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This list of 365 drawing ideas is sure to inspire you to doodle, draw, or sketch something every single day of the year! You can choose whether to draw one drawing a day, go in the list in order, or simply skip around and choose the ones you like best!
Here are 365 Drawing Ideas to Inspire:
1. View from the park
Parks are great sources of inspiration for drawing. Snap a few of your own reference photos of monuments, benches, and scenes that capture your eye or spend some time in the park with your sketchbook drawing the different scenes you notice.
2. Hot Air Balloon
Hot air balloons are mesmerizing to watch in the sky and can be a beautiful and whimsical thing to learn how to draw. While it’s not too common anymore to see one floating past you in real-life, there are MANY photos out there that you can use as a reference.
3. Selfie
Snap a photo of yourself or try drawing yourself while you look in a mirror.
4. Leaves
You might see leaves on the ground during autumn or notice them on trees in the spring and summer. Choose a few different leaf shapes to draw.
5. Bicycle
They say once you learn how to ride a bike you never forget – so why not try the same thing with learning to draw a bicycle? You can make it realistic or simply create a fun doodle.
6. Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are adorable spiny creatures most commonly found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand. Draw one today!
7. Baseball and/or Baseball Glove
This was actually an assignment we had in high school to practice realistic sketching and shading using nothing more than a #2 pencil!
8. Fruit Bowl
The classic fruit bowl still life might not sound like the most creative idea for drawing, but have you tried it? You might just be surprised. You could also draw a still life of bananas, oranges, apples, or grapes.
9. Tropical Fish
There are so many types of tropical fish to consider as an idea for things that are easy to draw – choose from an angel fish, a clown fish or even maybe a butterflyfish!
10. Skyscrapers
We see so many great examples of skyscraper architecture in our cities that there are endless sources of inspiration for types of skyscrapers you could draw. Take your sketchbook out locally to a city near you, or spend some time drawing iconic skyscrapers such as the Bank of China Tower, the Taipei 101, or the Chrysler Building.
11. Dragon
Dragons are mythical creatures that have been a drawing subject since ancient times. Draw a dragon with a knight in shining armor, a Chinese dragon, or maybe even a friendly dragon that helps you roast marshmallows.
12. Keys
Unlock the power of your creativity by drawing some keys! You can choose to draw old fashioned skeleton keys or draw a sketch of the keys out of your purse or your house key.
13. Volcano
Have you ever seen a volcano in real life? Even if you’ve only seen one in movies or in photographs they can be fascinating subjects for art and sketching.
14. Sail Boat
Sailboats are often see on lakes and at marinas and can have all sorts of beautiful designs on the sails.
15. Bear
Draw a teddy bear, a brown bear or a grizzly bear – your choice!
16. Clouds
Lay down on a blanket in your yard or at a park and spend some time cloud-gazing for inspiration on what to draw.
17. Family Member
You can have a family member pose while you create a portrait sketch of them, or draw a portrait based on a photo of someone you know.
18. Shark
What can I say about sharks? They have big teeth, they live in the ocean, and they can be very fun and popular to draw.
19. Feather
Birds of a feather…are a great thing to draw! You can make them icon style, or try to recreate a realistic feather on paper.
20. T-Shirt
Surely you have a t-shirt in your closet that would make for a great subject for drawing.
21. The Kitchen
Kitchens are where food is made and are often overlooked as the perfect place to sketch to get a glimpse into your everyday life.
22. Satellite:
Satellites are constantly in orbit around our earth, and they are very interesting looking items with many different geometric lines to use to build your drawing skills.
23. Penguin
Penguins are seabirds that live in mostly cold climates. They don’t fly but they sure do love to swim!
24. Fashion Sketch
What’s trending in the fashion world? Come up with your own fashion designs or take inspiration from some of the leading fashion designers to create your own fashion sketches.
25. Aliens
The best part about aliens as a drawing idea? You can make them look like almost anything your imagination can think of, since it is very rare to actually see them in real-life.
26. Pirate Ship
Ahoy Matey! Pirate ships are a great thing to draw in your sketchbook and can be realistic or make your own cartoon.
27. Skateboard
The nice thing about drawing a skateboard is its not nearly as intimidating as trying to actually ride a skateboard.
28. Cake
Celebrate today by drawing a beautiful cake! You can choose how many layers, what kind of icing, and what type of topper fits the occasion. There are so many ideas to draw for what kind of cake you make!
29. Butterfly
There are so many different kinds of beautiful butterflies you could draw, such as monarchs or swallowtail butterflies.
30. Race Car
Vroom vroom, race cars are designed for speed. Draw your favorite kind of race car, whether it’s an old fashioned derby style car or a racecar fit for Nascar tournament.
31. Cats
If you have a cat you can draw a portrait of your own pet or of course you could make a cartoon cat – we all know and love Garfield the Cat and his affinity for lasagna.
32. Dogs
With over 190 registered dog breeds by the American Kennel Club you could almost make it a daily challenge just to draw a different type of dog.
33. Super Hero
It’s a bird, it’s a plane…it’s super man! Draw one of your favorite super heroes or create your own!
34. Cup of Coffee or Tea
If you’re going to drink coffee or tea every day, you might as well sketch it, right? Not a coffee or tea drinker? You can always sketch a glass of water.
