Have you been painting for a while and now looking for fresh inspiration? Have you finally gotten some hobby time but are just staring at a blank canvas, unsure what to paint? Are you seeking art ideas for inspiration?
Well, you're in the right place.
Whether you're an absolute beginner or a seasoned artist, these 7 unique painting ideas are sure to help break you out of your creative rut and spice up your painting practice or DIY projects.
Outside the Box Painting Ideas
From abstract compositions to mixed media techniques, we'll cover a range of approaches that will spark your imagination, teach you a few art techniques, and help you create one-of-a-kind works of art.
So, grab your paintbrushes, and let's dive in:
1. Landscape with Stencils
Landscape paintings evoke a feeling of warmth and a positive, relaxing mood that attracts viewers of all ages, which is why they're a classic among beginner and experienced artists. Whether it's a painting of our first home, the spectacular view from a grand vista, or something we paint from our imagination, odds are we've painted, or at least thought about a landscape scene.
This painting idea uses all the principles We talk about in NINE ACRYLIC PAINTING TECHNIQUES (and 5 bonus tips) – but with a twist.
Here:
Instead of painting everything from scratch, you take each object from your landscape and make a stencil template. We'll leave it up to you to draw them freehand or print them out. Once you have your templates, all you need to do is paint over them with your selection of colors.
You can go with one solid color:
Or leverage color values for more depth:
2. Pop Art
Pop art paintings draw inspiration from mass media stars and objects of popular or commercial culture to blur the lines between "high" art and "low" culture. These paintings use recognizable images, bright colors, innovative techniques, mixed media combined with irony and satire.
A great example of pop art is Andy Warhol's depiction of Marilyn Monroe and Marilyn Diptych, where the artist used bright colors and a silkscreen to print the actress's face multiple times. In creating the image again and again with the same silkscreen, one analytic reading would be that Monroe's image becomes more and more distorted and simultaneously more iconographic; More seen and less understood as time goes on.
If you don't have access to silk screening tools, you can carve stamps from wood or rubber and use transparent paints from lightest to darkest for a similar layering effect.
If you have a computer, you can create an image in Adobe Photoshop, or another digital art program, and add shapes on top of each other(using layers on multiply/screen mode) to create a similar image.
You can think of some of the same things pop artists were thinking about celebrities, or you can look at pop culture differently, it's changed since the 1960s, and in other ways, it's stayed the same.
3. Galaxy Painting
If you want to make a genuinely out-of-this-world painting, then there's no better source than looking to the heavens themselves. Astronomers estimate that at least trillions of celestial bodies contained within our field of vision each time we look up at the stars.
The bad news is that, with the sheer distance and all the light pollution from artificial illumination, it can take a lot of work to see how beautiful the night sky is. The good news is that it's easy to search online for images from the Hubble space telescope and the new James Webb Space Telescope.
Check out and be inspired by some of the most sublime examples captured by this wonder of modern technology:
These can be made in variousways but blending wet on wet can create the smooth transitions you see from the bright pops of color in the space dust to the void of black.
You can follow it up with multiple layers of stars applied with a stiff bristle brush, like a toothbrush, and flicking the bristles high above the painting. This flicking technique in different colors can help indicate which stars are closer and farther away.
You can try glazing with a transparent color over the stars and dust for exciting effects.
Since space is abstract, it's a great subject to experiment with new techniques!
4. Dot Art
Dot art uses dots of paint to produce stunning 3D textures or mesmerizing patterns. Use dot art to add some pizzazz to your artwork. The beauty of this art form is in its simplicity: Place dots of paint on your canvas using everyday objects you have at home or that you find outside in nature! Smooth rocks and broad leaves would be perfect for dot art.
The patterns you create can be as straightforward, or as intricate as you want. For instance, try alternating between dots of different sizes and colors, or don't follow a set pattern and let your creativity run wild.
Here is an example to get your creative juices flowing:
Want to give your dot art a more 3D texture? Just thicken your paint with some Nova Gel!
5. Scrape Art
Another simple yet unique painting idea is scrape art or scrape painting. With scrape art, you place dots of paint on one side of your canvas then, with a card or similar object, scrape the paint across the canvas surface to produce spectacular combinations of colors and subtle textures.
Making scrape art is its own topic, but We merely touch on it here. You can delve deeper into this unique painting idea by checking out HOW TO MAKE SCRAPE ART WITH ACRYLIC PAINTS (STEP BY STEP). This article teaches you how to make scrape art comes with some excellent examples you can start with.
Check out What other artists are buying after reading!
6. Drip Painting
Drip painting is a form of abstract art where you drip or pour acrylic paint directly onto your canvas. While you can make this type of painting with acrylic paint straight from the tube/pot, you may want to add in some Novaplex 235 to improve your paints' flow without losing adhesion.
You can try several techniques drip painting. Drip painting techniques can use brush dips, squeeze bottles, Pollock-inspired splatters, and even acrylic pouring. You can read up about these techniques in further detail in 4 ACRYLIC DRIP PAINTING TECHNIQUES.
That said:
These techniques are just the tip of the iceberg. Drip painting is dynamic by its very nature, so you can create your own techniques. Your ingenuity and creativity are your only limitations.
7. Collage Art
Collage art lets you take all sorts of ephemera, like paper, fabric, photographs, etc., and stick them onto a supporting surface. With this type of art, you aren't limited by your painting and painting techniques but by how you utilize the various materials to express yourself. The constraint of needing to use the materials mentioned above presents a novel challenge that's sure to stimulate your creative mind.
Of course:
Nothing is stopping you from using paints and painting techniques with collage art. In fact, combining the two art forms makes it easier to create unique works of art.
If you want your collage art to last, you'll need some strong glue. This shouldn't be a problem, as Nova Color's versatile Matte Medium and Gloss Medium Varnish can be used as collage glue.
Paint Something Extraordinary Today
Painting the same way over and over can become tedious. Sometimes, you just need to try something new to breathe new life and reignite your artistic passion.
These seven unique acrylic painting ideas offer almost endless possibilities for beginners and experienced artists. From experimenting with abstract techniques to mastering detailed landscapes, acrylics are a beloved and versatile medium that lets creativity shine.
You can try pouring techniques, create texture with palette knives, mix bold and bright colors, and just allow acrylics to give you the freedom to explore new styles.
Don’t be afraid to push the boundaries of your creativity. With the right tools and methods, you can achieve beautiful results that you’ll fall in love with and inspire you to explore further. If you’re ready to try something new, why not browse our collection of acrylic paints and supplies? We have everything you need for starting out, or to help a seasoned artist perfect their favorite process.
We’re here to support your creative journey, wherever it takes you!
We hope the ideas in this article helped you do just that! So go out there and try something new!.
Explore our wide selection of acrylic paint colors today.