George W Bush Painting Began After 60: 13 Easy Projects for Total Beginners

George W Bush painting is one of the sweetest late bloomer stories around, and it might be the push you need to finally pick up a brush. After leaving the White House, he read Winston Churchill’s little essay Painting as a Pastime and decided to try it himself, well past the age of 60. He has said his very first painting was a simple cube. He kept going, took lessons and still paints almost every day. If he could start from zero, so can you. The easy projects below are made for total beginners, need only basic supplies and take an afternoon or less. Some are perfect gifts, some brighten a wall and some are just for the joy of it. Grab a brush and let us begin..

George W Bush Painting Began With One Simple Habit

Many people think painting is a gift you either have or you do not. This story says otherwise. George W Bush picked up a brush with no training at all, and he has said he simply wanted to learn something new. He took lessons, practiced almost daily and kept at it, one canvas at a time. The lesson for beginners is lovely and simple: start small, be patient and paint often. You do not need talent to begin, only a little time and some cheap paint. Ready to set up your own corner..

You will need: A small table near a window, a few canvas boards, a starter set of acrylic paints, 3 brushes (big, medium, small), a jar of water, paper towels, a paper plate for a palette.

How to make it: 1. Pick a spot with good daylight. 2. Lay out your paints, water and paper towels. 3. Set a timer for 20 minutes. 4. Paint anything you see, then do it again tomorrow.

The Cube Lesson Behind George W Bush Painting

It sounds plain, but a cube is the best first lesson any painter can have, and it is where the George W Bush painting story began. It teaches you how light hits one side, how shadow falls on the other and how a shape sits on a table. Put a white box or block under a single lamp and look closely. You will see three different tones on its faces and a soft shadow underneath. Paint just those shapes and suddenly your cube looks solid and real. Can you spot the lightest and darkest side?

You will need: A white box or wooden block, a desk lamp, a canvas board, black and white acrylic paint, one blue or brown, a flat brush.

How to make it: 1. Light the cube from one side. 2. Sketch the shape lightly with a pencil. 3. Mix three grays: light, medium and dark, and paint each face. 4. Add the dark cast shadow and blend its edge.

Dog Portraits, an Early George W Bush Painting Subject

Your phone is probably full of pet pictures, and each one is a ready made painting lesson. Dogs were a favorite early subject in George W Bush painting too. Pick a clear photo with good light on your dog’s face. Keep it simple: get the big shapes of the head, ears and nose first, then add the eyes last. Do not worry about every hair. A loose, happy portrait often looks more like your pet than a stiff, perfect one. It makes a wonderful gift for any dog lover too. Which photo of your furry friend would you paint first?

You will need: A clear pet photo on your phone, an 8×10 canvas board, acrylic paints, a pencil, round and flat brushes, a small fine brush for the eyes.

How to make it: 1. Sketch the outline of the head lightly. 2. Block in the darkest and lightest areas. 3. Add middle colors with short strokes that follow the fur. 4. Paint the eyes and nose last and add a tiny white dot of shine.

Fruit Bowl Still Life

Painters have practiced on fruit bowls for hundreds of years, and for good reason. Apples, pears and grapes sit still, have simple round shapes and show light beautifully. Set a bowl near a window, step back and squint. Squinting helps you see the big shapes and shadows instead of tiny details. Paint the bowl first, then the fruit, then the shadows on the table. When you finish, you can eat your models as a reward. Which fruit would you put in your bowl?

You will need: A bowl, 3 to 5 pieces of fruit, a cloth, a canvas board, acrylic paints in red, yellow, green, blue and white, two brushes.

How to make it: 1. Arrange the fruit with light from one side. 2. Sketch simple circles and the bowl shape. 3. Paint the shadows first, then the bright sides. 4. Add a small white highlight on each fruit.

Five-Minute Sky Study

Sky studies are a favorite warm up for painters because they are fast, forgiving and calming. Look out the window and set a timer for five minutes. Paint only the sky: the blue, the clouds and the soft light near the horizon. There are no wrong answers with clouds, so you can relax and play. Do one every morning for a week and you will be surprised how much your brushwork improves. Even famous artists painted skies like the one above over and over. What does your sky look like today?

You will need: Small canvas pads or thick paper, blue, white and a touch of yellow or pink paint, a wide flat brush, a timer.

How to make it: 1. Wet your brush and paint the blue from the top down, getting lighter near the bottom. 2. Dab in white clouds while the blue is still wet. 3. Add a soft shadow under each cloud. 4. Stop when the timer rings.

Fall Leaves on Canvas Board

Fall leaves are one of the easiest and happiest things to paint. Collect a few from your yard and lay them on the table as models. Their simple shapes, bright colors and little veins make them perfect for beginners. Paint one big leaf on a small canvas, or scatter a whole handful across a long board for a cozy autumn sign. Warm reds, oranges and golds blend beautifully together. They look lovely propped on a shelf or mantel all season. Which color leaf will you start with?

You will need: A few real fall leaves, a canvas board, acrylic paint in red, orange, yellow, brown and green, a round brush, a fine liner brush.

How to make it: 1. Trace or sketch a leaf shape. 2. Fill it with two or three warm colors, blending while wet. 3. Let it dry, then paint the veins with a thin brush. 4. Add a soft shadow under one edge.