35. Dinosaur
Dinosaur…roar! Draw a T-rex, a brontosaurus, a triceratops, pterodactyl or a velociraptor if you wish – there are so many great dinosaurs to choose from as sketchbook inspiration!
36. Web Icons
Web icons have become so common place we see them everywhere online. Sketch some icons for your favorite social media channels or visit a site like flaticon.comfor inspiration!
37. Pizza
Pizza can be a lot of fun to draw, especially because you get to choose the toppings! Will you make it a veggie pizza, pepperoni pizza or maybe a Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and ham?
38. Dandelions
Every kid knows if you blow on a dandelion and make a wish your wish will come true, much to the dismay of gardeners everywhere who view them as weeds. These edible flowers make for a great easy drawing idea.
39. Hair Styles
Draw a braid, an up-do, or even crazy Medusa inspired snake hair if you wish.
40. Necklace, Bracelet or Rings
Jewelry can be a very interesting thing to sketch or draw, especially if the jewelry has special meaning to you, such as a necklace or ring passed on through your family or given to you by someone special.
41. Ice Cream Cone
Ice cream comes in all sorts of different flavors, and of course there are many different shapes and sizes of cones to choose from, whether its a cake cone, a sugar cone or a waffle cone!
42. Aquarium
Aquariums are beautiful habitats for all sorts of fish and can include plants or even decorative items.
43. Haunted House
It doesn’t have to be Halloween to enjoy drawing a spooky and haunted house. Don’t forget details like cracked windows and bent railings – and maybe even a few spirits peeking through.
44. Bridge
Whether you draw a beautiful covered bridge scene or a bridge that goes over a river or harbor through the city, bridges give you plenty of architectural inspiration to use as drawing ideas!
45. Crazy Hats
Go ahead, give yourself permission to be a mad hatter and design as many crazy hats as you can think of!
46. Chevron Patterns
Chevrons are fun to draw and there are so many different pattern variations you can try!
47. Lamp
You could draw a chandelier, a bedside table lamp, or maybe even a lava lamp!
48. Cruise Ship
Cruise ships are designed to take tourists to view the sights and scenes along the ocean coast. Draw the view from the deck or draw the view from one you can see passing by on the coast.
49. Planets in Outer Space
Draw a single planet like Mars, Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Neptune or Jupiter – or draw the whole solar system!
50. Eyes
They say eyes are the window of the soul, and it’s true you can learn a lot about a person’s feelings and thoughts based on how their eyes look. Draw your own eyes or draw the mesmerizing eyes of different animals.
51. Caricature
A caricature is a type of cartoon drawing where something about the subject is exaggerated to be funny. For example, if your friend loves to knit or crochet, you might exaggerate the ball of yarn in their hand. Use this drawing idea to make a funny sketch of your friends, family members or even a pet or celebrity.
52. Shoes
Everybody needs shoes to walk around, so go ahead and grab the pair of shoes you wear everyday and sketch them!
53. Dream Catcher
Dream catchers are designed to catch bad dreams and keep nightmares away. They are a lot of fun to draw!
54. Rocket Ship
Fly to the moon or a distant galaxy far, far away in your very own rocket ship you can design with this simple idea for drawing.
55. House Plants
Whether it’s a succulent, an aloe vera plant, or a terrarium, if you have anything green growing in your house it can be an excellent source of inspiration for drawing ideas.
56. Inspiring Quote
Practice your hand-lettering by illustrating one of your favorite quotes, sayings, or verse from a poem.
57. Guitar
Guitars are stringed instruments that can instantly make us tap our feet and sing along. You can choose to sketch an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar.
58. Deciduous Trees
Deciduous trees are the type of trees that lose their leaves in the winter. Examples include oak trees, maple trees, cherry trees, and ash trees. You can choose what season to show the tree – is it spring, winter, summer or autumn?
59. Circus Clown
Clowns can be funny, happy, sad…or even scary! You get to decide which you wish to draw with this drawing prompt.
60. Fairy Tale
Illustrate a scene from your favorite fairy tale. Some examples include Snow White and the 7 Dwarves, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, or Hansel and Gretel.
61.Bottles
Bottles come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. You could draw a message in a bottle, soda bottles, apothecary bottles and more.
62. What You Last Ate:
What you last ate for breakfast, lunch or dinner is a simple and obvious drawing idea, but so few people think to actually do it and is a great idea for something to include in a sketchbook.
63. Parrot:
Parrots are colorful and tropical birds, so pull out the colored pencils or some inks to make this come alive in your journal.
64. Books
What is your favorite book? You could choose to draw a stack of books or draw the cover of a recent book you’ve read and enjoyed.
65. Elephants
They say an elephant never forgets, and if you draw one you will have a picture to remember an elephant by forever!
66. Camping Scene
Whether you want to draw a travel trailer or a tent, sketch a camping scene. Don’t forget the campfire and marshmallows!
67. Tigers
Tigers are big cats with interesting black and orange striped patterns, making them the perfect subject for a page in your sketchbook.
68. Roses
Cartoon-like roses can be easy to draw – they are just a spiral and a circle. Or, challenge your skills to draw a life-like rose complete with petals and stem – just watch out for those thorns!
69. Zebra
Zebras are native to Africa and are another interesting animal to draw that are best well known for their black and white stripes.
