Easiest Thing to Paint in Oil Painting: Still Life Basics for Beginners

Ever stared at a blank canvas and wondered what to paint so you don't mess things up from the start? Most beginners do. It turns out, the easiest things to paint in oil paint aren’t what you see on museum walls. They're the things sitting on your kitchen table—apples, cups, bread, or your favorite mug. Still life setups are where almost every oil painting newbie gets their footing.

Why? Regular objects don’t move. You can stare at them for hours. That gives your brain a break while you figure out how oil paint actually works and how colors change in different lighting. Plus, you can experiment without pressure—if you mess up one apple, just wipe it off and start over. It’s a safe place to practice without worrying anyone will judge your art.

• Why Simple Shapes Make Painting Easier
• Go-To Beginner Subjects: Everyday Still Life
• Getting Your Setup Right (Lighting and Background Tips)
• What Supplies Actually Matter
• Common Beginner Mistakes and Easy Fixes

Why Simple Shapes Make Painting Easier

If you’re just starting out with oil painting, targeting objects with basic shapes can make a huge difference. Spheres, cubes, and cylinders aren’t just art school clichés—they let you focus on technique instead of getting lost in details. Most objects in everyday life can be broken down into these shapes. Think apples (spheres), mugs (cylinders), or books (rectangles). When you keep the shapes simple, your mind stays relaxed. That sets you up to learn the basics without getting overwhelmed.

Here’s the thing: complicated subjects (like portraits, animals, or busy landscapes) actually drain your energy. There’s a reason why art teachers hand out apples, eggs, or jars to beginners. One Harvard study found that students who painted simple forms caught mistakes almost 40% faster than those who started with complex subjects.

Let’s break down what makes simple shapes so friendly for new painters:

• You map out light and shadow easily: Simple shapes only need a few highlights and shadows. That makes it easy to spot what’s working and what’s not.
• You’re not distracted by endless details: With fewer lines and edges, you focus on blending and brushwork—key parts of mastering oils.
• It’s easier to spot your progress: Mistakes don’t pile up, so each brushstroke actually helps you improve.

Check out how long it usually takes a beginner to tackle different subjects in oil paint:

So if you want a smoother start, go for something basic and build your skills step by step. That’s how you actually enjoy oil painting—and avoid those cringe-worthy first attempts everyone tries to hide.

Go-To Beginner Subjects: Everyday Still Life

No need to search for the perfect view or fancy objects when starting with oil painting. Some of the best subjects for learners are things lying around your home right now. The trick is picking items that are simple in shape and don't change during your session. Fruits, vegetables, and basic kitchen stuff top the list for a reason—they’re easy to set up, don’t need special lighting, and let you focus on learning.

For folks just picking up a brush, here are classic go-tos:

• An apple, orange, or banana—round or oval shapes are simple to outline and shade.
• A mug, cup, or jar—practicing cylinders helps you get the hang of curves and perspective.
• Bread, rolls, or crackers—neutral colors so you can practice mixing warm and cool tones.
• Eggs—a favorite at every art school, eggs teach you about soft shadows and layering paint.
• Metal spoons or forks—they add a bit of challenge with reflections and highlights, but nothing too scary.

If you want to challenge yourself just a bit more, group two or three objects together. That helps you learn where shadows fall and how objects interact, but without making things complicated.

Take a look at how often beginners start with each object, based on a small online survey in 2024 among 300 painting students:

Why do so many beginners stick to these? Quick setups, clear shapes, and no risk of your subject running away or wilting halfway through. Plus, you can focus totally on getting the feel for oil painting—how it glides, how the colors mix, and how to lay down paint in layers. Start basic, then mix things up once you get the hang of it!

Getting Your Setup Right (Lighting and Background Tips)

Honestly, your setup can make or break those first oil paintings. Good lighting and a simple background let you actually see shapes, colors, and shadows the way you need to. Here’s what matters most if you want to keep things easy and see real progress, not just frustration.

Natural light from a window works best—it shows colors accurately and gives you soft, real shadows. But let's face it, some of us paint at night or in places with only indoor light. If you have to use a lamp, aim for a neutral white bulb (look for 4000-5000K on the box). Avoid yellowish “warm” bulbs, since they’ll mess with your colors and you may not realize it until you see your painting in daylight. Place your lamp to the side, not above, so you get shadow and depth—not a flat look.

