How to Make Custom Paintings in Minecraft Java

How to Make Custom Paintings in Minecraft Java (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you’ve ever wanted to replace the default Minecraft paintings with your own custom artwork, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to create custom paintings in Minecraft Java using a resource pack.

This method works for standard (non-animated) paintings, and you can replace any painting size—from small 1×1 paintings all the way up to massive 4×4 wall art.

What This Tutorial Covers

  • How Minecraft painting sizes work
  • How to prepare your custom artwork
  • How to extract the vanilla Minecraft painting files
  • How to build a custom resource pack
  • How to activate your new paintings in-game

⚠️ This guide is for Minecraft Java Edition 1.21.10. I’ll also explain how to future-proof your pack for newer versions.

Understanding Minecraft Painting Sizes

Before editing anything, it’s important to understand how paintings are sized.

Minecraft paintings come in fixed block dimensions, such as:

  • 1×1
  • 1×2
  • 2×1
  • 2×2
  • 4×2
  • 4×4 (the largest)

Image Ratio Rules (Very Important)

Your image must match the painting’s aspect ratio.

Examples:

  • 4×4 painting → square image (e.g., 1200×1200 px)
  • 4×2 painting → rectangular image (e.g., 400×200 px)

If the ratios don’t match, the painting will stretch or distort.

Step 1: Create a Working Folder

On your computer, create a new folder (anywhere you like).
For example:

C:\pack

Inside this folder, you’ll eventually have:

  • Your custom painting image
  • pack.png
  • pack.mcmeta
  • An assets folder

Step 2: Get the Vanilla Minecraft Resource Files

  1. Open the Minecraft Launcher
  2. Go to Installations
  3. Click the folder icon next to Latest Release (1.21.10)
  4. Open the versions folder
  5. Locate 1.21.10 (numbers only — no RC or pre versions)

Inside that folder you’ll see:

  • 1.21.10.jar
  • 1.21.10.json

Convert the JAR to ZIP

  1. Copy 1.21.10.jar into your working folder
  2. Rename it from .jar to .zip
  3. Open it in a new window

Step 3: Locate the Painting Files

Inside the ZIP file, navigate to:

assets > minecraft > textures > painting

This folder contains every default Minecraft painting.

For this example, we’ll replace:

pigscene.png (4×4 painting)

Step 4: Build the Resource Pack Folder Structure

Back in your working folder, create this exact structure:

assets
 └── minecraft
     └── textures
         └── painting

Now copy pigscene.png from the ZIP file into the painting folder.

Step 5: Prepare Your Custom Image

  1. Create your artwork (Photoshop, Affinity Photo, etc.)
  2. Match the correct aspect ratio
  3. Name your image exactly the same as the painting you’re replacing:
pigscene.png

Now drag your custom image into:

assets/minecraft/textures/painting

When prompted, replace the existing file.

Step 6: Add pack.png

Your resource pack also needs a pack icon.

  • File name: pack.png
  • Size: 128 × 128 pixels
  • Format: PNG

You can:

  • Create your own image
  • Or use the default grass block image from the vanilla pack

Place pack.png in the root of your pack folder.

Step 7: Add pack.mcmeta (Required)

Minecraft no longer includes this file automatically—you must add it manually.

Download the correct pack.mcmeta file from my site here:

👉 Download pack.mcmeta

Edit pack.mcmeta

Open the file in a text editor (I recommend Notepad++).

Example edits:

  • Change the description: 
    "description": "Custom Paintings 1.21.10"
  • Set version compatibility: 
    "pack_format": {
  "min_inclusive": 69,
  "max_inclusive": 79
}

This allows your pack to work across multiple future versions.

Save the file.

Step 8: Zip the Resource Pack

Select:

  • assets folder
  • pack.png
  • pack.mcmeta

Right-click → Compress to ZIP

Rename it something clear, such as:

custom-paintings-1.21.10.zip

Step 9: Install the Resource Pack in Minecraft

  1. Open the Minecraft Launcher
  2. Click the folder icon again
  3. Open the resourcepacks folder
  4. Copy your ZIP file into it

Step 10: Activate the Pack In-Game

  1. Launch Minecraft
  2. Go to Options → Resource Packs
  3. Enable Custom Paintings 1.21.10
  4. Click Done

Load your world—and your painting is now replaced!

Final Result

Your custom artwork now appears in-game, replacing the original painting while keeping its size and placement.

High-resolution images (1200×1200 or larger) work perfectly and look fantastic on large walls.

Why You Should Build Packs Manually

Even though you can download finished packs, building them yourself teaches you:

  • How Minecraft textures really work
  • How to future-proof packs
  • How to customize anything in the game

If you plan on making custom textures, items, GUIs, or menus, this is an essential skill.

Want More Minecraft Customization Tutorials?

  • 🎮 Custom menus
  • 🖼️ Animated textures
  • 🧱 Resource packs
  • 🐷 More painting tricks

👉 Minecraft Customization Tutorials

If this guide helped you, consider subscribing to the channel and checking out my second channel HTG George Plays for gameplay tutorials and farms.

Happy crafting—and I’ll see you in the next one. 👋