It can be challenging to start Painting when there’s just too much you can paint. It can get overwhelming, which could stop you from taking the next steps to learn how to paint.

A few easy Canvas Painting Ideas can help you with your creative journey since they keep those ideas going.

We’ve gathered 70 simple and easy canvas painting ideas for beginners to get inspired by, allowing you to start painting as soon as possible.

70 Simple Canvas Painting Ideas to Try

You can paint many things, whether you’re a beginner or an expert. A common issue for artists of different levels is how difficult it is to find the right subject to paint.

Having a list with a variety of ideas can be the solution to help you find what to paint.

These are some easy canvas painting ideas for beginners and even more advanced painters to try.

1. Floral Painting

Source: Heather Martin

Flowers are some of the first things we learn to draw as kids. Since we’re so used to seeing these things, it can be easy to plan out how you will paint them on a Canvas.

Try painting different kinds of flowers to get used to different textures, styles, and colors.

2. Easy Heart Painting

Source: Everything Art & Craft

Another simple shape to work with is the heart. It’s a figure we usually end up doodling on paper.

You can paint the heart shape in different colors and styles, depending on how you want them. Be creative with how you paint your hearts.

3. Butterfly

Source: Pinterest

Butterflies are exciting subjects for painting because of the details on their wings. They tend to be symmetrical, making it easier to work on if you paint a butterfly with two wings.

Try looking at different patterns and colors to help paint these beautiful creatures of nature.

4. Abstract Painting

Source: Jessica Andersdotter

Abstract painting has become more popular, mainly because of its uniqueness. You can experiment with different colors and designs without being direct about what you’ve painted.

These are some of the easy acrylic painting ideas on this list and are a fun addition to your home and interior design.

5. Stencil Art Piece

Source: Pinterest

Stencil art is another fun painting idea any beginner can try. You can use a stencil as your guide or paint as if you’ve traced a stencil.

You can also include geometric patterns and shapes to make them more unique.

6. Acrylic Paint Pouring

Source: Julie Cutts

Acrylic paint pouring is another easy way to do abstract art, especially for beginners. You can pour different paint mixes on a blank canvas and see what you can create.

These new techniques don’t usually need a step-by-step tutorial since they rely on your unique combination of colors.

7. Galaxy/Night Sky

Source: Pinterest

Painting the galaxy and stars is another common easy canvas painting idea for beginners. It plays with cool colors and shadows, allowing you to depict anything from outside the earth.

You can be creative with how you paint the stars and the universe, from using Q-tips to an enormous paintbrush. The (night) sky’s the limit.

8. Sail Boats

Source: Painting for Home

Sailboats are serene, excellent subjects for paintings, especially when painted with a good, clear background. Its details are easy to work with, making it great for beginners.

You can learn how to blend colors to get a great sunset effect.

9. Autumn Tree with Cotton Balls

Source: Project with Kids

Who needs a paintbrush when you can get creative with the things you have at home? You can use cotton balls to create a fun and unique texture for the leaves of autumn trees.

This project is so easy that even a kid can make it.

10. Cute Snowman Painting

Source: Casey K

A cute snowman can be a great way to practice your painting skills while creating something for the holiday season.

Its features are easy to work with, and you can create many variations, making it one of Christmas’s best canvas painting ideas.

11. Lavender Acrylic with Cotton Swabs

Source: Angela Anderson

You can also try painting lavender using acrylic paints and Q-tips.

Simply use the cotton swabs to create the small details for the flowers. Don’t be afraid to play with the different shades of purple.

12. Flag

Source: Painting with a Twist

You can try painting different kinds of flags with diverse backgrounds. It can help you work with lines and shapes.

Not only will you be able to familiarize yourself with other countries, but you’ll also be improving your painting technique.

13. Shooting Stars

Source: TopCat Design

Add shooting stars to your night sky painting. You can play with the different lights involved with this natural phenomenon.

You can also experiment with angles where the star could fall.

14. Pumpkin

Source: Tracie Kiernan

Whether you’re looking for a Halloween painting project or something to add to your home decor, you can try painting pumpkins on your canvas.

Learn how to paint the small details of a pumpkin, from the lines to the vines.

