Garage sales can be pretty exciting because you really never know what you are going to find. Some people don’t even attend to purchase something, they just want to browse and see what random assortment of household items they can find. But other’s go with a purpose. 

The “repaintings” online community showcases art where someone has found a thrifted painting and made it into something entirely new. Whether adding jokes, easter eggs or fully changing the concept on the canvas, these artists create cool “new” works for us all to enjoy. So be sure to upvote your favorites and comment your thoughts below. 

#1 Walking With Dinosaurs

Image credits: SallyFaulkes

#2 Newest Painting On Thrifted Bedsheets

Image credits: sydedunn

#3 Massive Duck

Image credits: Nagyongyonyoru

Often, when we hear of people “updating” art, it might send a shiver down our spines, as we conjure up images of Ecce Homo (lovingly titled “potato Jesus”) that was “upgraded” by amateur art restorer Cecilia Jiménez. Plus, there is some part of us that has a perhaps irrational fear that some long lost classic painting is just sitting in a garage, only for some well-meaning artist to find it and brush over it with their own ideas.

In reality, much of this work is done digitally, so we can really say, for the most part, no paintings were harmed in the making of this post. In cases where they were “repainted,” the art was a reproduction or just a home project. 

#4 Should Have Taken That Left Turn At Albuquerque

Image credits: tripperfunster

#5 I Recently Did A Star Wars Themed Repainting Commission As A Christmas Present! I Think It Turned Out Pretty Well :)

Image credits: OhoBenderez

#6 The Lift

Image credits: Stoneway933R

It’s also worth noting that most of this art was just sitting in some garage or the back of a thrift store for who knows how long. As sad as it may seem, the “standard” for a lot of art is just being thrown out when no one buys it, so even if you are very much against the idea of “repainting,” it’s still the lesser evil compared to this artwork being destroyed. Plus, “repainting” also means much of it is saved and digitized for the future. 

#7 The Iron Giant

Image credits: YungAvocadoDaGawd84

#8 Stay Puft - Acrylic On Thrift Art

Image credits: OldUglyArtHoarder

#9 Oil On Thrifted Fabric

Image credits: sydedunn

As you look at these, perhaps they might spark some creative ideas in you. After all, adding to a painting might be an easier way to practice than standing in front of an empty canvas and stressing out. Total creative freedom often means difficulty starting, since there are a million directions you might go, but no clarity of destination. Though I would recommend not painting your first work on an existing piece of art, it might go over poorly. 

#10 Duck Hunt Framed Thrift Store Re-Painting (13.5 X 22")

Image credits: PixelPaint64

#11 Ewok Jedi Temple, UV Reactive Paint And Glows In The Dark

Image credits: DaveRuinsArt

#12 Ruby Ruby Roo

Image credits: tripperfunster

If you are a complete beginner, no need to worry either, there are hundreds of hours of quality content out there to get you on the right path. Bob Ross is one such painting legend for his soft, kind voice and mannerisms. You can find his videos on YouTube here. But paints, canvases, and the like cost money, so perhaps you would instead prefer digital art? While the necessary peripherals can be costly, one can always try and use just a mouse. The end result may only vaguely resemble art, but it should be memorable. 

#13 UFO’s Over A Norman Rockwell

Image credits: Forgetthealamoplease

#14 Fireball May Not The Answer, But It’s Worth A Shot

Image credits: altenacreations

#15 Togepi

Image credits: altenacreations

Some of the pieces here use an existing painting as a sort of “canvas within a canvas,” where a natural scene has characters, memes, or creatures interspersed within it. A lot of these would easily fall into the category of fan art, where people make non-official reproductions or representations of stories and characters they love. If one wants to sell this kind of art, it’s best to make it abstract, as, surprise surprise, most characters in media fall under some sort of copyright. 

#16 Made A Classic Repainting, The Rubber Ducky

Image credits: KittenBraden

#17 Van Gogh IKEA Trip

Image credits: SallyFaulkes

#18 Noot Noot!

Image credits: altenacreations

While we often associate it with the internet era, fanart actually goes back a lot further, to the original “fandoms,” itself a term that many of us associate with internet groups. In fact, already in the 1930s, there was an organized group of science fiction fans, who would host debates, discussions, and even art and fan theories about their favorite works. 

#19 Dreams Of A Ballerina

Image credits: spatialsequence

#20 Trouble!

Image credits: altenacreations

#21 Legend Says It's Still Floating Out There

Image credits: dorthLadder

It wasn’t long until people just started making their own drawings, paintings, and texts, all of which would fall under some category of fan art. It was most established in the science fiction scene, for example, from 1967 onwards, there was even a Hugo award for best fan art, a category that still exists today. But the internet did help this concept explode onto mainstream consciousness. 

#22 Gohan Got Lost Again

Image credits: dorthLadder

#23 Our Lady Of Coffee

Image credits: leafmeinthegarden

#24 Latest Repaint. Mech Is Not My Specialty!

Image credits: tripperfunster

The internet has not only made fan art more visible (this post is a good example of that,) but it’s also made art more accessible in general. If one has the patience to sit through tutorial after tutorial, they can learn a lot. There are most likely enough free resources out there to take up all of a person's time if they truly choose to devote themselves to being a self-taught artist. 

#25 Flugobjekt

Image credits: altenacreations

#26 Dinosaurs Enhance This Don’t You Think?

Image credits: icandoit45

#27 "Dear God, Give Us A Sign!"

Image credits: sarGasm37Bro

Furthermore, there are massive communities of other aspiring artists that can give feedback and inspiration. In fact, the art community online is so massive that even relatively niche categories, like “repaintings” have over 600 thousand users. So in the olden days, you might be lucky if a few hundred people saw your work over a year at some gallery, now it would be hard to not hit five figures in a few days. 

