Top 65 Art Hobbies to Try this Year
Many people might think that art is something you must be skilled to do, but that is not true. Art is for everyone and it can be an incredibly rewarding hobby. It’s a great way to express yourself, relax and unwind, and even make something beautiful to share with others.
If you’re feeling a bit stuck in your daily routine or just looking for a way to shake things up, give one of these art hobbies a try. They’re accessible for beginners but can also be very challenging.
The best part is that you don’t need to have any prior art experience or a fancy studio to get started as a hobbyist artist. All you need is a bit of inspiration and the right tools. Here are some art hobbies to try this year:
Art Hobbies for Adults
As an adult, you have less and less time for yourself so picking an art hobby is the perfect way to make the most out of it. You might benefit from art hobbies that are calming and relaxing, but also challenging and hard to master.
Many adults are also looking to monetize through a hobby, so if that’s the case for you, we’ve included some super-profitable ones too.
Our picks for the top art hobbies for adults:
- Whimsical Furniture Painting
Whimsical Furniture Painting is a creative hobby that allows you to give new life to old furniture with playful and unique designs. Express your creativity and personality by creating one-of-a-kind pieces for your home or to sell.
It’s a great way to recycle and upcycle old furniture and add a personal touch to your home. It can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels and requires minimal equipment or materials.
- Painting (acrylic, oil, watercolor)
Painting is an incredibly rewarding art hobby! Whether you prefer the quick-drying convenience of acrylics, the rich buttery consistency of oils, or the delicate translucency of watercolors, there’s a paint type for every artist to experiment with.
Each medium offers a unique set of properties that can be used to create a wide range of effects and styles. Anyone can start and all you need are a few basic materials that can be obtained with a single visit to your nearest art supply store.
- Jewelry Making
Jewelry making is a fulfilling hobby for those who love to create and express themselves through wearable art. Whether you prefer to work with beads, wire, or precious stones, jewelry making allows you to create beautiful and unique pieces that can be worn, given as gifts, and even sold.
- Drawing (pencil, charcoal, ink)
Drawing is an amazing hobby for those who love to create! Whether you prefer the precision of pencils, the bold strokes of charcoal, or the fluidity of ink, there’s a drawing medium for every artist to explore.
Each medium offers a unique set of qualities that can be used to create a wide range of effects and styles. Plus the materials are really cheap and you can get started for less than a dollar.
- Sculpture (clay, wood, stone)
Sculpting is a fantastic hobby for those who love to work with their hands. Imagine molding and shaping clay, wood, or stone with your hands, creating a three-dimensional work of art that tells a story.
Sculpting is not only a fun and satisfying way to express yourself creatively but also a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Clay is the easiest medium to start with, and if you like it then you could level up to wood and even stone sculpting.
- Printmaking (linocut, etching, screen printing)
Printmaking is a thrilling hobby for those who love to make multiples of their own or even other’s artworks! Whether you prefer the simplicity of linocut, the intricate details of etching, or the vibrancy of screen printing, there’s a printmaking technique for every artist to try.
- Photography
Photography is a captivating hobby for those who love to capture the world around them. You can start with your smartphone and later buy a traditional camera if you see that you like it.
Photography not only allows you to freeze a moment in time and create a lasting memory but also to capture a scene from multiple angles and perspectives to influence the final result and “vibe” of the shot.
With the help of various editing tools, you can take this even further, and change the mood and feeling of your photos. The best part is, if you have a phone with a decent camera you can start for free!
- Digital Art
Digital art is a fascinating hobby for those who love to create art using digital tools. It allows you to experiment with a wide range of mediums and techniques, from traditional drawing and painting to more experimental forms of digital art.
With the help of software like Photoshop or Procreate, you can create digital artworks that can be shared with others and even sold. As far as supplies go, you will have to invest in a digital drawing tablet.
- Calligraphy
Calligraphy is a beautiful and elegant hobby for those who love the art of handwriting. Calligraphy allows you to create visually stunning letters and words that can be used to decorate invitations, posters, and other pieces of art.
It is a great way to improve your handwriting and focus on the small details. With the help of different tools like nibs, pens, and ink, you can create different styles and variations of calligraphy.
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, calligraphy is a fun and satisfying way to express yourself creatively and add a touch of elegance to your work.
- Origami
Origami is one of those hobbies that shows you just how far you can get with creativity with only a simple tool, a piece of paper. It allows you to create a wide range of figures and shapes, from simple to complex, using only paper and your hands.
Origami is a great way to improve your dexterity and focus on the small details. With the help of different types of paper, you can create multiple styles and variations of origami figures.
- Pottery
Pottery is a hands-on and rewarding hobby for those who love to work with clay. Whether you prefer to throw on a wheel or sculpt by hand, pottery allows you to create functional and decorative pieces that can be used in the home, such as vases, bowls, and cups.
- Fashion Design
Fashion Design is a creative and exciting hobby for those who love to design clothing and accessories. Fashion design allows you to create unique and stylish pieces that can be worn or sold.
With the help of different tools, you can create different styles and variations of clothing and accessories.
