Some people are blessed with artistic talent. They can paint, sketch, and draw beautiful images and make it look effortless. The rest of us mere mortals were left to fend for themselves in art class and can barely draw a stick figure. 

Even so, everyone has had those days where they just feel like they want to create something. Let’s be honest; we’ve all attempted some sort of craft night with our girls at some point. They are so fun, but a lot of the time, you don’t exactly end up with the most beautiful results (and sometimes that’s part of the fun!)

Painting is a really helpful activity when it comes to relaxing and unwinding. It can help you focus on one thing while also allowing your mind to wander and not think about anything that’s stressing you. Most of all, it’s really fun. You have to stop caring about whether or not what you are painting is actually “good.” As long as you are enjoying yourself while painting, who cares? More than anything, it’s a way to release tension, sit back, and create something cool. 

If you’re thinking to yourself: what would I even paint? You’re in luck. We created a list of really easy painting ideas that are sure to inspire you to get creative. We took the thinking out of it for you, so all that’s left to do now is head to your local art store and stock up on supplies. If you are on a budget, you don’t have to go all out and buy high-end products. 

Remember, whatever you paint most likely isn’t going to end up in a museum (then again, you never know!), so just pick out some paints and brushes and get to work. Read on to see our list of nine painting ideas to bring out your inner artist.  

1. Personalize a Paint Your Numbers Canvas

Whether you are a professional artist or have never painted in your life, people will stop and stare at your canvas painting once it’s complete. Here’s how it works: you pick a favorite image and upload it to our website. Then, we will send you a custom canvas that has an outline of the image you picked. 

You will see numbers all over the canvas, which is how you will know where to paint. Each number on the canvas will correspond with a number on the paints provided. Match up the paints to the numbers on the canvas, and you will have a masterpiece in no time! 

2. Block Off a Canvas With Tape

This is a really simple yet very satisfying painting project. You will need four things to make it work, which include tape (preferably painter’s tape), a paintbrush, paint, and a canvas. 

The creative part is deciding how to place the tape on the canvas. Take strips of the tape and section off parts of the canvas. You can do it in square or triangle designs, criss-cross patterns, and any other design you can think of. 

After you place the tape on the canvas, it’s time to start painting. You can use one or multiple colors, and you paint wherever there is canvas showing. Allow the paint to dry completely for at least a few hours, but ideally overnight. When you are sure that it’s dry, slowly peel off all the tape. You’ll be left with some really cool designs!  

3. Make a Simple Floral Design

Keep things simple and just try painting a bouquet of flowers, or even just a single flower. Flowers are great for beginners to paint because they can be very abstract and still look like flowers. 

You will need a green paint for the stem and leaves, another color for the flower petals, and possibly a third accent color (yellow for the pollen, another shade of the petal color for contrast, etc.). Keep the background white, and then start by painting the stem. Add layers of the petal color until it starts to resemble a flower. 

4. Have a Painting Party With Friends

This one is self-explanatory. Send an invite to your friends and invite them over for a good old fashioned painting party. You can set up small canvases for each friend on a table and give everyone their own mini paint set. Put on some good music and get to work!

5. Paint Your Favorite Quote

This project will take a steady hand if you are going to freehand the words. You can also stencil the words onto a white canvas and then fill in the letters with paint. Quote paintings make great gifts because they are completely customizable. If your bestie has a favorite saying, you can paint that for them on the canvas.  

6. Create a Splatter Paint Design

This is another great painting project if you are unsure of what to paint or don’t want to follow any specific instructions. You will need a white canvas, a paintbrush, and paints in the colors of your choosing. 

Dip your brush right into the paint cans/tubes, and then fling the brush down, so it splatters the paint across the canvas. Do this repeatedly, and then switch to another color. Keep going until the canvas is covered or until you are satisfied with the splatter design. 

It will look very modern and cool, and it could make the perfect piece to keep on your desk or bedside table. The really interesting thing is you will never make the same design twice, and the splatters will turn out differently each time.  

7. Paint an Old Piece of Furniture

If you really don’t think you can do anything creative and super artsy, then this painting project is for you. Find an old piece of furniture or even just simple wood structures like crates or pallets. It will be easier if the piece is already smooth; otherwise, you might have to sand it. 

Then, pick a paint that will work on wood, and start painting. You could turn a boring side table into a bright and colorful piece or just paint on wood to pass the time and help you relax. You can try out different designs and colors.  

8. Try Your Hand at Foil Painting

You might have never heard of foil painting. And if you have, it’s probably because you remember doing it when you were a little kid during arts and crafts. It’s a popular painting activity for children, but we think it has the potential to be really fun. And the best part is, you probably already have everything you need for this project besides the paint. 

You will need aluminum foil, a paintbrush, and paint. If you don’t have a paintbrush, you can actually experiment and use other household items like q-tips and cotton balls. As long as it won’t rip the foil, it can be used as a brush. To make painting easier, try taping the foil down onto a flat piece of cardboard. 

9. When in Doubt, Freestyle It Out

The best painting idea isn’t even an actual idea. If you can’t think of an idea or don’t want to try any of the suggested ones on this list, just go for it. Dive right in and start painting. 

This is a really good activity for when you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. You just dip your brush in the paint, put it on the canvas, and see what happens. There are no rules, and whatever you feel like painting is totally fine. You can actually relieve a lot of stress and convey a lot of emotion when you are freestyle painting. Use colors that match your mood, and just keep painting until you feel like there’s nothing else you want to add. 

Conclusion

You do not have to be an artist in order to enjoy painting. There are a lot of painting projects and activities you can do on your own or with a group of friends. Painting is a great way to pass the time, and whether it’s a custom canvas or you decide you want to freestyle, it will help you to have fun and relieve stress. All you need to do is order your canvas or stock up on supplies, and then get painting! 

Sources:

https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/easy-things-to-paint-for-beginner-artists-4685319 

https://www.greenorc.com/2020/05/simple-acrylic-painting-ideas-on-canvas-for-beginners/