Unlocking Creativity: 50+ Drawing Ideas for Beginners

Drawing is a calming and creative hobby, but deciding what to draw isn’t always easy. So, here’s a list of 50 drawing ideas to provide inspiration at any time for your sketchbook.

You’ll find simple drawing ideas and some more complex things to draw in this list. There’s something for everyone, from beginners to advanced artists! 

Drawing regularly is the best way to improve your skills when you’re learning how to draw. Plus, trying to draw, sketch, or doodle new things can be challenging and a lot of fun. 

So, make sure to bookmark this list! Then, you can come back to it any time you’re wondering, what should I draw today? 

Let’s dive in! Here are 50 fun and interesting sketching ideas to get you drawing (even if you’re feeling uninspired)

You can take your pick, draw one idea that calls to you or work through them systematically. Whatever you do, have fun and enjoy the process – happy drawing!

And if you prefer working from a photo, check out my list of the best reference photo websites. You’re sure to find a photo of every idea on this list to provide inspiration for your own drawings.

50 Cool Drawing Ideas for Your Sketchbook

If you’re looking for drawing inspiration or things to sketch, look no further. Here are 50 cool drawing ideas to get you started! 

You’ll find simple, easy drawing ideas for beginners. Plus, there are some more complicated sketching ideas for experienced artists.

1. The Planets

planets drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

If you’re lacking inspiration, look further afield – right out into outer space! The planets are beautiful, ethereal, and truly out of this world. You could focus on just one planet or sketch them all together. The planets provide tons of potential drawing ideas to experiment with! 

2. Mountains

mountains drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Mountains are jaw-dropping natural landmarks. So, you can create gorgeous drawings of mountains. They could be snowy, covered in trees, or silhouetted against the sky. You can keep it simple or test your drawing skills.  Mountains are great inspirations for artists.

3. Baby Animals

No one can resist a cute baby animal. So, take your pick of your favorite animal, and create an adorable sketch! 

baby animals drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

4. A Forest

a forest drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Forests are calm and peaceful environments. So, it’s no wonder that many artists love drawing forests. It’s a great way to invite the beauty of nature inside! 

5. A Piece of Jewelry

a piece of jewelry drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Drawing smaller items is an excellent way to test your drawing skills. You could draw a ring, bracelet, or necklace you own or use a photo for reference. The more detailed you can get, the better!

6. A Self-Portrait 

a self-portrait drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Have you ever tried drawing yourself? It’s not easy, but it’s very worthwhile. Artists through the ages have challenged themselves to draw or paint self-portraits. So, set up a mirror or work from a photo, and see if you can recreate your own likeness.

7. A Plant

a plant drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Plants are great things to draw as they look fresh and bright on the page. You can make it as simple or complicated as you like. Keep in mind your skill level when choosing which plant to draw. If you have a house plant you can draw, perfect. If not, look out the window, draw from memory, or find a photo online. 

8. Your Hands

your hand drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Hands tell the story of the person they belong to. They can be old and wrinkled, soft and smooth, and have long or stubby fingers. Try drawing your own hands or those of someone close to you. Even better if they can model for you! 

9. A Famous Building

a famous building drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Drawing famous buildings around the world is a fun idea! You could pick your favorite building or somewhere she’d like to go. Or, you could create a whole series of famous landmarks from around the world. Drawing a building or architecture requires very different skills than drawing a person. 

10. A Cityscape

cityscape drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

If you’ve tried drawing a famous building, then have a go at something even more ambitious. Why not draw a cityscape and capture the bustling environment of a large city? You could focus on the buildings, fill your cityscape with people, or draw it at the backdrop of a sunset. It’s totally up to you! 

11. Your Home

your home drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Home has an emotional connection, so it’s an interesting subject to draw. You could draw your home from the inside or select a room within it. It’s up to you whether you draw it in a realistic way or add your own touches to it. 

12. Your Pet

your pet drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

It’s fun to draw animals. So, if you have a pet at home, take advantage and sketch it. Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs – any of these will work! (Although you might have to wait until your pet is napping so it will stay still long enough for you to draw it).

13. The Moon

the moon drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

If you prefer drawing at night, why not take inspiration from the night skies and draw the moon? There are lots of different ways you could draw it. For example, you could make it fun and cartoony, realistic, or a little magical. Or sketch the moon in each of its phases. 

14. A Coffee Cup

a coffee cup drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

A coffee cup (or tea if you prefer) is an everyday item. But it can hold many different meanings for the viewer. It could evoke comfort, creativity, warmth, rest, inspiration, or something else. What does coffee mean to you? Try to sketch the cup of coffee as closely as possible. 

15. A Spider in a Web

a spider in a web drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

You can probably find a spiderweb in your home somewhere. Or, you could venture out early in the morning and look for one outside. There’s nothing more beautiful than a spider web covered in dewdrops or frost.

