Painting
Painting places random artwork on walls, sized automatically by available empty space.
1.21
Description
Painting is crafted from eight sticks around one wool, creating a decorative wall object. When placed, the game chooses artwork that fits the available empty rectangle, from tiny one-block images to large murals. Breaking and replacing it rerolls the selection, so builders often prepare a wall area and repeat placement until the desired piece appears.
The object is useful for interiors because it adds colour without changing the wall material. It can also hide entrances: since players can pass through certain spaces behind it when signs or open blocks support the trick, secret doors and adventure-map passages often use large artwork. Museums, mansions, libraries, taverns, and castles benefit from the instant lived-in detail.
The object is useful for interiors because it adds colour without changing the wall material. It can also hide entrances: since players can pass through certain spaces behind it when signs or open blocks support the trick, secret doors and adventure-map passages often use large artwork. Museums, mansions, libraries, taverns, and castles benefit from the instant lived-in detail.
Java & Bedrock Guide
How to craft and place a Painting in Minecraft
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1
Craft the painting
Place one wool in the centre of the 3x3 crafting grid and surround it with eight sticks. This yields one painting regardless of the wool colour.
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2
Prepare the wall
Clear a flat vertical surface. The larger the empty rectangle of solid blocks, the larger the artwork the game can pick, up to 4x4 blocks.
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3
Place the painting
Use the painting item on the wall. The game randomly selects a piece that fits the available space and anchors it at the targeted block.
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4
Reroll for the art you want
Break the painting and place it again to reroll the artwork. Boxing the area with temporary blocks forces a specific size before you reveal the final piece.
Size control
Painting size depends on the free space. To force a large mural, frame the exact rectangle with solid blocks, place the painting, then remove the excess framing blocks.
How to craft this block
Crafting
Painting
1
Related blocks
Frequently asked questions
How do you craft a Painting in Minecraft?
Place one wool in the centre of the 3x3 crafting grid and surround it with eight sticks. The wool colour does not matter and you get one painting.
Why does my painting change size?
The game picks the largest artwork that fits the empty wall space, from 1x1 up to 4x4 blocks. Limiting the space forces a smaller painting.
Can you choose which painting appears?
Not directly. Breaking and replacing the painting rerolls the random artwork, so players repeat placement until the desired piece shows up.
Does the wool colour change the painting?
No. Any wool colour crafts the same painting item, and the displayed artwork is chosen randomly from the available set on placement.
Can mobs or players pass through a painting?
Players can walk through the space behind a painting, but mobs cannot, which is why paintings are used to hide secret doors and passages in Java Edition.
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