- Home Decorating
Home decorating is a fun and personal hobby for those who love to make a space their own. Whether you prefer to work with furniture, textiles, or DIY projects, home decorating allows you to create a personalized and beautiful living space that reflects your style and personality.
- Textile Arts (embroidery, knitting, quilting)
Textile Arts is a versatile and creative hobby for those who love to work with fabrics and yarns. Whether you prefer to embroider, knit, or quilt, textile arts allows you to create beautiful and unique pieces such as decorative items, clothing, and household linens.
Creative Art Hobbies to Pick Up
Every art hobby is based on creativity, though the ones below are art-related hobbies that may not cross your mind when looking for one. Here are the top creative art hobbies to pick up:
- Terrariums
Terrarium making is a creative and fun hobby for those who love to create miniature gardens. It allows you to create unique and beautiful landscapes using a variety of plants and other materials.
Terrariums are a great way to improve your creativity and attention to detail. Many terrarium hobbyists also like to film and take beautiful and crisp images of their creations and share them online.
- Sugarcraft
Sugarcraft is a delicate and skillful hobby for those who love to create edible art. It allows you to create various designs and figures using sugar, fondant, and other edible materials. Sugarcraft is a great way to improve your dexterity, creativity and attention to detail.
- Bonsai
Bonsai is an art form that combines horticulture and aesthetics, allowing you to create miniature, yet highly detailed, trees that tell a story and evoke emotions.
Bonsai is a hobby that requires patience, creativity, and attention to detail. It is a constant learning journey, as the bonsai tree is a living organism that requires care and maintenance.
Bonsai is not only a hobby but also a form of meditation, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and find serenity and balance while tending to your tree.
- Candle Making
Candle making is a hobby that allows you to tap into your creativity and create unique and aromatic candles that can be used for different occasions, from relaxing at home to decorating a special event.
With the help of different waxes, wicks, and fragrance oils, you can create candles that evoke memories, emotions and even tell a story.
Candle making is also a great way to create something that is both beautiful and functional. With the right ingredients, you can make candles that will nourish the skin, purify the air or even help you sleep better.
You can also sell them online and make a few bucks!
- Soap Making
Soap making is a hobby that allows you to create natural, high-quality and unique soaps that can be used for different purposes, from pampering yourself to gifting to loved ones.
With the help of different oils, butters and essential oils, you can create soaps that are not only pleasing to the eye but also beneficial to the skin.
The process of soap making is not just about mixing and pouring, it’s also about experimentation and creativity. You can create soaps with different textures, colors, and scents that can be tailored to specific skin types or even to address certain skin concerns.
- Fiber Arts
Fiber Arts is a versatile and creative hobby that encompasses different techniques such as weaving, spinning, and dyeing. It allows you to create beautiful and unique pieces of art using different types of fibers such as wool, cotton, silk, and more.
Fiber Arts is a great hobby for people of all ages and skill levels, it allows you to express yourself creatively and create something useful or decorative.
- Bookbinding
Bookbinding is a hobby that allows you to create your own books, journals, and other bound items. It involves using techniques like gluing, sewing, and binding paper to create a finished book.
Bookbinding is a great hobby for those who love to read and write, it allows you to create a unique and personal book that reflects your style and creativity.
- Card Making
Card Making is a fun and creative hobby that allows you to create unique and personalized cards for different occasions. It allows you to use different materials such as paper, paint, and embellishments to create cards that are not only beautiful but also meaningful.
- Lampworking
Lampworking is a hobby that allows you to create unique and beautiful glass beads, figurines, and other glass items. It involves using a torch to heat glass rods and shaping them into different forms.
Lampworking is a great hobby for those who love to work with their hands, but it’s also incredibly hard and requires a lot of equipment.
- String Art
String Art is a hobby that allows you to create intricate and beautiful designs using string and nails. It is a great hobby for those who love to work with their hands as it allows you to express your creativity and create something unique and beautiful.
- Egg Decorating
Egg decorating is a traditional and fun hobby that allows you to create beautiful and intricate designs on eggs using different techniques such as dyeing, painting, and carving. This hobby is often associated with Easter but many people do it year-round as a hobby.
Challenging Art Hobbies to Try
Again, mastering any art form is challenging and requires years of practice and skill. The art hobbies below are more challenging than the others not only in terms of artistic skill but also physical strength and material requirements, tools, and machines.
Here are some challenging art hobbies to try:
- Paper Mache
Paper Mache is a fun, versatile, and budget-friendly hobby for those who love to create sculptures and other decorative items. It involves creating a structure using paper and glue and then covering it with layers of paper to create a hard surface.
Paper Mache allows you to work on large-scale projects and it can also be used to create intricate and detailed shapes. This hobby is great for people of all ages and skill levels, from children to adults, as it is easy to learn and does not require expensive materials or equipment.
- Encaustic Painting
Paper Marbling is an ancient art form that involves floating pigments on the surface of a liquid and then transferring the design to paper. This technique can be used to create beautiful and unique patterns on paper and other surfaces.
Paper marbling is a meditative and calming hobby that requires patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to experiment and try new things. It is a hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, as it requires no prior experience and is easy to learn.
