One could be painting things like the top of an oven? (5)
I believe the answer is:
hobby
'one could be painting things' is the definition.
(painting is an example)
'like the top of an oven?' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'like' could be 'y' ('y' can be similar in meaning to 'like') and 'y' is found within the answer.
'top' could be 'hob' (I have seen 'Top of stove ' mean 'hob' so perhaps 'top' could also mean 'hob') and 'hob' is present in the answer.
A single letter 'b' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
(Other definitions for hobby that I've seen before include "activity giving pleasure" , "interest" , "Raptor - pastime" , "Bird - eg bird-watching" , "Small falcon" .)