100 drawing ideas for when you do not know what to draw

What should I draw today?

Draw something you can see if you want to improve, and something you imagine if you want to have fun. Beginners get the most out of the first section, because real objects in front of you teach shape, proportion and shading at the same time. If you already draw often, the challenges section is the fastest way out of a rut.

Can’t decide? The drawing prompt wheel can take the whole list with the button below, so the choice is made before you have time to overthink it.

Easy drawing ideas for beginners

Simple, real objects you can set in front of you. Drawing from life trains your eye faster than copying photos, and these shapes are forgiving.

• A coffee mug from three angles – notice how the ellipse at the rim changes.
• Your own hand – the classic free model that is always available.
• A stack of books – good practice for straight edges and perspective.
• A single leaf – focus on the veins and the edge shape.
• A bowl of fruit – round forms and soft shadows.
• A pair of trainers – laces and stitching add detail if you want it.
• A potted plant – overlapping leaves teach you about depth.
• A cupcake – try the wrapper’s pleats and a swirl of icing.
• A lit candle – practise leaving the paper white for the flame.
• An egg and its shadow – the best way to learn smooth shading.
• The view from your window – frame it with the window edge.
• A bunch of keys – small shapes, shiny highlights.
• A crumpled piece of paper – folds and creases are great for tone practice.

Animal drawing ideas

Animals are good for practising fur, feathers, scales and movement. Look at reference photos, then add personality.

• A cat curled up asleep – a simple curve with lots of soft texture.
• An owl on a branch – big eyes and layered feathers.
• A fox in the snow – orange fur against a white background.
• A glowing jellyfish – try it on dark paper with light pencils.
• A hedgehog – short, directional strokes build the spines.
• A giraffe peering over a fence – play with scale and a funny expression.
• A dog shaking off water – motion lines and flying droplets.
• An octopus serving tea – eight arms, eight teacups.
• A chameleon changing colour – half one colour, half another.
• A penguin family – simple shapes, lots of character.
• A hummingbird at a flower – blur the wings to show speed.
• A tortoise winning a race – a medal, a crowd and a sulking hare.
• A whale seen from below – a huge silhouette with light from the surface.

Fantasy drawing ideas

No reference needed and no wrong answers. Fantasy prompts are ideal for filling a sketchbook page quickly.

• A dragon guarding something odd – not gold, but a pile of socks or a single biscuit.
• A tiny door in a tree trunk – who lives inside?
• A floating island – waterfalls pouring off the edges.
• A wizard’s messy desk – scrolls, potions, a sleeping cat.
• An underwater mermaid city – coral towers and bubble streetlights.
• A robot gardener – watering cans for hands.
• A castle made of sweets – wafer walls and a candy-cane drawbridge.
• A phoenix rising – flame-shaped feathers in warm colours.
• A friendly monster under the bed – maybe it is scared of the child.
• A map of an imaginary kingdom – name every town and river.
• A potion shop window – bottles of every shape with labels.
• A unicorn in a busy city – waiting at a pedestrian crossing.
• A spaceship built from junk – teapot engines and bicycle-wheel antennae.

People and character drawing ideas

Figures and faces feel hard, so start loose. Use simple shapes for the body and focus on the pose and expression.

• A self-portrait in a mirror – draw what you see, not what you expect.
• Someone reading on a train – a relaxed pose and a bit of background.
• An astronaut on a tea break – helmet off, feet up.
• A chef flipping a pancake – catch the moment it is in the air.
• A grandparent as a superhero – cape, knitting needles, mighty cardigan.
• A detective in the rain – long coat, umbrella, streetlight glow.
• A dancer mid-leap – draw one flowing line for the spine first.
• A street musician – the instrument, the open case, a small crowd.
• One face, five expressions – happy, surprised, grumpy, sleepy, confused.
• A knight without armour – what do they wear on their day off?
• A pirate captain and parrot – give the parrot the better outfit.
• A time traveller seeing a phone – someone from 1900 in total confusion.

Landscape and scenery drawing ideas

Landscapes teach composition: a foreground, a middle ground and a background. Try the same scene at different times of day.