15. Dog

Source: Cathy Walters

Dedicating a painting to a man’s best friend is a great project. It’s one of the easy canvas painting ideas with sentimental value, especially for fur parents.

Whether you’re capturing a puppy’s serene face on a canvas or their funny antics, it’s a great way to immortalize them.

16. Christmas Tree

Source: Catherine Mizell

There are many ways to paint a Christmas tree. Like the ones in real life, they can come in various colors and styles when painting the leaves.

Feel free to paint your tree with any décor you like. Their vibrant colors are bound to spread Christmas cheer.

17. The Moon

Source: Heather Palsgrove

Painting the moon onto a canvas is excellent practice for your painting technique. It focuses on playing with the blacks, whites, and grays that make up the painting.

It’s another excellent way to capture something from the night sky onto a canvas.

18. Pineapple

Source: Katharine Rowe

Fruits, like the pineapple, make an excellent subject for art. They’re simple everyday items that we’re all familiar with.

You can either have a live model for this or look for a step-by-step tutorial online to help you determine how its shadows and details work.

19. Geometric Wall Art

Source: Yelena Revis

Geometric wall art is another common abstract painting idea that works well with acrylic paint. It focuses on sharp angles, shapes, and shades of your colors.

You can add this to your living space to add a little color to your home decor.

20. Butterfly Sitting on a Flower Painting

Source: Suren Nersisyan

Step up from the butterfly idea and have the insect sit on a flower. It will help you learn how one element in a painting is connected to everything else.

It’s one of the easy painting ideas that can help enhance your skills as an artist.

21. City Skyline

Source: Mona Edulesco

The city skyline can be a serene subject for any artist, no matter how chaotic the rest of the city may be. You can play with colors and brush strokes to get the details needed to depict your subject.

Learn to apply your paints in a deliberate way to get the intricate details of the city.

22. Wreath

Source: Elle Byers

If you’re looking for more easy canvas painting ideas that fit the holidays, you can also try this Christmas wreath.

Its details are easy to work with and a great way to spread holiday cheer. Feel free to experiment with how you work on the leaves.

23. Ombre Brushstroke Art

Source: Pink Water

An ombre brushstroke art is a great way to learn about blending the different shades of a color to make it look seamless on a canvas.

There’s always something satisfying about a successful ombre.

24. Bison in the Mist

Source: James Corwin

Capturing bison in the mist on a canvas is another excellent way to have the wonders of nature close to you.

This painting idea may look a bit complicated. It’s best to look for a step-by-step tutorial to guide you while working on this painting project to help break things down.

25. Easy Beach Painting

Source: Lucie Bilodeau

Many easy canvas painting ideas also capture the serenity of a beach.

It’s a great painting to work on, especially if you’re doing it on an actual beach. It’s a way to unwind and practice your skills.

26. Watermelon

Source: Lucia Accordino

Returning to the fruits, you can try painting a watermelon on your canvas.

Its simple shapes can help you focus more on the small details that come with this fruit, helping you work on your technique.

27. Fingerprint Rainbow

Source: Pinterest

Here are more ideas on how to leave the brush behind and get creative with painting. This idea is so much fun, especially for the kids.

This painting project is fun, making it easier to get younger people into art and painting. You can also put it up in the kids’ room after as a decoration.

28. Lemons

Source: Vicky Tesmer

When life gives you lemons, turn them into a work of art.

Lemons are one of the easy painting ideas that can help you work on light and shadows. Its quirky shape also enables you to work with different angles.

29. Simple Swirls

Source: michelle

Swirls and colors are a fun way to work with acrylic paint, especially if you love abstract painting. Each attempt will be different from the one before.

They’re another one of the more simple canvas painting ideas for beginners that can help work on their technique.

30. Mountain Landscape

Source: David W. Jackson

A mountain landscape is another common subject for art. They’re relatively easy to make and can help you improve your skills as an artist.

It’s one of the acrylic painting ideas with many online tutorials.

31. Salt Marsh Canal Landscape

Source: Ron Louque

This landscape is a great subject for canvas painting, especially if you want to improve your technique.

It has an outstanding balance between greenery and bodies of water, making you work with different textures and strokes.