70. Monster
Could there be a monster hiding under your bed, or in your closet? Probably not, but you never know – which is why you should draw a bigger, more friendlier monster to protect you and scare away all other monsters.
71. Globe
You might remember globes from school and they make for fantastic drawing objects, especially if you are a travel or geography buff.
72. Staircase
We see steps everywhere in regular life, whether it’s in your house, in a park, or maybe even a spiraling staircase along a water tower like in the photo above I took at a nearby park by my house.
73. Peacock
My grandparents used to have peacocks when I was a kid, and they are absolutely beautiful and incredible birds with detailed feathers that are perfect for drawing!
74. The Ocean
You could create an under water scene complete with coral and sea creatures like whales, an octopus and more.
75. Crocodile or Alligator
Crocodiles have a longer, V-shaped snout, while alligators have broad U shaped snouts. Either way, you could draw a snapping good crocodile or alligator in your journal – maybe even both!
76. A Clock
What’s the time? There’s always time to draw something daily! Draw a clock tower, a grandfather’s clock, or an alarm clock.
77. Gumball Machine
A gumball machine can be a lot of fun to draw, and of course there is no rule you have to fill it with gumballs – you can always choose to fill it with a different type of candy, it is your drawing afterall!
78. Giraffes
Known for their long necks, make sure you don’t forget their third horn at the top of their heads. We love visiting the giraffes named Louis and Socks at the local zoo where we live.
79. Bubbles
Bubbles make for a great ideas for what to draw, especially because they are relatively easy for beginners and you could fill a whole page with bubbles in no time!
80. Sports Player
Do you have a favorite sport? Sketch a player in action whether its soccer, baseball, football, hockey or badminton.
81. Airplane
There are so many options for what you could draw with an airplane, whether its the plane’s exterior, the interior, the view from the window, or even possibly the pilot’s cockpit.
82. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are bright, cheerful, and one of my favorite flowers to see standing tall in the summer sun.
83. Mountains
Try your hand at this idea for drawing mountains by sketching a Rocky Mountain or Appalachian mountain landscape.
84. Bath Tub
Rub-a-dub Dub, draw a bathtub! Don’t forget your rubber duckie!
85. Herbs
There are so many great herbs that you can use for drawing. If you grow your own fresh herbs, set them up in a way you can sketch them as a real subject or use reference photos for herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme.
86. Family heirlooms
Family heirlooms are always special, and what better way to preserve them than to sketch them in your art journal?
87. Duck
If you’re a lucky duck, you might even be able to see these water birds at a nearby park or lake by you, but plenty of reference photos abound – you can even use the photo I took of a duck here if you’d like as inspiration!
88. Wildflowers
Draw a beautiful landscape meadow of wildflowers, or take inspiration from botanists through history who meticulously sketched and documented wildflowers in the field.
89. Spider
Someone once told me I didn’t draw a very serious spider, so I gave this spider a briefcase, neck tie and his own private office with a certificate just to prove how serious he was.
90. Drawing Supplies
You already have the perfect subject for drawing in your hand – a pen, pencil, bottle of ink or charcoal set all make for great things to draw.
91. Fairy
Fairies are enchanting, tiny human-like creatures that have wings and can fly.
92. Woodland Animals
Draw a deer, a raccoon, a fox, a squirrel, or other woodland animals with this drawing idea.
93. Hippie Van
While you may not be able to actually own and live in a hippie van, you can draw one and that’s the next best thing.
94. Ostrich
Ostriches are fun to draw – and you can decide whether or not it sticks its head in the sand! {Of course, they don’t *actually do this* but that’s the nice thing about drawing, you can use your imagination!}
95. Pie
Whether it is just a slice of your favorite kind of pie or the whole thing, your mouth will be watering by the time you are done drawing this one!
96. Eggs
Eggs are a great way to practice your shadowing and depth in drawing. And don’t think you’re limited to just plain white eggs like you get at the grocery store – you can always make them different hues and sizes or decorate with patterns and shapes!
97. Money
Grab a dollar bill or some loose change and try drawing it. This is a great way to practice shading, depth and more if you want to create realistic drawings.
98. Cooking Utensils & Kitchen Gadgets
Don’t use your blender that often? It’s the perfect opportunity to finally put it to use as a drawing subject! You could also sketch your pots and pans, eating utensils, or other kitchen gadgets you have around the house.
99. Your House
Where we live makes for an excellent idea of what to draw, and you can choose whether to draw the interior or the exterior.
100. Radio
Old fashioned radios are fascinating objects, and many times they still work even in today’s world of digital media. Go for a classic vintage radio, or maybe even draw a 90’s style boombox.
101. Fast Food
You know the drill: soda, burger and fries.
102. Phone
We have smart phones with us almost every day – why not draw it in your sketchbook and document that? Or, draw an old rotary phone for a throwback to the days before cell phones existed.
103. Tools
You could draw a hammer, screw driver, drill, saw, wrench or draw the whole toolbox.
104. Arrows
There are so many different styles of arrows you could try drawing, whether you make arrow doodles or draw a realistic bow and arrow set.
105. Jelly Beans
Known for their unique shape, multiple colors and best found in Easter baskets, jelly beans are a great idea for something to draw!