• A lighthouse in a storm – dramatic waves and a single beam of light.
• A desert at sunset – long shadows across the dunes.
• A mountain lake reflection – mirror the peaks in the water.
• A rainy city street at night – reflections of shop lights on wet pavement.
• A cottage in autumn – falling leaves and smoke from the chimney.
• A tropical beach – palm trees, turquoise water, one hammock.
• A snowy forest path – use the paper for the snow and draw the shadows.
• A field of sunflowers – big flowers in front, tiny ones at the horizon.
• A jungle waterfall – layers of green with white falling water.
• Rooftops from a high window – chimneys, aerials and a cat.
• A canyon with a river – deep layers of rock in warm tones.
• The northern lights – soft ribbons of colour over dark hills.

Object drawing ideas

Everyday things with interesting shapes, textures or reflections. Many can be drawn from what is around the house.

• A vintage camera – dials, lens rings and leather texture.
• A bicycle – harder than it looks; get the frame triangles right.
• A glass of water with a straw – watch the straw bend at the waterline.
• A teapot – curved spout and handle, a gentle highlight.
• An old key – draw it large, filling the page.
• A pair of scissors – metal shine and the angle of the blades.
• A shoe with untied laces – the laces make lovely loose lines.
• A backpack spilling its contents – what does it say about the owner?
• A desk lamp – show where its light falls.
• A pocket watch – intricate numbers and a chain.
• An acoustic guitar – a symmetrical body is great for measuring practice.
• A paper bag of groceries – things peeking over the top.

Drawing challenges to break a creative block

When you are stuck, change the rules rather than the subject. Challenges take the pressure off making something “good”.

• Draw with your other hand – wobbly lines, fresh eyes.
• Blind contour drawing – look only at the object, never the paper.
• One continuous line – do not lift the pen until you are finished.
• Five-minute speed sketch – set a phone timer and stop when it rings.
• Only three colours – choose them at random and make them work.
• Something beginning with a random letter – spin a letter, then draw the first thing you think of.
• Redraw an old drawing – compare the two to see how far you have come.
• An object that has come to life – give the kettle arms and a mood.
• Combine two animals – an elephant-butterfly or a penguin-giraffe.
• One subject in three styles – realistic, cartoon and abstract.
• Only circles and squares – build a whole scene from basic shapes.
• Your breakfast as a landscape – porridge hills and a toast mountain.
• A stamp-sized drawing – fit a full scene into a tiny box.

Drawing ideas for kids

Playful prompts that invite stories as well as pictures. Ask children to tell you about their drawing afterwards.

• My dream bedroom – slides, secret doors, whatever they like.
• A monster made of shapes – triangles for teeth, circles for eyes.
• My family as animals – which animal is each person and why?
• A rocket going to the moon – who is on board?
• An underwater world – fish, shells, treasure and a submarine.
• My favourite food with a face – a smiling pizza or a nervous broccoli.
• A superhero pet – what is its superpower?
• A treehouse – rope ladders and a flag on top.
• A dinosaur picnic – what do dinosaurs pack for lunch?
• A rainbow garden – a flower in every colour.
• A car of the future – can it fly, swim or drive itself?
• A parade of silly hats – the bigger and stranger, the better.

How to use these prompts for a daily sketchbook habit

Consistency matters more than time spent. Ten minutes a day with a random prompt beats one long session a month. Load the list into the wheel, turn on Remove the winner after each spin, and spin once each day: you will not get the same prompt twice until you have worked through the list.

• Build your own wheel. Keep the subjects you enjoy and delete the rest with Edit as text, then save the share link for tomorrow.
• Combine two wheels. Spin a subject here and a colour on the colour wheel, then draw the subject only in that colour.
• Mix subjects with animals. The animal wheel is a quick way to get a surprise creature for the fantasy prompts.
• Try the alphabet game. Spin the letter wheel and draw five things starting with that letter in one scene.
• Date every page. Looking back after a month is the best motivation there is.

If drawing is only one of the things you fancy doing today, our list of things to do when bored has plenty of other creative projects.