32. Birch Tree

Source: Rafael Salazar

A birch tree painting on canvas can double as a great gift idea. Its aesthetics tend to fit many decors at home.

It also helps you work on playing with colors that can go well with this type of tree.

33. Mother and Child

Source: Grace Fox

If you’re looking for human subjects, you can try painting out a mother and child. You can make it as realistic or as abstract as you want.

This trope was often painted in the past, giving you a lot of inspiration to work with if you’re unsure where to start.

34. Welcome Home Sign

Source: Gracie Oaks

If you’re looking for a painting that doubles as a greeting to your guests, try this welcome home sign. You can design it based on your aesthetic.

You can work on your calligraphy or font for the text of your sign. Stencils are also available online to help you paint this onto your canvas.

35. Painting on Black Canvas

Source: Pinterest

A black canvas is interesting to work with, especially for beginners who want to experiment with colors. The brighter your colors, the more they stand out against the darkness.

You can either focus on your vibrant colors or a simple white. It helps highlight the details of your work.

36. Umbrella

Source: Pinterest

An umbrella is another simple subject for your canvas since you see it daily. You can have it painted in different ways, whether closed or open.

Try to draw the umbrella in different weathers to help you understand the differences and colors involved.

37. Mermaid

Source: Pinterest

Whether you’re a Disney or a fantasy fan, a mermaid would be a great idea for a whimsical canvas painting.

Since it’s a fictional creature, it’s open to interpretation, making it more fun to create. Don’t be afraid to experiment with features and backgrounds.

38. Painting Clouds

Source: Corinne Melanie

The texture of clouds is always a peculiar thing. Since there are different kinds, you can try each, studying different color combinations and strokes to create this masterpiece.

Learn to play with the colors and weather involved. A slight change from sunny to cloudy can mean a significant shift in the features of your cloud painting.

39. Daisies in a Jar

Source: Tracie Kiernan

Daisies are usually simple to create, whether with a pen or acrylic paint. It makes this canvas art easy to work with, especially if you’re a beginner.

Try to add little insects and other features to make your art more unique. All of them will help you work on relationships between the different elements you create.

40. Motivational Quotes

Source: Pinterest

Canvas is an ideal medium if you want a great way to share inspirational and motivational quotes. You can add elements related to the words you’ve painted on the canvas.

It can be a quote that an author posted or words that you live by. Make it colorful and fun to bring out the positivity in the room.

You can also place these quotes on mini canvases. Having a wall filled with this much positivity is always uplifting to people.

41. Song Lyrics

Source: Jennifer Gail

There are times when words to a song just hit differently. The more it inspires you, the more they become great canvas painting ideas since they keep you motivated.

Paint the words that speak to you the most. It’s a great way to remember notable artists’ words and have these lyrics in your style.

Like the quotes, you can also try having this on different canvases. They can be fun to create, especially since they keep the creative juices going.

42. Desert Sunset Paintings with Cactus

Source: Zazzle Paper

Deserts are serene places that have been the subjects of paintings for many people. They’re even more impressive on canvas since they capture this wonder of nature.

This canvas art is another way to work with sunsets. It’s great for learning how to blend those bright colors to create the perfect sunset.

43. Paint Hydrangeas

Source: Nancy F. Morgan

Painting hydrangeas mean you have to work with small details, especially for the petals of the flowers. It also works with various colors. You can stick to one color with different shades or different ones altogether.

You can be creative with painting the small details. Some work with smaller brushes, while others work with cotton swabs.

There are also different settings you can do for hydrangeas. They will surely be beautiful whether you have them on a vase or a field.

44. Palm Tree

Source: Mark James

If you’re into more tropical vibes, you can try to paint a palm tree on your canvas. They go well with various backgrounds, whether it’s the urban scene of Los Angeles or the serene beaches.

You can either work with the silhouette of your palm trees or have your subject in broad daylight. The latter will help you work on the tree’s intricate details.

45. Vintage Christmas Truck Painting

Source: Angela Anderson

Another Christmas canvas painting idea is a vintage Christmas truck. You can add elements, like Christmas trees and gifts, to give it a festive feel.

Learn to paint this vintage dream of a machine in this specific setting to get the elements down. Once you can get used to it, you can try other climates and vehicles.

46. String Art