at painting or drawing, then a particular thing to paint that literally anyone can do is painting galaxies.

These are really easy and fun to do and once you try it, you’ll know what we’re talking about.

But I don’t want to take up too much of your time explaining why you have to try a galaxy painting.

Here’s the perfect tutorial that is bound to convince you:

8. Fruits

Painting apples, bananas, grapes, watermelons, and orange slices are relatively easy enough for any beginner to painting.

They’re also quite enjoyable and straightforward and you can be quite creative with this.

Try painting them as a subject on its own or create a painting with all kinds of fruit.

9. Sky & Clouds

Although clouds may be a bit complicated for a beginner, I find that you can really have fun with painting clouds or skyscapes.

Also, practicing to paint clouds even if you’re not great at it right now will definitely help you later on if you plan to paint a lot of landscapes.

But a good place to start with learning how to paint clouds in gouache is this tutorial:

10. Buildings

Here’s another easy painting idea you do to create cute and fun paintings.

All you really need to do is paint a large rectangle or square depending on the type of painting and then add in the details.

You really don’t need to think of creating 3d shapes just yet but fun with creating simple art that will portray what you want.

For instance, take a look at this simple yet gorgeous watercolor painting of buildings:

11. Abstract Paintings

Lastly, if you don’t want to paint any of the above subjects or maybe you feel like you don’t have time or aren’t ready quite yet to take these on, then go for abstract paintings.

There are no rules to it and you can create anything whether that’s a splash of paint on the canvas or multiple different strokes.

Abstract paintings give you the opportunity to let loose and just enjoy the process which is what painting is all about.

12. Rainbows

Painting a rainbow is so easy and fun but more than that, they are incredibly pretty.

Who doesn’t love a beautiful rainbow?

For your painting, you can go for using bold shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple or you can try something different and paint them in a pastel shade.

13. Trees

Although it might seem like painting trees are quite difficult, they’re actually not that bad.

You probably will have to watch a few tutorials and give it a try a few times but even painting simple tree doodles will look really cute.

14. Portraits

Whether it’s a self-portrait or a painting of someone else, this idea will keep you entertained and busy for a long.

Portrait paintings can be a challenge but the end result is absolutely amazing.

If you’ve never painted a portrait before, I highly recommend trying to paint a few faces in black and white before you go to color.

15. Tea Cup

When I’m in a slump and not sure what to paint, I always come back to teacups for some strange reason.

There are different types of teacups (like antiques) with gorgeous designs that will make a very pretty picture.

You can also play around with lights and darks making this a great way to experiment in painting with a simple subject.

16. Fanart

There’s nothing better than painting a subject that you absolutely love and this is where fanart comes into the picture.

If you’re passionate about something (maybe a movie or an actor or even a scene), try painting your version of it.

This will spark major inspiration for your future project.

It’s also a wonderful way to learn more about colors, composition but more than that, it’s the enjoyment that comes from painting fanart that is awesome.

17. Houses/Buildings

You might have seen a few cute paintings of houses or buildings and these are really fun to paint.

However, it will require some basic drawing skills to ensure the buildings look somewhat accurate.

You could also draw inspiration from real life and create a new kind of house painting by combining different references.

18. Shoes

Here’s another uncomplicated painting idea that is worth trying. You can easily paint a pair of shoes, sneakers, boots, or heels and they are easily accessible. If you want to practice painting from real life, grab a pair of your own shoes and get started.

19. Clothes

If you haven’t tried painting a dress yet, you might want to get right to it as soon as possible but before you jump right in, the folds of a dress can be slightly challenging and may require some blending ability.

Practice blending paints before you get started and this will help you greatly.

20. Shops

In addition to painting buildings and houses, another great thing to paint is storefronts. These can make really cute artwork, especially in watercolors. As you’re walking down a street one day, take a look at the shops and see what excites you to paint.

21. Candle

Candle paintings are quite fun and easy to do! You also don’t need to have serious drawing skills but painting the candle itself is really enjoyable and one that you will be pleased with the outcome.

22. Rocks

It might not seem like such a fun thing to do but painting rocks can be really fun.

If you paint landscapes often, learning to paint more rocks will greatly benefit you in the long run and you’re sure to see a huge difference in your paintings.

23. Owl

Looking to paint something fun and quick? Then I recommend painting an owl.

You can easily create fantastic artwork with limited colors but owl paintings are even more fun painting during the autumn season or Halloween.

24. Cat

Are you a cat lover? Well, you’re in luck because they’re really fun and easy to paint.

You can also create a full painting of cats in different poses that will make an epic illustration to frame or sell.

25. Dog

Another animal painting you could try is painting a portrait of your dog or any dog that you like. You could also browse on Youtube to follow an easy dog painting that you can compete in just a few hours.

26. Fish

Fish are really easy to draw and paint which is perfect if you’re looking for something like this.

You can also create an awesome illustration or pattern with different fish species.

27. Sea Creatures

For unique and interesting painting ideas, I highly recommend trying to paint various sea creatures.

Sea horses, octopuses, dolphins, and whales make beautiful paintings to hang up and you can create beautiful illustrations too.

28. Hands

Hands can be a challenging painting subject at first, but once you try a few of these, they’re actually enjoyable to paint. It’s easy to get lost in the details and it’s a great way to practice and try different painting styles.

29. Bubbles

Painting bubbles is the new hottest trend and I totally see why.

They’re so fun to paint the different reflection colors that make up the bubble which you wouldn’t typically observe if it weren’t for painting them.

30. Seashells

If you want to paint something pretty to hang up in your home, then try painting seashells.