Pumpkin Still Life

Pumpkins are round, chunky and full of curved lines, which makes them wonderful for practicing shape and shadow. Put one or two small pumpkins on a cloth near a window and paint what you see. Notice how each section of the pumpkin catches light a little differently. Do not forget the stem, it adds so much character. Hang your finished painting in the kitchen for fall or give it as a hostess gift at Thanksgiving. Would you paint orange, white or green pumpkins?

You will need: 1 or 2 small pumpkins, a canvas board, acrylic paints in orange, yellow, brown, green and white, a round brush and a flat brush.

How to make it: 1. Sketch the pumpkin as a wide oval with curved sections. 2. Paint the darker color in the grooves first. 3. Add lighter orange on the bulges facing the light. 4. Paint the stem and a soft shadow beneath.

Cheerful Painted Rocks

Painted rocks are tiny, low pressure canvases that anyone can enjoy, from grandkids to grandparents. Wash some smooth stones, let them dry and paint swirls, dots, little faces of your pets or bright galaxy patterns. They make sweet paperweights, garden decorations or happy surprises to hide along a walking path. Because they are small, you can finish one in minutes and try lots of ideas. It is a great project for a rainy afternoon with family. What design would you paint on yours?

You will need: Smooth clean rocks, acrylic paints or paint pens, small brushes, a cotton swab for dots, clear outdoor sealer spray (adult help).

How to make it: 1. Wash and dry the rocks well. 2. Paint a base coat and let it dry. 3. Add your design with paint pens or small brushes. 4. Seal outdoors with adult help so the colors last.

Watercolor Christmas Cards

A hand painted card means so much more than one from the store. Watercolor is perfect for this because a few loose shapes look charming and festive. Try a simple wreath of green dabs with red berry dots, a small tree or a single star. Paint a batch while you listen to holiday music and you will have cards for the whole family in one evening. People keep handmade cards for years. Who on your list would love one of these most?

You will need: Watercolor paper cut to card size, a watercolor paint set, a round brush, a jar of water, a white gel pen, envelopes.

How to make it: 1. Fold or cut your paper into cards. 2. Paint a light circle of green dabs for a wreath. 3. Add red dots for berries once dry. 4. Write your message inside with a pen.

Paint-by-Grid Method

If drawing feels scary, the grid method is your new best friend. Draw a grid of squares over a printed photo, then draw the same grid lightly on your canvas. Now copy one square at a time. Your brain stops worrying about the whole picture and just focuses on small shapes. Artists have used this trick for centuries to get proportions right. Portraits are a big part of George W Bush painting, and this trick works beautifully for portraits of people you love, houses and pets. Would a grid help you try a harder painting?

You will need: A printed photo, a ruler, a pencil, an eraser, a canvas, acrylic paints, brushes.

How to make it: 1. Draw a grid of equal squares on the photo. 2. Draw the same number of squares lightly on the canvas. 3. Copy the lines in each square, one at a time. 4. Erase the grid and start painting.

Palette Knife Flowers

Painting with a palette knife feels a bit like spreading frosting, and it is so much fun. Thick dabs of paint pressed onto the canvas make petals that look bold, textured and modern. You do not need any drawing skill at all. Just load the knife, press and lift. Bright pinks, yellows and whites against a soft background look amazing on a wall. If you love working with your hands, our dough art for beginners uses a similar press and shape idea. Which flower colors would you pick?

You will need: A small painting knife, thick acrylic paint, a canvas, a wide brush for the background.

How to make it: 1. Paint a soft background color and let it dry. 2. Load the tip of the knife with paint. 3. Press it onto the canvas and pull it toward the center to make a petal. 4. Repeat in a circle and add a dot of yellow in the middle.

Mini Canvas Gallery Wall Inspired by George W Bush Painting

Once you have a few small paintings, show them off. Mini canvases grouped together on a wall make a cheerful gallery that tells your painting story. Mix skies, fruit, pets and leaves in simple frames or on their own. Lay them out on the floor first to find a layout you like. Seeing your progress every day is a big boost to keep painting. George W Bush has even shared his work in books, and his portrait book Portraits of Courage reached the top of a bestseller list in 2017. Where would your gallery go?

You will need: 6 to 12 small finished paintings, simple frames (optional), picture hooks or removable strips, a pencil, a level.

How to make it: 1. Lay out the paintings on the floor. 2. Keep gaps about 2 inches apart. 3. Mark the spots on the wall with a pencil. 4. Hang from the center outward.

Paint Night at Home for Two

You do not need to pay for a fancy class to have a fun paint night. Set up two easels or canvas boards at the kitchen table, pick a simple picture like a sunset or a tree, and paint it side by side with your partner, a friend or a grandchild. Play some music and enjoy snacks and a warm drink. Your paintings will look totally different, and that is the best part. Laughing at the results is half the fun. If the George W Bush painting story proves anything, it is that it is never too late to begin. Who would you invite to your first paint night?

You will need: 2 canvases, 2 sets of brushes, shared acrylic paints, paper plates as palettes, water cups, paper towels, a sample picture to copy.

How to make it: 1. Pick one simple picture and print or show it on a screen. 2. Paint the background first together. 3. Add the main shapes step by step. 4. Sign your paintings and swap them as keepsakes.