55+ Painting Ideas on Canvas - Artsydee - Drawing, Painting, Craft & Creativity (2024)

Last Updated on January 24, 2024 by Dee

Dive into the vibrant world of canvas painting with our list of 55+ creative painting ideas on canvas! Perfect for beginners and seasoned artists alike, we’ve got something for everyone—from easy acrylic techniques to the rich, classic look of oil paint. Get ready to unleash your inner artist and transform that blank canvas into a masterpiece. And don’t forget to grab our free printable painting templates at the end to give you a headstart on your painting journey. Let’s get painting!

55+ Painting Ideas on Canvas

Now that you’re all set to embark on your artistic adventure, let’s dive into the heart of this post: a treasure trove of painting ideas on canvas. We’ve organized these inspirations into thoughtful subsections to help you navigate based on your interests and skill level. Whether you’re looking for a simple start or a fun project, there’s a canvas waiting for your unique touch.

Painting Ideas on Canvas for Beginners

If you’re looking for projects that won’t overwhelm you, these easy painting ideas are perfect. They’re simple, satisfying, and great for all ages. Starting with the basics, these ideas will help you get comfortable with your brushes and paints, guiding you through the fundamentals of canvas art.

Fun Painting Ideas on Canvas

Ready for a splash of joy? This section is all about letting loose and enjoying the process. These ideas are sure to bring a smile to your face as you create.

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Landscape Painting Ideas on Canvas for Beginners

Nature offers an endless palette of inspiration. These beginner-friendly landscapes are a great way to start capturing the beauty of the outdoors.

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Oil Painting Ideas on Canvas for Beginners

Explore the lush world of oil paints with these beginner ideas. You’ll learn about blending, texture, and more as you start your oil painting journey.

Painting a Landscape on Canvas Step-by-Step

In this section, we’ll guide you through a step-by-step tutorial to create your very own landscape painting on canvas. Landscape art is a fantastic way to bring the beauty of the natural world into your home and offers a serene escape for both the artist and viewer.

Before we begin, for visual learners who might appreciate a video tutorial, check out this helpful YouTube video that provides a detailed guide on creating a beautiful landscape painting with acrylics.

Step-by-Step Landscape Canvas Painting Tutorial

Materials Needed:

  • Canvas
  • Acrylic paints
  • Brushes
  • Palette or mixing surface
  • Cup of water
  • Paper towels or a rag
  • Easel (optional for comfort)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare Your Canvas: Start by setting up your workspace. If you’re using an easel, place your canvas on it. Otherwise, lay it flat on a table covered with newspapers or a cloth to protect the surface.
  2. Sketch Your Landscape: Lightly sketch out the basic outline of your landscape with a pencil. This could include the horizon line, any significant landforms like mountains or hills, trees, a river, or other key features.
  3. Block in the Sky: Begin by painting the sky. Decide if you want a sunrise, sunset, midday, or twilight sky and choose your colors accordingly. Use broad strokes to fill in the sky area, blending the colors directly on the canvas for a natural look.
  4. Paint the Background: Move on to the most distant elements, like mountains or far-off trees. Use muted colors as things in the distance often appear lighter due to atmospheric perspective.
  5. Add the Midground: Paint in the midground area, which may include fields, forests, or water. This area will have more detail than the background but less than the foreground.
  6. Detail the Foreground: The foreground is where you’ll want the most detail because it’s the closest to the viewer. Add elements like rocks, plants, or water reflections with smaller brushes to capture finer details.
  7. Highlight and Shadow: Once the basic layers are dry, add highlights where the light would naturally hit and shadows for depth and dimension.
  8. Final Touches and signature!
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The Ultimate DIY Canvas Painting Kit: Your Art Supply Treasure Trove

**This page may contain affiliate links to products I have used or recommended. If you purchase something from this page, I may receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you.**

Get ready to unleash your inner Van Gogh with this curated list of tools and art supplies for creating your very own DIY canvas painting! Whether you’re crafting a serene seascape or a vibrant abstract, these are the essentials you’ll need to bring your vision to life:

Canvases: Your blank slate awaits! Choose from a variety of sizes to suit your masterpiece. These stretched canvases are pre-primed and ready for action.

Acrylic Paint Set: Pop open a set of acrylic paints and let the colors flow! With a rainbow at your fingertips, the only limit is your imagination.

Brush Set: A trusty set of paintbrushes is like a magic wand for your art. From broad strokes to fine lines, these brushes will be your loyal sidekicks.

Palette Knife: For those who like to add a bit of texture and flair, a palette knife is your go-to tool for spreading, scraping, and layering.

Easel: Stand up and paint with pride on this adjustable easel. It’s like a throne for your canvas!

Palette: Mix your heart out on this essential paint palette. It’s the command center for your color schemes.