A spider in a web can be as challenging as you make it. If you’re a beginner, you can keep it simple. But if you want to test yourself, it’s a great thing to sketch. You can work on making those individual web strands as true to life as possible. 

16. A Teapot

a teapot drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

A teapot is another comforting image. You can have fun sketching the curves of your teapot and decorating it however you like.

17. A Pair of Shoes

a pain of shoes drawing ideas

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

While we’re on household articles, why not try drawing a pair of shoes? You could pick sneakers, flats, or high heels. Depending on the type of shoe, it could be more or less challenging. Really focus on the detail and getting the perspective of the shoe right! 

18. A Newborn Baby

a new born drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

A newborn baby makes a beautiful and emotional subject for artwork. It can also be tricky to sketch a baby accurately, but it’s well worth trying! Plus, it will make a thoughtful gift for the new parents.

19. Sketch a Friend or Family Member

drawing idea familly member

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Drawing people isn’t easy, but it’s well worth mastering. You could ask a friend or family member to sit while you sketch them. Then, you could gift them the portrait as a kind, personalized present!

Or, if you don’t have anyone available, you could draw someone from a photo. Then, as you get more advanced, you could compare your portraits to earlier drawings. You’ll be amazed to see how much progress you’ve made! 

Eyes or an Eye Closeup

eye closeup drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

They say that eyes are the window to the soul. They are also intensely intricate, and every eye is unique. Try to draw an eye in detail and capture it as closely as possible.

21. A door

a door drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

A door provides untold possibilities. Where does it lead to? What significance does it hold? At the same time, you probably have a few different doors in your own home you could sketch. So, it’s a great way to sketch from your surroundings.

22. A Landscape

a landscape drawing idea,

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Get outside with your pencils and draw the world around you! Pick a scenic setting, and take the time to draw it. Or, if you’re feeling creative, you could draw a landscape from your imagination. You can still develop your skills this way – it doesn’t have to be a real place.

23. A River 

a river drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Rivers are always flowing, so they’re never the same from one moment to the next. Plus, they are calm and relaxing places. If you have a river near you, head down to it and spend an hour or two drawing what you see.

24. The Ocean

the ocean drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Water in any form makes for a gorgeous drawing. The ocean is especially tricky to draw due to the movement of the waves. But it’s also a worthy sketching idea. Take your pick from a calm scene, frothy, foam-topped waves, or a stormy sea! 

25. A Tree in All Four Seasons

a tree in all  four seasons drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Trees offer lots of inspiration for artists. Older trees have probably lived longer than you and stood the test of time. And they continue to change throughout the year. 

One way to challenge yourself is to find an impressive tree. Then, sketch it in all four seasons. You could make this a year-long project and visit your chosen tree each season. Or if you can’t wait that long, you can use your imagination to draw the tree in every season. Can you recreate the subtle changes from season to season?

26. A Still Life of Fruits

a still life fruits drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Take inspiration from the Old Masters and draw a still life. It’s an excellent way to practice your sketching skills. Plus, you should have a few fruits at home, so it’s easy to put a still life together at short notice. Then, work on getting your shapes, perspectives, and lighting right. It’s not as hard as you might first think!

27. A Dancer

dacer drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

It’s much easier to draw a still life or stationary object than a person in movement. Dancers are graceful, powerful, and athletic. Try to draw a dancer and capture that feeling of flow and movement!

28. A Bicycle

bicycle drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

A bicycle is surprisingly complex to draw. You could sketch one in motion or stationary – it’s up to you! Add a basket or racing stripes to make your bicycle stand out. 

29. A Car

car drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

A car brings to mind speed, power, and freedom. Have fun drawing your favorite type of car. It could be an old-fashioned Mini, a race car, a Rolls Royce, or a Tesla. The choice is yours!

30. The View from Your Window

the view of yourr window drawing idea,

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

This idea is very simple and easy to achieve. All you need to do is look out of your window and draw what you see. You don’t need to overthink it; you can just focus on your drawing skills. The interesting thing is that your view might be a little different each time. Maybe people are walking by, or flowers blooming, or falling leaves. You can capture that moment in time and preserve it forever! 

31. Your Favorite Place

your favorite place drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Think of your favorite place in the world. It probably carries a lot of emotional significance, so it’s interesting to draw. Can you convey an atmosphere that shows people how you feel about this place?

32. A Bridge

bridge drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Bridges are both elegant and fascinating engineering feats. You could draw a small bridge over a pond à la Monet. Or, you could challenge yourself to tackle a complex design like the Golden Gate Bridge. There are all sorts of bridges you could draw, and each will result in very different artwork.

33. An Autumn Tree 

automn tree drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

There’s something special about autumn (or fall, depending on where you are in the world). The gorgeous golden colors are hard to resist, so why not capture them in your artwork. See if you can recreate the rich red, orange, and gold shades and the leaves as they fall from the tree. If it’s not the right time of year, you can always draw from a photo! 