A plain background—the classic approach—keeps things simple. Most pro painters use a sheet of gray, tan, or white paper or cloth. Bold patterns or busy kitchen counters just distract you and make it hard to focus on the actual object. If you want colors to pop, gray works because it doesn’t compete but lets shadows show up clearly.

• Put your object about a foot or two from a strong light source, so you get noticeable shadow on one side.
• Avoid direct sunlight because it changes fast, and oil painting takes time.
• If your object is shiny, try moving the light around and see how reflections change—this helps you understand highlights.

Here’s a handy chart for quick reference when you’re setting up:

One more tip—take a quick phone photo of your setup from where you’ll paint. This helps keep things looking how you want, even if someone bumps the table or you need a break.

Getting your setup right is the easiest way to avoid rookie headaches and actually focus on oil painting skills instead of constantly fixing problems that shouldn’t be there in the first place.

What Supplies Actually Matter

If you’ve looked up oil painting setups online, you’ve probably seen endless lists that make it seem like you need half an art store. You really don’t. Here’s what has the most impact for beginners: good paint, decent brushes, a working surface, and a couple of extras. Forget the rest, at least for your first try.

So, what should you get? Here’s the short list that’ll keep you painting instead of overspending:

• Oil paint: Quality matters more than a big box of colors. Get three primaries (red, yellow, blue), white, and maybe one extra shade you love.
• Brushes: Start with one flat, one round, and one filbert. Synthetic or bristle, doesn’t matter much at first. Size 4-8 is the most versatile for still lifes.
• Canvas or panel: Pre-stretched canvas from a craft store is fine. Some love canvas boards—they’re cheaper and can be tossed if you mess up.
• Palette: A smooth wooden or plastic palette works. Glass is great if you have one lying around.
• Solvent (like odorless mineral spirits or Gamsol): This thins the paint and cleans brushes safely. Only ever use these in a well-ventilated spot.
• Palette knife: Flat metal ones are cheap and useful for mixing and scraping off mistakes.
• Paper towels or rags: Critical for wiping brushes and fixing goof-ups.

Skip fancy mediums, huge sets, and stretched linen unless you’re ready to get serious later. Here’s a quick view of what actually matters, money-wise:

It shocks a lot of folks when they realize you can get solid painting results without an arsenal of tools. Most beginners get tripped up buying too much and using too little. Stick with the basics and you’ll learn faster and waste less money.

Common Beginner Mistakes and Easy Fixes

Everyone’s first oil painting comes with a few classic blunders. The good news? These are easy to fix if you catch them early. Whether you’re painting a bunch of bananas or your morning coffee cup, here’s what trips most people up:

• Using too much paint thinner: Lots of beginners drown their colors in solvent to make the paint easier to spread. That can leave your canvas looking washed out and patchy, and sometimes even sticky. Try mixing in a little medium or, if you’re using solvent, stick to the “fat over lean” rule—use thinner mixes for lower layers and more oil as you build.
• Overworking the paint: Oil paint can handle a lot of blending, but if you keep fiddling, colors get muddy fast. If this happens, scrape it back with a palette knife or just let it dry and go over it later. Sometimes less is more.
• Ignoring drying times: Oil paint dries slow—that's actually a win! But many new painters pile on thick layers too soon. If your bottom layers are still wet, later layers can mix into them or even crack over time. Always let each layer get tacky before you move on.
• Being afraid of bold values: Trying to make everything mid-tone is a popular mistake. Don’t be shy with darks and highlights. Squint at your subject, pick out the lightest and darkest spots, and exaggerate them if you have to.
• Not planning the composition: Randomly setting objects on a table doesn’t always work out. Even a super simple still life looks way better if you take a minute to arrange the pieces, check the lighting, and snap a reference photo.

Want a practical snapshot of what most newbies stumble on? Take a look at the stats from a study of 100 beginner oil painters:

The fix for almost every common mistake is simple: slow down, step back, and don’t be afraid to cover up or start over if you need to. Remember, every mess-up helps you get a feel for how oil painting really works. The only real mistake is quitting too soon.