106. Game Controller
Are you a gamer? Whether it’s Play Station, X-Box, a Gaming Keyboard, or an old school Atari controller, draw a game controller that reminds you of your favorite video games.
107. Soup Can
Take inspiration from Andy Warhol and try your hand at drawing a soup can.
108. Fireworks
Let your paper be the sky for a colorful display of patterns of light.
109. Forest Scene
Think trees, moss covered rocks and maybe even a stream winding through a forest scene perfect for a landscape sketch.
110. Astrological Signs & Symbols
What’s your sign? You could draw a Pisces fish, the Scales of Libra, the Scorpion of Scorpio or the Archer of Sagittarius for example.
111. Banners
Banners are a lot of fun to draw and you can make them as whimsical as you wish. I love drawing banners in my art journals!
112. Wristwatch
Do you wear a watch? Whether its a smartwatch or a classic watch you wind up, draw a wristwatch in your sketchbook.
113. Nuts, Bolts & Other Hardware
Take a walk down a hardware aisle or go through your garage to find nuts, bolts, and other miscellaneous hardware to sketch and draw.
114. Typewriter
There is something cool about a typewriter, even if they don’t make much sense in today’s digital age…they are definitely fun to draw!
115. Bunnies or Rabbits
Bunnies and rabbits are cute, soft and fluffy. I used to have one as a kid!
116. Ivy
Ivy is a plant that spreads, often times along a wall, window or trellis and is best known for beautiful leaf shapes – perfect for drawing in your sketchbook!
117. Machines
We see all kinds of machines in our daily lives – from the washing machine, to the dishwasher to the furnace that keeps our homes warm. You could also invent your own machine!
118. Garden Tools
A garden shovel, gloves, trowel etc are all examples of common garden tools that make the perfect subject for still life drawing ideas.
119. City Skylines
Draw a silhouette of a city skyline, whether it is a local city where you live or one you want to visit someday.
120. What’s on your desk?
Take a look at what is on your desk today and sketch it – no matter how messy your desk may be!
121. Pineapple
Pineapples were named pine apples because of their exterior resembles a pine cone. Often viewed as a symbol of friendship, these tropical fruits are the perfect thing to try drawing!
122. Hearts
You can choose to draw doodle hearts, or draw an anatomically correct depiction of a human heart.
123. Train
The first steam train was invented in 1804 and many people were afraid to ride them. Today, trains are still used for transportation and shipping. You can make a passenger train or a cargo train. Draw a single box car, the engine, or the caboose!
124. Lawnmower
My husband is always talking about fixing his broken lawnmower, so I had to include it on this list. You can draw a riding mower or a push mower or even a commercial lawnmower.
125. Hourglass
An hourglass is a type of sand filled timer which you’ve probably seen more often in board games.
126. Scissors
A basic and important office supply, drawing realistic scissors can be more challenging than you might think!
127. Mailbox
Everybody gets mail, so why not sketch your mailbox?
128. Ticket
Have you recently gone to an event where you needed a ticket? Draw or sketch that ticket in your sketchbook.
129. Circles
Circles might seem like a mundane drawing idea, but there are so many great ideas for drawing circular patterns and different circle sizes!
130. Vines
If you are lucky enough to have a grape vineyard nearby, you can find a LOT of inspiration to sketch and draw vines! Many different types of vines also grow on trees.
131. X-Ray
X-rays allow us to see inside someone or something. You can draw an X-ray view of a person or an object.
132. Tunnels
Tunnels are a great way to practice drawing perspective, especially if you are drawing the view from the beginning to the end of a tunnel.
133. People at Work
Millions of people go t work every single day. This could be construction workers, people in your office, or even the cashiers at the store.
134. Ladders
Ladders are another great exercise for drawing perspective. There are also many different kinds of ladders – from step ladders to paint ladders to imaginary ladders that climb all the way to the clouds.
135. Playground
Draw a swingset, sliding board, the view in the sandbox at a nearby park or playground where you live.
136. Swirls
Swirls are fun to draw and can be highly meditative and addictive! Fill a page with swirls or practice drawing some swirly flourishes.
137. Dancing
Draw people who are dancing, and be sure their clothes and dance moves reflect the type of music they are dancing to!
138. Sunglasses or Eyeglasses
Set up a pair of your sunglasses or eyeglasses on a table and start sketching them.
139. Hills & Valleys
Rolling hills and valleys can give a typical landscape sketch a lot of visual interest.
140. Rocks & Stones
Are you a rock collector? Have you ever been to a rocky beach or noticed rocks along the shore of a river? Take some time to draw the details of rocks or stones.
141. Fence
Good fences make good neighbors, according to poet Robert Frost. They also make for great drawing subjects, whether it’s a white picket fence, a split rail fence or a wrought-iron fence.
142. Triangles
There are so many different kinds of patterns you can create just with a simple triangle!
143. Cows
Moo! Cows can be found on farms around the world and are a great animal to try drawing – this sketch of a baby calf is so cute!
144. Frog
There are over 6,300 known species of frogs in the world, which means you have a lot of choices on what kind of frog to draw! Draw a tree frog, a bullfrog, an African claw frog, or other frog of your choosing.
145. Spool of Thread & Other Sewing Notions
Do you have a sewing box? A simple spool of thread and other sewing notions can make for a great still life.