#28 It's-A-Me!

Image credits: altenacreations

#29 Party Aftermath~ Just Recently Completed This Piece... Enjoy!

Image credits: TheGnarledBranch

#30 Gave This Boring White Thrift Store Purse Some Much Needed Color

Image credits: PatientTurtle

So if anything here has left you inspired, good, look up tutorials, ask for help online, or perhaps even sign up for a few classes. Whether paint, pencil, digital, or something more tactile, like clay, the possibilities are nearly endless. And if you do happen to make something you are particularly proud of, take a photo and post it, it might end up in an article one day. And if you want to keep seeing interesting repaintings, Bored Panda has got you covered, you can check out our other articles here and here. 

#31 Alice Painting The Roses Red (Not Really Roses Though Lol) Forgot To Take A Before Photo

Image credits: Stoneway933R

#32 This Was A Framed Print From Big Lots, Bought At A Thrift. Christmas Gift For A Mandalorian Fan

Image credits: silvermermaid74

#33 My First Repainting Ever, Starting My Second!

Image credits: dorthLadder

#34 Personal Demons

Image credits: Vartoons

#35 The Distinguished Dr. John A. Zoidberg

Image credits: smoldragonenergy

#36 Found This Painting Laying Against A Dumpster

Image credits: TheWayThisls

#37 Kerala Coaster

Image credits: The_Coaster_Doodler

#38 A Gift I Painted For My Sister. Unexpected T-Rex

Image credits: joooooooles

#39 Is It Christmas Already?

Image credits: altenacreations

#40 Oil Painting Over Thrifted Fabric

Image credits: sydedunn

#41 Found This Cute Guy At A Habitat Store. Fixed His Broken Spots, Adding A Winking Eye And Mustache

Image credits: Kamijosflower

#42 Almost Finished: Sirenhead

Image credits: Stoneway933R

#43 Mid -Century Americana W/Alien

Image credits: greymaresinspace

#44 On The Hunt

Image credits: mlf2721

#45 Weedle

Image credits: altenacreations

#46 Not Sure If This Is The Right Place... Dollhouse Horror Makeover Evil Dead

Image credits: ElAyYouAreAy

#47 I've Done A Few Of These, Didn't Realise There Was A Whole Subreddit For Them!

Image credits: PixelPaint64

#48 He's My Emotional Support Critter

Image credits: akitchenfullofapples

#49 Just A Little Rudolph Scene

Image credits: SlapHappyPappy64

#50 Found The Perfect Frame For My Mario Kart Repainting. Because It’s A Small Canvas I Needed To Make It Look Bigger And Luxurious ✨background Is Made From An Old Pillowcase

Image credits: Stoneway933R

#51 Handful Of Previously Unposted Reimagined Covers I Never Posted!

Image credits: spatialsequence

#52

Image credits: Stoneway933R

#53 Another Oil On Thrifted Fabric Piece ?

Image credits: sydedunn

#54 The Path Of The Righteous Man

Image credits: altenacreations

#55 Hello. I Got A Tip To Post This Here. My GF Painted This For Me. The Actual Landscape Painting Was From A Flea Market

Image credits: furman92

#56 Jellyfishing

Image credits: tripperfunster

#57 Finally Got To Do One Of Those Monster Thrift Store Paintings :)

Image credits: PatientTurtle

#58 $3.00 Painting Is Now A Foreshadowed Witcher Contract. Still Feels Like It Needs Something Though

Image credits: Rare-Calligrapher720

#59 Adding Monsters To Thrift Store Art. Always Fun. Monsters Make Everything Better! Thanks For Looking!

Image credits: iamryancase

#60 Mind Flayer

Image credits: altenacreations

#61 I Ain't Afraid Of No Ghosts

Image credits: SallyFaulkes

#62 Do Sculptures Count?

Image credits: butterknot

#63 Just A Monster And Her Cat

Image credits: schnauby30

#64 Hi!

Image credits: Stoneway933R

#65 Since It Is International Pizza Day

Image credits: TheGnarledBranch

#66 Babadook

Image credits: Stoneway933R

#67 D.a.r.e

Image credits: Mgonzjr93

#68 A Day At Lake Eternia

Image credits: Quiche___Lorraine

#69 Care Bears Before And After

Image credits: OldUglyArtHoarder

#70 I Got This Blown Up Senior Photo At A Thrift Store, Added A Sweet Goblin. It’s 3’x2’ Big. He’s Massive!

Image credits: awhitejune

#71 I’m Not An Artist But I Do Like A Headless Horseman

Image credits: letsgetlostbye

#72 New Halloween Decor!

Image credits: Therealfern1

#73 Not Mine But Very Cool :)

Image credits: chenchito13

#74 Alien Over Vintage Print Ad

Image credits: Forgetthealamoplease

#75 Started This Guy, It's One Of My Creepier Ones I Think

Image credits: schnauby30

#76 Upgrading Thrift Store Finds Into Halloween Decorations!

Image credits: jsrm20

#77 Repainted An Old Clown Doorstop A While Ago, I Loved Bringing Him To Life!

Image credits: thexmagpie

#78 My Daughter Taught Me How To Draw Unicorns

Image credits: LiterateSnail

#79 Cheesus Mcchrist, Bethlehamburger

Image credits: sarGasm37Bro

#80 Itchy Slaying Scratchy

Image credits: Zerpdederp

#81 King Of The Sea

Image credits: altenacreations

#82 Forgive Me, For I Have Mcsinned

Image credits: sarGasm37Bro