Do you ever sit down with your sketchbook, ready to draw, only to be completely stumped by the question, “What To Draw?” It’s a common creative block that many artists face. You’re not alone if you find yourself staring at a blank page, feeling uninspired.
Remember why you wanted to draw in the first place. It’s likely because you enjoy the process, the act of creating something with your hands. Often, we put unnecessary pressure on ourselves to find a profound subject or create a masterpiece every time we pick up a pen. We start to think about messages and meaning, even when we’re just drawing for ourselves.
Forget about needing a grand narrative or a groundbreaking concept. In fact, it’s often better if you simply begin without overthinking. Just start putting pen to paper before those critical thoughts creep in and stop you before you even begin. If you consistently fill your sketchbook – even just a small corner at a time – with whatever catches your attention, these drawings will accumulate and tell a story about you and your life. And because it’s in your unique style, your handwriting, it is inherently special and original. No one else can create the drawings you do. Even if you’re not thrilled with every single sketch, each one becomes a part of your artistic journey and your unique story.
By reducing the time you spend agonizing over what to draw, you actually increase your drawing time. This means more enjoyment and more creative exploration. Drawing can be meditative, and with each sketch, you learn something new – about your skills, different techniques, your subjects, and even yourself.
Try not to take it all too seriously. It’s just paper and pen, and making art should be fun and fulfilling!
Now, while embracing the idea that you can draw anything, sometimes a little nudge in the right direction is helpful. So, if you’re still looking for that spark to get you started, here’s a list of 25 drawing prompts to inspire you and overcome that “what to draw” hurdle.
25 Drawing Ideas to Get You Started
Here are 25 suggestions to help you overcome the “what to draw” dilemma and get your pen moving:
- Self-Portrait: Turn the focus inward and draw yourself. It’s a great way to observe your own features and practice portraiture.
- Continuous Line Hand: Challenge yourself to draw your hand without lifting your pen from the paper. This exercise encourages observation and flow.
- Car or Vehicle: Draw a car, bicycle, motorcycle, or any vehicle that interests you. Focus on form and perspective.
- Animal Sketch: Animals are fascinating subjects. Draw your pet, a wild animal, or even an imaginary creature.
- Neighborhood Exploration: Take a “mini-adventure” in your neighborhood with your sketchbook. Draw what you see along the way – houses, trees, street signs, etc.
- People Watching: Find a public place and sketch people around you. Capture gestures and expressions.
- Your Feet: It might sound funny, but drawing your feet is a great exercise in observing shapes and anatomy.
- Facial Features Study: Dedicate a page to studying noses, ears, eyes, or mouths. Focus on details and variations.
- What You’re Wearing: Draw your outfit for the day, including the folds and textures of the fabric.
- Trees and Greenery: Go outside and draw trees, leaves, plants, or a landscape. Nature offers endless inspiration.
- Master Copy: Choose an artwork by an artist you admire and try to copy it. This is a fantastic way to learn techniques and styles.
- Everyday Object: Select an object you use daily – a mug, a pen, your phone – and draw it from different angles.
- Chair Study: Chairs come in various shapes and forms. Draw a chair from your home or a public space, paying attention to its structure.
- Flower Power: Flowers are beautiful and intricate. Draw a single flower or a bouquet, focusing on petals and details.
- Architecture and Street Scenes: Draw buildings, houses, or a street scene. You can draw from observation or use a photo for reference.
- Vacation Memory: Find a photo from a recent vacation and draw your impression of it, capturing the feeling and essence of the place.
- Kitchen Drawer Surprise: Empty a kitchen drawer and draw a collection of the utensils and objects you find.
- Bag Contents: Draw the contents of your bag or backpack. It’s a personal and interesting subject.
- Collection Drawing: Draw all your shoes, bags, jewelry, or anything else you collect.
- Toiletries Still Life: Arrange your toiletries and draw them as a still life composition.
- Family Photo Inspiration: Draw from old family photos. It can be a nostalgic and meaningful drawing experience.
- Virtual Travel Sketching: Use Google Street View to virtually travel anywhere in the world and draw scenes “on location” from your screen.
- TV Drawing Challenge: While watching TV, grab your sketchbook and draw what you see on the screen – characters, objects, scenes.
- Food Illustration: Draw your meal or illustrate a recipe. Food can be a visually appealing subject.
- Sketch Date: Connect with a sketch pal (online or in person) and go on a drawing date together. Drawing with others can be motivating and fun.
We hope these drawing prompts help you overcome your creative block and inspire your next sketchbook page! Happy drawing!
