40+ Oil Painting Ideas: Canvas, Cool, Beginner, Easy, And More

Oil painting is a traditional artistic technique that involves mixing color pigments with drying oil to create long-lasting and vibrant art. The oil used is usually linseed oil because it’s thin and dries slowly. Oil paintings have been a popular choice among artists throughout history because they result in artwork with a depth of color and rich textures. It became a historical tradition due to its versatility and durability. 

Oil painting ideas are subjects or concepts that artists can refer to using oil paints. There are various ideas for oil painting that artists use, as well as different methods and techniques. Some of these ideas include canvas oil painting using a surface made from linen or cotton and applying paint on it, cool oil painting with landscapes of peaceful scenes painted using light colors, beginner oil painting ideas for people new to the concept, and easy oil painting ideas for artists of all skill levels as they are less complex.

Some other common oil painting ideas include friends oil painting, family oil painting with figures of your friends or family, sunset oil paintings using vibrant sunset colors and scenic backgrounds, still life oil paintings of objects around you such as flowers or trees, animals oil painting of wildlife creatures or domestic animals, ocean oil painting of oceanic sceneries like beaches or islands, and monochrome oil painting by just using different colors to understand contrast. 

10 Popular Oil Painting Ideas 

The top 10 popular oil painting ideas for custom oil paintings are landscape oil painting, seascape oil painting, still life oil painting, figure oil painting, self-portrait oil painting, friends oil painting, family oil painting, animals oil painting, imaginary oil painting, and child portrait.

The top 10 popular oil painting ideas are listed below:

Landscape Oil Painting

This landscape oil painting idea shows a peaceful and green scene.

The shiny river flows from the lush green hills, and vibrant and dense trees under a light blue sky add to the scenic beauty. The foreground features detailed reflections of vegetation and the sky.

Seascape Oil Painting

This seascape oil painting idea features a calm ocean view at the shore.

Waves overlap against the shore, vibrant blue streams flow, and soft clouds cover a clear sky.

Still Life Oil Painting

This still life oil painting idea portrays a detailed arrangement of different fruits, like a pear and a few grapes.

Highlighted vase with vibrant pink flowers, and a dark background to create a rich atmosphere.

Figure Oil Painting

This figure oil painting idea depicts a classy scene with detailed human figures wearing royal dresses.

There's a warm background with neutral colors, stunning green trees, and an elegant feel.

Self-portrait Oil Painting

This self-portrait oil painting idea features a face with a cold stare.

The picture features a simple, muted background to give significance to the facial features of the portrait. The added tones and details give the painting a realistic touch.

Friends Oil Portraits 

This friends oil portrait idea shows two kids as friends, standing close. The background depicts a park, highlighting their friendship.

The rich colors and soft tones add to the warm atmosphere.

Family Oil Portraits

This family oil portrait idea features a happy family of four in formal clothing.

The cozy room, slightly detailed background, and rich colors emphasized the class and closeness of the family.

Animals Oil Painting

This animal oil painting idea portrays two wild deer in a captivating environment.

The deers drink water from a rushing river next to a dense jungle and massive mountains in the background.

Imaginary Oil Painting

This imaginary oil painting idea depicts a dreamlike imaginary environment.

There are mischievous trees, a gushing waterfall, a light blue background, and appealingly colorful mushroom-like trees.

Child Portrait

This child portrait idea features an image of a young boy with neutral expressions.

The minimal background, soft lighting, warm details, and simple clothing of the child signify his innocence.

10 Oil Painting Ideas for Canvas

The 10 canvas painting ideas are painting fruit, painting flowers, painting clouds with oils, painting a sunset with oils, ocean oil painting, painting en plein air with oil paints, abstract oil painting, portrait of a couple, wave oil painting, and dog oil painting.

The 10 oil painting ideas for canvas are listed below:

Painting Fruit

This painting fruit idea for canvas shows a complete arrangement of different fruits in a stand.

The dark background highlights the vibrant colors of the fruits, and the details on the fruit give them a realistic look.

Painting Flowers

This painting flowers idea for canvas portrays a vibrant flower bouquet in a shiny glass vase.

It features different types of flowers and a soft, neutral background to highlight the lively colors of the flowers.

Paint Clouds With Oils

This paint clouds with oils idea for canvas features a pronounced cloudy sky over a natural green field.

