If you're wanting to do a painting a day but are stuck for ideas, here are 30 painting ideas from idioms and sayings to keep you busy for a whole month.
1. My Hands Are Tied
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You could paint this saying literally (your two hands are bound together with something) or figuratively (you are unable to act on an event or do something). If painting it literally, remember what you use to tie the hands together will have a big impact. A pair of handcuffs implies the police, whereas a rope could imply a hostage.
2. Spitting Mad
So angry you can't think straight, not literally spitting at someone or on the ground (or at least not in polite company). Painting a portrait of someone really furious, or a whole figure. Or how about painting it as someone spitting out flames of fury?3. Burning the Candle at Both Ends
Working too hard, working yourself to exhaustion without rest. But how would a candle be arranged if it were to be burning at both ends at the same time? If it were resting on its side, would the wick curl upwards with the flame, or come out horizontally? Paint this saying literally, a candle with flames at either end.4. Snowed Under
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If you don't need snow to be snowed under (overloaded or overwhelmed with work or life's demands), then what kind of thing might you be under? Flowered under? Leafed under?
5. Once in a Blue Moon
If the Moon were blue, what color would things appear in the moonlight? Paint a full moon scene with the moonlight blue rather than whiteish-yellow.6. Every Cloud has a Silver Lining
Who says clouds can't have linings of other colors? Paint clouds using white and your favorite color plus something to create shadows or rain-laden clouds.7. Bite the Bullet
We often have to bite the bullet when a painting isn't going the way we want it to. Paint a bullet with teeth marks in it (implying that you'd finished biting that particular bullet, and the situation is sorted).8. Feather in Your Cap
Paint the feather you would put in your cap if you won an art award, or commission, or had your first exhibition.9. All Ears
Okay, so being all ears means you're listening, but if we had more ears, where would they be attached to our bodies? Paint a human or animal with more than one set of ears.10. Go Fly a Kite
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You tell someone to go fly a kite when you want them to go away and stop bothering you. Paint what they'd fly if they didn't have a kite.