146. Tomato
Some people love tomatoes, others could leave them. Either way, they make for a n excellent drawing subject.
147. Squares and Rectangles
Drawing squares and rectangles gives you plenty of opportunities to discover new patterns in your doodles. Tip: For straight lines, use a ruler!
148. Tea kettle
How about a nice relaxing cup of tea? Sketch a tea kettle in your journal.
149. Lightbulb
The symbol for creativity and ideas, light bulbs are an invention we still rely on heavily today. Try drawing something inside of a lightbulb for an illuminating challenge.
150. Party Supplies
What do you need to throw a party? You could draw party hats, noise makers, or keep it simple with just party foods.
151. Railroad tracks
Railroad tracks are very dangerous to be around, so I do not suggest trying to go near them for sketching, but there are many pictures you can use as reference and they are great practice for perspective.
152. Porch
Porches are welcoming gathering places for company and the perfect scene to sketch.
153. Rainbow
Rainbows are easy to draw and a great excuse to pull out the colored pencils. An easy way to remember the order of the colors is the acronym Roy G. Biv: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet.
154. Lemonade Stand
Every kid dreams of having a lemonade stand someday, and now is your chance to finally design the lemonade stand of your dreams.
155. Piano
Do you play piano? You can choose to draw a close-up of the keys, someone playing the piano, an upright piano, or a baby grand piano.
156. Hallways
Interior hallways can be a great way to practice drawing perspective, especially if the hallway has a lot of doors or wall decor.
157. Watch Gears
What’s inside a watch? Lots of little gear parts that make for fun and easy drawing ideas.
158. Taco
It doesn’t have to be taco tuesday to draw a taco. Fill up that shell with all your favorite ingredients and toppings!
159. Paint & Paint Brush
Pull out your paints and paint brushes to set up a still life scene of an artist at work.
160. Faces With Different Emotions
So often in portraits we see people happy – try drawing faces with different emotions such as angry, sad, frustrated, or calm.
161. Dishes
Dishes can have all sorts of different patterns and styles that can make for fantastic creative inspiration.
162. Fountain
Whether its an outdoor or indoor fountain, there are all sorts of interesting details to capture when drawing a fountain.
163. Puzzle Pieces
Puzzles are always entertaining. Grab a puzzle off your game shelf and scatter a few pieces around to sketch and draw.
164. Monkey
You probably can’t have a pet monkey like Curious George in real life, but you can always draw a character of your own.
165. Angels
Angels are majestic divine beings of light, and a fantastic source of inspiration for sketching and drawing.
166. Hands
One of the nice things about drawing hands is you always have a realistic model attached to you! Try different poses or holding different objects.
167. Pair of Socks
Do you have a pair of crazy socks? You can sketch a pair of socks you already own, or make your own crazy sock designs.
168. Bag or Purse
We use bags all the time in our everyday life, whether it’s a shopping bag or a purse where you keep your keys, wallet and more. Draw the bag itself or draw a fashion sketch of a person wearing a bag.
169. Umbrella
Rainy days are a lot more bearable when you have a good umbrella to keep you dry!
170. Beach Scene
The beach is a relaxing and serene place to sit with a sketchbook and sketch the sights.
171. Bowling Ball and Pins
Bowling can be a lot of fun, and drawing a bowling ball and pins makes for a good drawing exercise.
172. Roller Coaster
Do you have a favorite rollercoaster ride? You can draw a lifelike imitation of a rollercoaster you love, or design your own with plenty of ups, downs, twists and turns.
173. Witch
We often associate witches with mean and scary looking old ladies, but Glenda the Good witch from the Wizard of Oz reminds us that not all witches are bad.
174. Headphones
Love listening to music? Don’t forget to sketch your headphones.
175. Ghost
Are ghosts real? What do they look like? Now is your chance to draw one!
176. Paper Clips
Pull out a handful of paper clips from your office desk and sketch them.
177. King or Queen
You can draw a king or queen from history, or even imagine yourself as king or queen for the day.
178. Graffiti
Graffiti is a unique form of art and perfectly legal when done on paper.
179. Ladybugs
Ladybugs are cute beneficial insects in any garden.
180. Abstract Line Art
Use this as a chance to draw stripes or have fun with experimenting with different line angles on paper.
181. Mermaid
Fictional characters that live under the sea, mermaids have captivated the imagination of sailors and storytellers for ages.
182. Toys
Do you have any toys from your childhood? Pull them out and sketch them.
183. Junk Drawer
Everybody has a junk drawer – that place where stuff just ends up somehow. Go through your junk drawer and pick a couple of random objects to draw.
184. Highway road
Have you been on a any recent road trips lately? Highway roads are always an interesting thing to draw.
185. Backpack
What’s in your backpack? Whether you’re a hiker or a student or carry your laptop in a backpack, there’s plenty of different styles and shapes to choose from to draw!
186. Mushrooms
Did you know there are over 10,000 different types of mushrooms? That gives you a LOT of options for what to draw, whether you draw realistic mushrooms or fantasy style mushrooms in an enchanted forest.
187. Cactus
Whether you have a cactus growing at home or want to take inspiration from a desert landscape, cacti make for excellent drawing subjects.