Apron: Keep the paint on the canvas and off your clothes with a stylish and protective artist’s apron.

Oil Paint Set: For those who adore the rich, buttery texture of classic paintings, an oil paint set will provide the sumptuous palette you need to create depth and luminosity in your work.

Grab the Free Printable Stencils for Painting HERE (below)!

To access the free in-post printables for this post, you’ll just need to create a free account or login with the Grow.me tool. Then, confirm by email and refresh the page and ALL my free printables will automatically unlock in every post!

Artsydee’s Printable Templates for paintingDownload

55+ Painting Ideas on Canvas - Artsydee - Drawing, Painting, Craft & Creativity (2024)

FAQs

What should I paint on my canvas today? ›

With your materials on hand and your surface primed, you're ready to try some of these easy acrylic painting ideas for beginners on canvas.
  • Artful Abstract. ...
  • Sunrise or Sunset. ...
  • Flower Bouquet. ...
  • Ocean Waves. ...
  • Serene Landscape. ...
  • Geometric Patterns. ...
  • Personal Portrait. ...
  • Whimsical Trees.
Sep 29, 2023

What to draw and paint on a canvas? ›

35 Creative and Fun Canvas Painting Ideas
  1. Dog. Animals are beloved painting subjects. ...
  2. The Moon. Put your paints to good use by creating this beautiful blood moon rising over the forest. ...
  3. Pineapple. How about a pineapple for your canvas? ...
  4. Watery Landscape. ...
  5. Mountain Sky. ...
  6. Starscape. ...
  7. Abstract Art. ...
  8. Layered Landscape.
Feb 16, 2021

What should I put on my canvas before painting? ›

Priming is the process of creating a barrier between the canvas and the paint. It's typically done by applying layers of acrylic gesso, clear acrylic medium, or oil primer. Prepping your canvas makes it less absorbent, helps your paint sit better on the surface, and protects your canvas from natural corrosion.

Should I wet my canvas before acrylic painting? ›

Never. Why would you think this is a good idea? Yes, acrylics are water-soluble, but they aren't watercolors. Water sprayed directly onto stretched canvas is rarely a good idea, because the canvas will react unpredictably, either in slumping, or tautening up for the moment, then slumping later.

What is best to draw on canvas? ›

I use a watercolour pencil for drawing – it covers much more easily than graphite – I usually choose a colour similar to the paint I want to use too. As for uploading – there's a link in my signature which should help. If work is small enough, I prefer to scan .. sometimes in two or three parts 'stitched' together!

Do you sketch before painting? ›

In summary, it's the artist's choice, it's YOUR choice! Sketching beforehand does not make you a better or worse artist. It is not required for all paintings or art. If you feel like you want or need to sketch before painting, trust your gut.

What is the best painting style for beginners? ›

There is steep learning curve with any painting medium, but some have less of a curve than others. Acrylic is typically the easiest for beginners, while watercolor is the hardest.

How do you draw on canvas for beginners? ›

Our Top 10 Tips for Painting on Canvas
  1. Angle Your Canvas To Paint Comfortably. ...
  2. Take Advantage of Canvas Wedges. ...
  3. Sketch Your Image or Underpaint. ...
  4. Lay Out Your Supplies Before You Get Started. ...
  5. Use Paintbrushes With Firm, Tough Bristles. ...
  6. Start With a Toned Canvas To Add a Unique Quality. ...
  7. Get Creative With Solvents and Mediums.
Aug 19, 2021

How do I find creative ideas? ›

Here are some ways to ideate:
  1. Ask questions: Foremost, idea people are curious people. ...
  2. Write Your Ideas Down: Creative people keep lists and notes. ...
  3. Think Associatively: Many ideas are the result of associative thinking. ...
  4. Put Ideas to the Test: Innovators know the importance of experimentation.
Apr 19, 2022

Where do artists get their creativity? ›

Here are eight of the most common sources of inspiration:
  • Visit an art museum or gallery. ...
  • Look through art books. ...
  • Staring at people and sketching them from life. ...
  • Look at work from different cultures or time-periods. ...
  • Get out of the studio. ...
  • Critique. ...
  • Looking back at old work. ...
  • Connecting with other artists in your community.
Mar 27, 2022

What should I paint right now? ›

Here are some of the easiest things for beginner artists to paint.
  • Simple Plants & Trees. There's a reason you see so many plant paintings: plants are easy to paint. ...
  • Abstract Shapes & Designs. ...
  • Your Favorite Landscape. ...
  • Cascading Mountains. ...
  • Insects. ...
  • The Beach. ...
  • Re-create Famous Paintings.
Feb 17, 2021

What is the easiest flower to paint? ›

Species of flower that are particularly easy to paint in oils, even for beginner artists are: Daisies. Chrysanthemums. Sunflowers.

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