The dark blue sky, dense clouds, and purple and orange details show the scene of a cloudy sunset.

Paint a Sunset With Oils

This paint a sunset with oils idea for canvas depicts a relaxed sunset scene over a floral field.

The sky features vibrant colors such as blue, pink, orange, and purple to create a mesmerizing sunset view.

Ocean Oil Painting

This ocean oil painting idea for canvas portrays a dramatic oceanic view.

There are powerful waves hitting the shore, frothy ocean water, heavy clouds, and a blue sky with shades of white.

Paint en Plein Air With Oil Paints

This paint en plein air with oil paints idea for canvas shows a homely farm scene.

There are lush green fields, a dirt road, a light blue sky, red and orange leaves on the round, and a lively arrangement of farmhouses.

Abstract Oil Painting

This abstract oil painting idea for canvas portrays a vibrant mix of colors, swirling patterns, and thick layers of paint.

The soft background blends perfectly with the unusually shaped tree and bold colors.

Portrait of a Couple

This portrait idea for canvas features an affectionate couple.

The soft background with a neutral tone highlights the couple's facial expressions, and the vibrant colors of their clothing add richness to the atmosphere.

Wave Oil Painting

This wave oil painting idea for canvas depicts a powerful wave crashing against the shore.

The scene has vibrant blue and white tones to highlight the moving water and a blue sky with soft clouds in the background.

Dog Oil Painting

This dog oil painting idea for canvas shows a portrait of a dog’s face.

The warm green and blue background makes the golden fur of the dog stand out, and the detailed face of the dog makes the image cute and heartwarming.

10 Cool Oil Paintings

The 10 cool oil painting ideas include an orange sky, a blue sky, a little bird, 3 red flowers, a yellow path in the forest, a little girl, a lake, a wooden boat, a cute dog, and a beautiful sky. 

The top 10 cool oil painting ideas are listed below:

Orange Sky

This cool oil painting idea features a mesmerizing landscape of an orange sky with a sunset scene.

The shiny sea water shows a reflection of the orange sky, and the vibrant tones create a dreamy atmosphere.

Blue Sky

This cool oil painting idea shows a vibrant blue sky over rich green hills.

The scattered white clouds and distant trees create a peaceful atmosphere with natural colors.

Little Bird

This cool oil painting idea depicts a lovely little bird resting on a tree branch.

The soft background highlights the bird's colourful feathers, and details on the bird’s eyes and beak give it a natural feel.

3 Red Flowers

This cool oil painting idea portrays three vibrant red flowers with lush green leaves placed in a shiny glass vase.

The bold colors and the reflection on the vase give the painting a realistic look.

Yellow Path in Forest

This cool oil painting idea depicts a calm forest scene with a bright yellow path through the tall trees.

The green and yellow leaves blend well with the yellow path, and the details on the yellow leaves give a peaceful autumn feel.

Little Girl

This cool oil painting idea features a little girl in a white dress standing in a field of colorful flowers.

The mix of vibrant green, white, and red colors signifies the girl’s innocence and contrasts well with her white dress.

Lake

This cool oil painting idea shows a peaceful lake underneath a vibrant blue sky.

Dense green trees surround the lake, and the water reflects the green leaves and the clouds in the sky to portray a calm atmosphere.

Wooden Boat

This cool oil painting idea depicts an old wooden boat resting on calm river water.

The boat’s warm brown color contrasts well with the pastel blue water to create a pleasant scene.

Cute Dog

This cool oil painting idea portrays a cute dog with emotional eyes.

The soft background makes the dog’s beige fur stand out, and the dog’s detailed expressions give an adorable feel.

Beautiful Sky

This cool oil painting idea shows a beautiful sky with vibrant purple, orange, and blue colors.

The field with barren trees and the soft brushstrokes used to detail the sky create a dreamlike atmosphere.

5 Beginner Oil Painting Ideas

The 5 beginner oil painting ideas include a moon in the night, snow and a house, a full moon, an owl, and polar bears.

The 5 beginner oil painting ideas are listed below:

Moon in the Night

This beginner oil painting idea features a bright moon in the night sky.

The white tones portray the light of the moon, and the black-colored trees and distant hills blend in well with the dark blue background.