- Blacksmithing
Blacksmithing is a traditional and rewarding hobby for those who love working with metal. It allows you to shape and mold metal using fire, hammers, and anvils to create beautiful and unique pieces of art such as tools, sculptures, and decorative items.
Blacksmithing requires strength, skill, and attention to detail, as well as an understanding of the properties of different metals and how they behave under different temperatures and pressures.
It is a physically demanding hobby that can be both challenging and rewarding.
- Mosaic
Mosaic is a fun and colorful hobby that allows you to create intricate designs using small, colorful pieces of tile or glass. It allows you to create a wide range of designs, from simple to complex and is a great way to express your creativity and add a personal touch to any room or object.
Mosaic is a great hobby for people of all ages and skill levels, from children to adults, and requires no prior experience.
- Terra Cotta Pot Painting
Terra Cotta Pot Painting is a fun and creative hobby that allows you to breathe new life into old pots by painting them with vibrant colors and designs. It is a great way to add a personal touch to your garden or home and it can also be a great way to recycle old pots.
Terra Cotta Pot Painting is a hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, as it requires no prior experience and is easy to learn.
- Glassblowing
Glassblowing is a mesmerizing hobby that allows you to shape and mold hot glass into beautiful and unique pieces of art such as vases, bowls, and sculptures. It requires patience, skill, and attention to detail, as well as a willingness to experiment and try new things.
Glassblowing is a challenging and rewarding hobby that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
- Woodburning
Woodburning allows you to add intricate designs and patterns to wood using a special tool. It is a great way to add a personal touch to wooden objects and can be used to create beautiful and unique pieces of art. Woodburning requires patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to experiment.
- Soap Carving
Soap Carving is a fun, creative, and simple art form that allows you to create intricate and detailed shapes using soap as a medium.
It is a great way to add a personal touch to your soap and can be used to create beautiful and unique pieces of art. Soap carving requires patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to experiment.
Creative Art Hobbies List For More Ideas
- Decoupage: a method of ornamentation that involves adhering colorful paper cutouts to an item, along with unique paint effects and other accents.
- Beading: a craft in which beads are strung together to make jewelry or other ornamental objects.
- Batik: a method of applying wax-resist dye on fabric to create elaborate patterns utilizing dots and lines.
- Cyanotype: a method of coloring fabric using wax resist that uses dots and lines to create elaborate patterns.
- Macrame: a method of producing textiles without weaving or knitting that relies on knotting.
- Tapestry Weaving: a kind of textile art in which threads are woven together to make an image or pattern.
- Zentangle: a technique for producing abstract art that uses repeated patterns and often focuses on meditation.
- Bead Weaving: a method of making elaborate patterns out of tiny beads that are strung or sewn onto cloth or thread is called bead weaving.
- Urban Sketching: the practice of drawing and sketching urban settings.
- Journalling: the practice of recording one’s thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a personal journal using both writing and art.
- Enameling: the process of joining glass and metal, and it’s often done to make jewelry or ornamental items.
- Whittling: the process of using a knife to carve small sculptures or ornamental items out of wood.
- Knitting: the art of creating textiles and clothing using yarn and needles.
- Kokedama: Japanese art of bonsai where the tree is tied with thread and covered in moss.
- Ikebana: a Japanese flower arrangement artform.
- Kintsugi: The Japanese craft of “kintsugi” involves highlighting the fissures in shattered ceramics by lacquering them with gold or silver.
- Shodo: the Japanese art of calligraphy. Check out more Japanese hobbies here.
- Suminagashi: Suminagashi is a kind of paper marbling unique to Japan.
- Gilding: the process of covering surfaces with gold or another kind of metal leaf.
- Glass Engraving: carving designs into glass using a rotary tool.
- Intarsia: a form of woodworking that involves using several colored kinds of wood to create an image or pattern.
- Pyrography: the craft of carving images into wood using a hot instrument.
- Stained Glass: the art of making colored glass into shapes and welding them together.
- Tadelakt: a traditional Moroccan technique of plastering walls and floors using a lime-based material.
- Geodesic Dome Building: building a dome made of triangles by joining them is known as geodesic dome construction.
- Kinetic Sculpture: making sculptures that move or react to their surroundings is known as kinetic sculpture.
- Automata: making mechanical sculptures that can be wound up or driven by a motor.
- Sand Sculpture: creating sculptures out of sand.
- Ice Sculpture: creating sculptures out of ice.
- Balloon Art: twisting and sculpting balloons to make sculptures and decorations is known as balloon art.
- Fire Spinning: spinning objects like poi, staff, and hoops that are ignited on fire to produce a performance.
- Body Painting: using paint to decorate the human body to achieve a desired look.
An Art Hobby for Everyone
Art hobbies are a fantastic way to express yourself, relax and unwind, and even make something beautiful to share with others. With so many different art hobbies to choose from, it’s easy to find one that suits your interests and skill level.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, there’s an art hobby out there for you. We hope that this list of top art hobbies to try this year has inspired you to pick up a new hobby and create something beautiful. Remember, all you need is a bit of inspiration and the right tools to get started.
If you’re looking for more fun and exciting hobbies to try check out our master list of hobbies and interests, there are so many more to see!
