Have you ever found yourself daydreaming, brush in hand, wondering, what should I paint? Maybe you’re imagining a peaceful forest scene, or a lifelike portrait of your pet to hang proudly on the wall. The truth is, even the most seasoned artists ask themselves the same question when seeking inspiration. No matter your medium or skill level, finding that next idea can feel overwhelming.
But don’t worry—we’re here to help you simplify that process. Whether you’re just starting out or brushing off your creative block, this list of easy things to paint for beginners will answer your question: what should I paint today? With these ideas, you’ll go from hesitant dabbler to confident creator in no time.
What Should I Paint as a Beginner?
If you’ve ever stared at a blank canvas and thought, what should I paint?—you’re not alone. It’s easy to get caught up in big, ambitious visions. But as a beginner, the best way to grow your skills is by starting small and focusing on simplicity.
Look around—your next masterpiece could be hiding in plain sight. A single apple instead of a full fruit bowl, a single flower instead of an entire garden. Remember, every complex painting begins with a single shape or idea. Don’t worry about creating a museum-worthy piece just yet—just ask yourself, what should I paint next that will help me improve?
When shopping for supplies, keep it simple. You don’t need a studio filled with brushes and colors. Just a few basic tools are enough to start answering that big question: what should I paint now?
19 Easy Things to Paint
1. Simple Trees
If you’re just getting started and wanting to make something easy that you can be proud of, painting these simple trees is for you. Watercolor may feel daunting but this beginner-friendly project will help you grasp the wet-on-wet free-flow technique in no time!
2. Watercolor Watermelon
Watercolors are a great tool for beginners looking for cool things to paint, and these watermelons are the perfect starting point. The natural color gradient in the fruit gives you plenty of practice in using the fluidity in the paint to give different finishes.
3. Gouache Teacups
Teacups can be as ornate or simple as you’d like them to be, which makes them a good project for beginners when you’re asking yourself “what should I paint today?” Even once you feel comfortable with the basics of painting, you can start to incorporate different skills like perspective or texture into work like this.
4. Coffee Penguin
Who would have ever thought that you can paint with coffee? In fact, it works in a similar way to watercolors. Just like your morning brew, you can easily adjust the strength of your “paint” by adding more or less water as you go.
5. Basil Leaves
You’ll often see that new artists start learning how to paint with botanical work, like flowers or leaves. Since they’re made up of only a few colors, these simple paintings will help you get comfortable with the paints you’re using and build your observational skills when working from either a real plant or a reference picture.
6. Watercolor Fashion Sketches
If drawing people feels a little too complicated, fashion illustrations are the perfect place to start. The focus of these paintings is on the clothes, rather than the physical body, so they can be as detailed (or not) as you feel comfortable with. They’re also a great chance to mix mediums, like adding textured finishing touches with glitter or fabric.
7. Pop Art
Pop art or cartoons are a great choice when you’re looking for easy things to paint on a canvas. They can be any shape or style that you like, so it’s easy to hide any mistakes that you don’t feel confident in painting over. Try recreating some of your favorite characters, or be bold and invent one of your own.
8. Simple Landscapes
Painting landscapes is a great excuse for grabbing your shiny new sketchbook and heading out into nature. If you’re stuck for paint ideas and asking yourself what should I paint outside, there will be a million different things around you—just pick a spot and sketch what you see on the horizon! Or, challenge yourself with a limited color palette, find something outside that matches your hues, and go from there.
9. The Night Sky
When you’re looking for easy things to paint for beginners, the night sky is one of the simplest that you can find. You’ll usually only need three to five different paint colors so you can really spend time focusing on details and learning to blend light and dark paints together.
10. Digital Eagle
Did you know that you can paint on a computer? While we won’t recommend going wild with your brush all over your screen, you can create realistic artwork in programs like Adobe Photoshop that mimic the look and feel of a real painting. If tech is more your thing, this is a great alternative to try!
11. Colorful Desserts
Sweet treats like ice cream and cupcakes are a good choice when you’re stuck for ideas of easy things to paint on canvas. Pick your favorite dessert and color palette, and get to work! Once you’ve finished, hang your masterpiece in the kitchen or on the windowsill for some personalized decor.
12. Watercolor Peonies
Peonies are one of the simplest flowers that you can work with when you’re looking for easy things to paint. While you can use any type of paint or ink, this style of painting usually works best with watercolor or gouache paints to keep a light and airy feel.
13. Fantasy Unicorn
If you’re looking for easy things to paint on canvas and want to try your hand at oil painting, this fantasy unicorn is a fun introduction to working with the medium. Oil paints may feel a little overwhelming at first, but take your time and remember to work in layers from light to dark.
14. Cats in Ink
Ink is a fun medium to use when you’re learning how to paint, especially if you choose to stick to only black ink. It’s great for line art and simple paintings like these kittens. Ink works in a similar way to watercolor paints, so experiment with different wetness levels on your brush and paper to see what effects you can create.
15. Spring Wildflowers
Once you feel like you’ve mastered individual flowers, a whole meadow is a great next step when you’re trying to decide “what should I paint next?” Wildflowers aren’t meant to be symmetrical—after all, they aren’t in nature! It’s easy to make this type of painting look much more intricate than it actually is, so it’s perfect for showing off your new skills to your friends.
16. Black and White Facial Features
If you’re new to portrait work, sometimes it’s best to start with smaller details rather than trying to create a whole face in one sitting. You’ll learn some of the basic skills, like shading and working out realistic proportions of facial features, so it’s worth spending some time on this if portrait painting is an area of art that you’d like to explore further.
17. Lotus Flower
There’s so much we can learn from artists around the world, and painting a lotus flower using Chinese techniques is something that anyone can do when you’re trying to find easy things to paint for beginners. This style is all about large brush strokes and watered-down paint, much like watercolor paintings you may have worked on before.
18. Birch Trees
Forests are some of the most magical places on earth, so capturing them in watercolor is a good exercise in learning how to bring the outside indoors. Birch trees have natural flecks along their trunks, which makes them a visually interesting subject when you’re searching for easy things to paint on a canvas or paper.
19. Holiday Cards
Still stuck on what to paint? Impress your friends and family with your new painting skills and create unique and personal cards using watercolor paints. After all, nothing beats opening the mail around the holidays and finding a handmade card! Keep things simple with a Christmas tree, or try a more complex design like a wreath and calligraphy text.
Final Thoughts: Keep Asking What Should I Paint
The more you paint, the more confident you’ll feel—and the easier it will become to answer the question: what should I paint next? Don’t be afraid to revisit this list whenever you feel stuck or uninspired. Creativity builds with practice, and every stroke on the canvas brings you closer to your style.
So grab your brushes, pick an idea that excites you, and start painting. Before you know it, the question “what should I paint?” won’t feel like a block—it’ll feel like an invitation.
Find More: What to Paint at a Paint Party: 13 Creative Ideas to Try