188. Turtle
Don’t be shy – draw a turtle! You can make it realistic, cartoonish, or somewhere in between.
189. Seashells
Seashells are abundant in the world and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, giving you plenty of creative options to explore when it comes to drawing them.
190. Photo Frames
Every piece of art needs a good frame, and this is a great prompt to make doodle frames or draw ornate frames inspired from vintage and antique photograph displays.
191. Gate
Where does the gate lead? You can draw a garden gate, a gateway to a new portal or maybe a gate to a haunted and spooky hollow.
192. Vegetables
Don’t want to eat your vegetables? Draw them instead!
193. Quilt
I am always fascinated by the details in patchwork quilts. You can try drawing different quilt block designs, or even take inspiration from a crazy quilt with elaborate stitching and embroidery embellishing each patch!
194. Sunrise/sunset
The sun rises and sets every single day and that itself is pretty amazing! What’s a drawing prompt list without a sunset or sunrise?
195. Flag
You can draw your state or country’s flag, or choose to draw different flags from around the world.
196. Bell
There are many different types of bells, from bell towers to school bells to jingle bells.
197. Potato Chips
Are you in need of a snack? Next time you reach for that bag of potato chips, sketch it!
198. Your Closet
Open up your closet doors and sketch a scene of your current wardrobe. Hopefully you won’t find too many skeletons in there!
199. Vintage Photographs
Old vintage photos make for great drawing reference photo idea, especially when they feature historical lifestyles.
200. Fire
Heat things up by drawing flames or fire. You can draw a campfire, a fire in a fireplace, or flames surrounding another object.
201. Raindrops
Raindrops are their very own shape, and there are so many different ways you could interpret this! You could make raindrop patterns, or try to realistically capture what raindrops may look like on a pane of glass or when they fall and hit the ground.
202. Map
Your choice – make a map of where you live, somewhere you’ve visited, or maybe even a map of a completely fictional and imaginary fantasy world.
203. Optical illusions
Optical illusions play with lines, shadows, and depth to create images that aren’t always what they appear to be. Play around with different ideas until you get a drawing that makes you look twice.
204. Snowman
Do you want to draw a snowman? You can make your snowman as elaborate or as simple as you’d like!
205. Steampunk
Steampunk is a type of science fiction where everything is steam powered. Think gears, flying contraptions, and all sorts of odd inventions. Prefer figure drawing? You could also draw people in steampunk attire!
206. Seagulls
These birds may be noisy, squacky, and annoying to deal with at the beach, but they are still beautiful to look at and the perfect subject for drawing.
207. Computer
We spend enough time at the computer, so take a break from the digital world and get out that sketchpad!
208. Chickens
Chickens come in all sorts of varieties – the American Poultry Association recognizes over 50 different breeds of chickens. You can choose to make this as simple or as complex as you wish!
209. Historic Scene
Scenes from history are always fun to illustrate, especially if you choose to depict a time before cameras were invented, which was in 1816.
210. The library
Go visit your local library and bring your sketchbook! You can choose to sketch the outside of the building or sit at a table where you can get a good view of the rows and rows of books.
211. Your grocery store
Shopping for food is an everyday necessity, and chances are you’ve been to the grocery store at least once in the past year. Draw some of the aisles, a grocery display case, or draw the exterior of the building.
212. Jar of Something
Everything in mason jars is all the rage in decor, or maybe you’re like me and love a jar of bread and butter pickles or homemade jam.
213. Numbers
You don’t have to be a mathematician to appreciate there are so many different ways to draw numbers! Practice hand-lettering in different styles or use basic numbers as a base for more elaborate doodles.
214. Your Bed
Researchers estimate the average person spends about 26 years of our lives in bed…which is a LOT of time sleeping! Give your bed its proper tribute by illustrating it in your sketchbook.
215. Impossible World
Maybe there’s an imaginary world where fish fly in the sky, or the moon is underwater…invent an imaginary fantasy world and draw it!
216. Speech Bubbles
How do you convey spoken words in your drawings? With speech bubbles of course! You can draw them comic book style or practice creating new patterns using a basic speech bubble shape.
217. Farm or Barn Scene
The Barn is an iconic image of the countryside, and no wonder – these giant buildings serve as a place to store farm equipment and provide shelter to animals. Draw a barn!
218. Labyrinth
A labyrinth is a meandering path that leads to the center of a shape. Traditionally circular in nature, they are often used in common times for reflection and meditation.
219. Kite
Go fly a kite! And if there’s no wind or you don’t have a kite, you can always draw one! Again, there are so many different shapes and types here to choose from!
220. Astronaut
Remember that rocket ship you drew in prompt number 54? What about the person flying that thing? Draw a picture of the astronaut brave enough to travel in your spacecraft.
221. Yarn
Balls of yarn can be a fun challenge to draw, especially when you get into different types of hand spun yarns or art yarn!
222. Dice
Go ahead, take a chance…and draw some dice! Did you know there are more dice than just the average 6-sided dice? They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, as I learned from playing Dungeons & Dragons.
223. Pumpkins
You can draw a pumpkin patch, a fall themed still life display, or maybe even carve out a face on your pumpkin and create a jack-o-lantern!
224. Flooring
Have you ever spent time staring at the floor? I know that sounds sarcastic, but you might just be surprised how many different textures and patterns exist on what we walk all over every single day.
