Choose a subject. Think of everyday items or popular celebrities seen everywhere but not classically thought of as art. Consider your feelings about them and whether they're worth recreating in painstaking detail. Take or find a photograph of the subject for reference.
Set up your easel and painting supplies in a space with plenty of light. Pin your reference photograph at the corner of your canvas, where it can quickly be compared against your painting. Select the paints you'll be using---either accurate colors or completely new, unexpected ones.
Paint your subject. Use smooth, even strokes to make an attractive picture. Highlight the most defining features of the subject. Allow each layer of paint to dry before painting on additional layers to preserve the colors underneath.