It’s easy to paint but you’ll also have loads of fun doing so.

There’s also a variety of seashells to choose from and whichever painting medium you use, you can be sure that the result will look amazing even if it’s not completely accurate.

31. Patterns

Creating pretty patterns is simple and easy to do. You can do random patterns by painting circles, squares, or uneven lines, this type of painting idea is relaxing and the perfect way to be creative.

32. Mountains

You don’t need to paint super detailed or accurate mountains with snow (which you totally can if you’re up for it) but triangle-shaped mountains are also a good idea.

In addition to painting mountains, you can create a new scene by putting a backdrop or skyline to make them stand out.

33. Lakes

The next idea to try painting is lakes.

They aren’t too complicated like painting a seascape but you can create beautiful paintings if you’re uncomplicated as painting a seascape but you will be able to create a beautiful painting nonetheless.

34. Ocean

Looking at an ocean painting is incredibly calming and soothing even though it might take true effort to paint it.

But the end result is worth all the effort you put into it and it’s the type of painting I always come back to when I’m not sure what to paint.

35. Art Supplies

You might want to try painting a picture of your own art supplies. This is usually done in art books at the very beginning but there’s something enjoyable about painting your very own collection of art supplies.

36. People

This idea will really challenge your painting skills if you want to paint realistic portraits of people but an easier option to start with is by painting vague figures. You’ll normally see this in cityscape paintings.

37. Ornaments

Grab your holiday ornaments and get painting! You can create beautiful still-life paintings of your very own ornaments and they’ll make a wonderful memory.

38. Woodlands

Have you ever painting the woods before? If you haven’t yet, painting woods is so fun. In addition to that, you could also try painting woodland animals like foxes, owls, raccoons, and squirrels for cute and adorable paintings.

39. Unicorns

Here’s another cute painting idea you can try and that is unicorns. From simple to detailed paintings of unicorns, this color scheme of blues and pinks will make you feel happy and calm.

40. Peacock

Another really easy animal to paint is peacocks and they are quite beautiful so you’re sure to have a stunning painting in whichever medium when you’re done painting.

41. Rooms

Okay, so we don’t mean literally paint a room but you can sketch your room layout and paint that or any room and place that you really like.

If it’s a room with big planters, paint that and frame it.

42. Lamps

For still-life painting, lamps whether on or off are great for completing a scene. You can easily put together a display with a lamp and a few ornaments to paint from life.

43. Chairs

Since we’re on the subject of still life painting, grab a unique-looking chair and place either a flower vase or a few ornaments to create an interesting display.

Or you can paint the chair itself. Either way, this will make quite an interesting painting of a mundane object that would otherwise be looked over.

44. Glasses

You could also try painting clear glasses or fancy wine glasses. If that seems too hard to paint right now, then try painting something more simple like a pair of eyeglasses.

45. Night Scene

Painting a night scene is just as exciting as a day scene but yet we somehow always seem to paint day scenes.

Try something new and focus on using warm and cool colors to really bring out the feeling of a cozy night.

46. Underwater

On my personal bucket list, this idea is too property for me right now. It doesn’t look too hard to paint but I’m really excited to try painting an underwater scene with different fish and plants. Give it a shot too!

47. Cars

Drawing cars and pretty fun but painting them is even more fun.

You could paint the new stylish cars but I find painting vintage cars more exciting.

Try painting both and see which ones speak out to you more.

48. Barnyard

Barnyard paintings are common in landscapes and they’re easy enough to paint.

You don’t have much detail to include like many doors or windows but you’ll have to focus a bit more on getting that wood look.

49. Birdcage

Fun, cute, and easy, what’s not to love? There are also so many different designs of birdcages to choose from that are perfect to paint.

50. Bridges

Painting architecture is just as fun as painting any other subject and bridges are a good choice if you’re a beginner.

You could try following a youtube video of how to paint the London or San Francisco bridge for an awesome painting.

51. Album Covers

Do you have an artist or an album that you’re really into these days? Create a large painting of that album cover or song and hang it up.

52. Rainy Day

Create a fun painting with raindrops on window glass or a rainy day scene. It will definitely be something new and creative.

53. Radio

Another fun painting idea is to paint a radio or mp3 player. You could also try painting vintage radios and if you’re feeling brave, then paint a diner scene with the radio in the room.

54. Phone

If you’re not looking for a too detailed painting but want to paint something fast and easy, then try painting a picture of your phone’s home screen.

55. Planets

We used to do this back in school and that’s painting planets. They’re simple enough and don’t require that many details or takes too much of your time.

56. Outer Space

The paintings of outer space are absolutely gorgeous and the color scheme typically used is amazing.

You’ll have so much fun painting it and while you’re at it, try painting a galaxy too.

57. Quotes

Rather than using pens to write down your favorite quotes, paint the letters in calligraphy or some fancy hand lettering.

58. Shapes

The easiest thing you can paint is just shapes. You can stick with one type of shape or you can create an entire painting with different shapes.

Whichever option will work either way but what I like to do is create a color scheme and this makes the painting so much more interesting.

59. Silhouette

Silhouettes always make a fun painting and you can do them for literally just about anything. It’s so easy anyone can do it.

Conclusion

Finding things to paint for a beginner is not complicated at all. In fact, you can paint just about anything as long as you go into it with a mindset that you will enjoy the process rather than giving too much attention to the end result.

Planning ahead and knowing how you want a painting to turn out before you begin can be helpful.

But I still feel it’s best to just jump right in and figure things out by learning through action.

So, are you planning to paint any of these ideas listed above? What are your struggles as a beginner artist? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.