225. Scene from a Dream
Have any crazy dreams lately? Illustrate a scene from a dream in your sketchbook. Bonus? You can interpret what that dream means based on the image you drew!
226. Bench
Imagine a bench. Who is sitting on it? Draw it!
227. Garden
There are so many different things you can draw for a garden, whether its a vegetable garden or a flower garden or maybe just a peaceful place outside surrounded by plants.
228. Blue Jeans
Get a pair of blue jeans out from your closet and try putting them in different poses on a table or the floor and draw what you see.
229. Wild West Scene
Cowboys, outlaws, and a good saloon make for the perfect backdrop for a wild west scene you could draw.
230. Children playing
Kids are always a source of inspiration to draw, especially when they are playing.
231. Silhouette
Silhouettes are outlines of an object, person or place. Try drawing silhouettes of people in different poses, or draw silhouettes of everyday objects around the house.
232. Mice
Hopefully there are no mice in your house – but they are cute, when they don’t sneak up on you! You could draw a realistic mouse, or draw personified mice characters who live in their own burrow in a meadow.
233. Baby/Infant
Like kids, babies are another great source for portrait photos. You can use a baby you know as inspiration, or dig out those old photos of you as a baby when you were new to this world.
234. Hippo
I’d never want to see a hippo close in real life {I hear they can be very aggressive and dangerous!} but I’m definitely okay with drawing them!
235. Ice
When the cold wind blows you get ice! You can draw icicles hanging from the eaves of a roof, or maybe even ice cubes that are guaranteed not to melt.
236. Favorite Animated/Cartoon Character
When I was in the second grade I was so lucky to take a cartooning class where I learned to draw Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, and more. Do you have a favorite cartoon character or anime character? Try to draw them as close as the original as you can.
237. Camera
So often as artists we use reference photos to inspire our work, but we forget the camera itself can be a great drawing idea!
238. Mad Scientist’s Lab
Think bubbling potions, beakers, and oh my, what’s that monster doing under the sheet over there in the corner?
239. Wood Texture
Wood grain can be a beautiful texture to draw, especially in pencil, ink, or charcoal. There are so many options for patterns and shading!
240. Gnomes
Who doesn’t love garden gnomes? Maybe they’re tacky, but I think they’re the perfect thing to draw – especially if you draw them in different clothes and styles.
241. Life Underground
Most of the time we think about life on the surface of earth, but there’s all sorts of things that happen underground, from coal mines to subway train stations to fault lines and magma…what world do you imagine? Draw it!
242. Ears
Ever hear the phrase, I’m all ears? Now’s your chance to illustrate it!
243. Car
We drive in cars every day and there are so many different types we see on the road. You can choose to draw your first car, your current car, or the cars you see passing by on the street near where you live.
244. Holiday scenes
There’s so many holidays we celebrate around the world – you can choose from Easter, Halloween, Christmas, Fourth of July or maybe even St. Patrick’s Day.
245. Song Lyrics
Do you have a favorite song? Illustrate a scene from the song, or practice your hand-lettering by drawing a quote of the lyrics.
246. Parking Lot
Parking lots might not sound like that exciting of an idea for drawing, but you can be surprised what happens in them! They are great places for people watching, or you could sketch the scene of one to continue a series of drawings of places around where you live.
247. Movie Scene
What’s your favorite movie? Draw a scene from a movie you love or have watched recently.
248. Xylophone
Xylophone is pretty much the only word we could think of that begins with the letter X, so it made our list. 🙂
249. City Street Scene
Walk around the city and sketch the sights on the street.
250. Award or Trophy
Have you ever been given a trophy or award for an achievement? You could also draw trophies or awards for your pets or friends, like “Best Listener” or “Most Furry”.
251. Stars
Look up to the night sky and draw the stars. You could also research and draw different constellations.
252. Truck
From dump trucks to tractor trailer trucks to pick-up trucks, there are all kinds of trucks you can draw. Above is a picture of a pick-up my brother drew.
253. Skeleton or Skull
Skeletons and skulls might be creepy to some, but they can be a lot less scary if you opt to draw a sugar skull from the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday.
254. Birds
Bird watchers know there are thousands of different species of birds, which means you have a lot of options here! To keep things simple, try drawing birds that are native to where you live and can be found regularly in your backyard and parks.
255. Friend
Ask a friend for a photo or see if they would be willing to pose while you draw a portrait of them.
256. Cleaning Supplies
Fact: It’s more fun to draw cleaning supplies than it is to actually do the laundry, dishes, and other household chores.
257. Wheels
From wagon wheels to car rims, there are all sorts of different types of wheels you could draw. You could also use wheels as a base for making repetitive patterns.
258. Sled Ride
Have you ever been on a sled in the winter? You can draw kids sledding or draw an old fashioned Christmas sleigh!
259. Door
What’s behind that door? You can draw the door of your house, or draw a door that captures your eye and makes you want to open it…or avoid it.
260. Diamonds
Diamonds are easy things to draw and you can play with all sorts of different patterns and repetitions with them.
261. Favorite Things
What are your favorite things in the whole wide world? Draw them!
262. Waves
Waves are a very cool thing you can draw, whether its realistic waves in the ocean, or simply waves of lines that create a pattern.