34. A Cozy Winter Scene

a cozy winter scene drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

We’ve all seen those picture-perfect postcard images of villages blanketed in snow. So, why not have a go at drawing your own cozy winter scene? Drawing a snowy scene has its own challenges as you try to make it look realistic. Capturing the lights and shadows on the snow isn’t easy, but it can look spectacular when done right!

35. A Fireplace

fairplace drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Winter has its own charms, and there’s nothing like being snuggled up beside a roaring fire. So, create a warm, comforting drawing of a fireplace in winter. 

36. Insects Up Close

insect up close drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Whether you like insects or not, they make interesting drawing specimens. You could go for a butterfly, ladybird, bee, or beetle. Each one has its distinctive characteristics. I would recommend grabbing a microscope and getting as close as possible. Then, draw these final details in your artwork! 

37. A Hot Air Balloon

ho air balloon drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Think about how excited you are when you spot the rare sight of a hot air balloon in the sky. Brightly colored balloons against a blue sky make for a beautiful drawing. So, pick up your colored pencils and have a go! 

38. A Dragon

dragon drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Dragons are fierce, mythical creatures. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary to draw, have a go at a dragon! You could also compare the differences between eastern and western dragons – and even draw one of each. 

39. A Boat

boat drawing idea,

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

There are all sorts of boats you could draw: Sailboats, yachts, cruise ships, and more. So take your pick, and get to work on your drawing of a boat.

40. A Feather

feather drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

There’s a lot you can learn from focusing on one seemingly simple item to draw, such as a feather. But when you pay attention, you’ll notice more and more details. You can often find feathers on the ground outside, so pick one up and take it home. Then, aim to get your drawing looking as accurate as possible. 

41. Your Kitchen

your kitchen drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

The kitchen is an essential room in the home, but we don’t pay it as much attention as it deserves. There are a lot of fun details to draw in the kitchen, from cooking utensils to kitchen tiles. Have a go at recreating your kitchen on the page! 

42. A Cake

cake drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Who can resist a nice cake? If you’re into all things sweet, why not try your hand at drawing a cake? It could be a decadent chocolate cake or a little cupcake. It could be realistic or stylized. The choice is yours! But you’re sure to enjoy this delicious drawing prompt.

43. Dandelions

dandolions drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Dandelions are often seen in art, as they represent time, change, and transformation. That’s a powerful symbol for a little wildflower. You could draw this flower when it’s blooming. But, it’s most commonly drawn as a dandelion clock, with the seeds blowing in the wind.

44. A Musical Instrument

musical instrument drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

There are all sorts of musical instruments, so you have a lot of choices here. You could go for a wind instrument or something from the brass section. Maybe, you’d prefer to draw a guitar or a piano. 

45. A Fairy Tale Scene

fairy tale drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

It’s time to use your imagination and reflect on your childhood. What was your favorite fairy tale? Recapture the magic, and create an enchanting scene from a fairy tale. If you enjoy this prompt, you could create a whole series from different tales!

46. Books

books drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Books provide inspiration, entertainment, and knowledge. Why not draw a stack of books, or even someone reading a book. How you interpret this prompt is up to you, so long as it includes books! 

47. A Peacock

peacock drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Peacocks are regal, elegant animals. They’re a lot of fun to draw, although they’re not the easiest sketching idea. The peacock’s tail, in particular, has gorgeous, vibrant colors and patterns. So, it’s both a challenge and an interesting thing to draw! 

48. An Exotic Animal

exotic animal drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Exotic animals are wild, fierce, and full of life. Pick out your favorite exotic animal from faraway to draw. It could be an elephant, a tiger, a lion, or a giraffe. This sketch idea is a lot of fun, as there are so many possibilities. You can really make it your own.

49. Fireworks

drawing idea fireworks

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Fireworks are amazing, drawing oohs and aahs from spectators. They only last for seconds, but you can capture their beauty forever on paper. Try your hand at the bright colors and bold shapes of fireworks lighting up the sky! You might want to work on dark paper, so they stand out more.

50. A Sketch of Yourself Drawing

a sketch of yourself drawing drawing idea

(Image credit: Proactive Creative)

Finally, I have a very meta drawing idea for you! Have a go at drawing yourself, the artist, at your desk drawing. You could even draw yourself drawing a self-portrait if that doesn’t get too complicated for you! 

50 drawing ideas

The Wrap Up

There you have 50 different drawing ideas to fill your sketchbook. So, you shouldn’t find yourself thinking, ‘what should I draw?’ for a very long time! 

When you make drawing a habit, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you learn and improve. Soon, you’ll be a talented artist with pages upon pages of amazing drawings.

Browse through, pick an idea that jumps out at you, and off you go! Let me know which of these prompts is your favorite in the comments! 

Author

Outmane is the founder of Proactive Creative. He is an artist/designer.


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