Snow and a House 

This beginner oil painting idea depicts a cozy house surrounded by heavy white snow.

The mute-colored background, snow-covered roof, and trees contrasting with the warm brown house create a relaxing feel.

Full Moon

This beginner oil painting idea shows a bright full moon in a dark night sky.

The deep blue background with little stars surrounding the moon gives off a sense of wonder.

An Owl

This beginner oil painting idea features a cute, wise owl resting on a branch.

The background is white, putting a total emphasis on the owl’s vibrant colors and expressions.

Polar Bears

This beginner oil painting idea portrays a polar bear standing on a piece of ice.

The icy background with blue tones blends well with the bear’s white fur, giving off a feel of the cold environment.

5 Easy Oil Painting Ideas

The 5 easy oil painting ideas include a peach, a green apple, a pomegranate, a garden fruit, and a dusty street.

The 5 easy oil painting ideas are listed below:

Peach

This easy oil painting idea features a sliced-up ripe peach resting on a white table.

The peach is painted with vibrant yellow and orange colors, and the white table background allows the colors to stand out.

Green Apple

This easy oil painting idea depicts a shiny green apple against a slightly dark and pale background.

The shades of yellow and white give the apple a glossy surface.

Pomegranate

This easy oil painting idea shows a vibrant red fresh pomegranate sliced open.

Each pomegranate kernel is detailed with dark red accents to give the painting a realistic look.

Garden Fruit

This easy oil painting idea portrays a variety of fruit growing in a garden.

It features broad green trees with vibrant colored fruit and a barn in the background to give the painting a lively feel.

Dusty Street

This easy oil painting idea features a dusty street lane with lush greenery.

The street goes through different houses and is below a cloudy sky, portraying the natural beauty of the street.

What to Know More About Oil Painting?

Oil painting is a traditional art method. Unlike acrylic paints, oil paints dry slower, which allows for better color blending and flexibility. Oils usually have depth, texture, rich colors, and shine. This style of painting can also include additives such as solvents or drying agents to change the consistency or drying time of the paint accordingly. 

Some of the most popular oil paintings are Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper,” Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night," Salvador Dali’s “The Persistence of Money,” and Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring."

How To Paint With Oil-based Paints?

You can paint with oil-based paints by preparing your workspace, mixing the colors with oil, applying the paint in layers, blending the colors, and adding finishing touches. 

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to paint with oil-based paints:

• Preparing your workspace

  Clean your preferred surface to eliminate any dust. Gather your pigments, oil, brushes, palette, and canvas. Prime the canvas with gesso before starting to paint.

• Mixing the colors

  Mix your colors in a palette and use a palette knife to blend the pigments with the oil. Add the oil until it reaches your desired consistency. The consistency also affects the drying time of the paint. 

• Applying the paint in layers

  Apply a thin layer and cover the entire canvas, then gradually increase the thickness of each layer. Use different brushes depending on the desired effect, like applying broad strokes for large areas and using smaller brushes for more detailed steps. Make sure to let each layer dry before adding another one.

• Blending the colors

  Blend the colors smoothly on the canvas to achieve the perfect contrast and gradients. Clean your brushes regularly with mineral spirits for a smoother blend and to avoid muddy colors. 

• Adding finishing touches

  Examine your finished painting and make any adjustments, such as highlights or extra details, if needed. Let your oil painting dry before varnishing it to enhance the colors. 

What Types of Canvas are Best for Oil Paints?

The canvas types best for oil painting are linen canvas, stretched cotton canvas, wood panels, or boards. Linen canvas is slightly expensive but has a smooth surface texture and high durability, making it perfect for oil painting. Stretched cotton canvas is a more affordable option with good quality at a lower price range. Gesso primer needs to be applied to prime each canvas before use. Wood panels and boards are also preferred for oil painting, because they are more durable than canvases. 

Which Type of Paint Brush to Use With Oil Paints?

The types of paint brushes best to use with oil paints are bristle brushes, synthetic brushes, and natural hair brushes. Bristle brushes are made from hog hair and are perfect for applying thick layers of paint. Synthetic brushes are made from nylon or polyester and are best suited for applying minor details to an oil painting. Various artists prefer natural hair brushes for oil painting, made from a mongoose's or sable's hair. They are soft and can hold a lot of paint at once.