263. School
Draw a picture of what you remember school looked like when you were a kid, or draw all the school supplies you remember needing.
264. Abandoned Warehouse
Abandoned warehouses are cool architecture places to draw, just remember that you shouldn’t actually go into an abandoned warehouse without proper permission and safety clearances – it can be VERY dangerous!
265. Cooking Spices
What’s on your spice rack? Draw it!
266. Favorite Place From Your Childhood
What is a place you remember from your childhood? It can be any place you visited that brings back happy memories.
267. Vase of Flowers
The classic still life is the perfect opportunity to practice drawing!
268. Vacation Spot
Think back on all of the places you’ve visited and vacationed at over the years. Draw a scene of one of your favorite spots!
269. News Headline
Look to the news today and draw a headline from the current events.
270. Village
Draw a whimsical village of cute little houses.
271. Chair
Artists like Van Gogh are famous for painting a chair, so get your start by drawing one!
272. Horse
Horses are incredible creatures admired for the beauty and strength. Draw wild horses or someone riding a horse.
273. Drum Set
Not everybody has room for a drum set in their house or the talent to play one, but you can always draw one!
274. Exercise Poses
Draw a figure in different exercise poses, such as yoga or aerobics.
275. Something That Smells Nice
What’s your favorite smell? Draw something that you think smells nice.
276. Illustrate Onomatopoeia Words
Onomatopoeia words are words that are spelled exactly like they sound – and they can be fun to illustrate. Some example words are splash, buzz, pop, fizz, and swish.
277. Detective
Take inspiration from Sherlock Holmes and draw a detective on the case to solve the next mystery.
278. Mythological Creatures
Centaur, griffins, and manticores are all examples of different types of mythological creatures you could draw in your journal.
279. Games
Draw a game board, game pieces or make up a design that could be used on your very own deck of illustrated cards.
280. Picnic
Set the scene for the perfect picnic lunch – hopefully there won’t be any ants to ruin the fun!
281. Owl
With over 200 owl species to choose from, you could draw a barn owl, a snowy owl, or great horned owl. The above picture my daughter drew when she was six.
282. Your Favorite Decade
Draw a scene from your favorite decade, whether it’s the roaring 1920’s or the fun and colorful 1980’s.
283. Flash Light
No need to stay in the dark – you can draw your own light with a flash light!
284. Bathroom Cabinet
Draw your toothbrush, a bar of soap, or anything else you may regularly keep in your bathroom cabinets.
285. Idiom
Idioms are expressions and phrases that generally don’t make any literal sense in the real world…one example being it’s raining cats and dogs. Illustrate a silly idiom or other expression that we don’t take literally. You can find more idioms at the Free Dictionary Idiom Search.
286. Rock Star
Everybody thinks about becoming a rock star at some point, take inspiration from one of your favorite artists or bands or draw yourself rocking out to your favorite kind of music.
287. Party Animals
Draw animals going to a party. Don’t forget their party hats!
288. Attic
What’s hiding up in the attic of that old house? Draw it!
289. Happy Couple
Draw a couple that is happy and in love together.
290. Neighborhood
Sketch a street scene from your local neighborhood.
291. Bar or Restaurant
Where’s the last place you’ve eaten or gone out to? Draw a picture of the exterior or interior of the building.
292. Time Machine
Time machines don’t exist yet, but here’s your chance to design one that will help you travel back and forth in time.
293. Runner
They say life is a marathon and not a sprint…unless a lion is chasing you. Draw someone who is running from something, or maybe they are competing in a 5k or marathon.
294. Treehouse
Wouldn’t it be great to live in a treehouse for a day? Design and draw a Pete Nelson worthy treehouse for you to escape to.
295. Museum
Museums are full of interesting artifacts from history. Visit a museum near you or do a virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History online here.
296. Boxes
Boxes can be empty or they can be full of surprises. You can draw just one box or a whole stack of them!
297. Robot
Draw a humanoid-like robot, or draw a robot straight out of a science fiction movie. Cartoon robots are also always fun!
298. Glass
Drawing glass can be a fun way to explore drawing reflections and shadows.
299. Mechanic’s Garage
Draw a mechanic’s garage with cars needing repaired.
300. Helicopter
Did you know the fastest speed of a helicopter ever recorded is 248 mph? That’s crazy!
301. Brick Wall
Brick patterns are a great idea for something to draw.
302. Lighthouse
Lighthouses help keep sailors and ships safe while out at sea. They are also beautiful tourist attractions all around the world.
303. Gifts and Presents
Did you receive any gifts or presents recently? Draw them! You could also draw wrapped presents.
304. Christmas Tree
Deck the halls and put up a Christmas tree, in your art journal or sketchbook at least! Not Christmas time or don’t celebrate Christmas? You could always decorate your tree to be more to your liking.
305. Tower
Towers have been used historically for many different reasons, and they stand tall along the skyline. Draw one!
306. Hotel
There are so many famous hotels you could choose to draw, or draw the outside of the last hotel you stayed at.
307. Ant Farm
Ants build the most fascinating tunnels in ant farms. Illustrate an ant farm to show their secret lives in their homes.
308. Battle
You could draw a historic battle or you could draw a fantasy battle between an ogre and a dragon.
309. Waterfall
There are so many waterfalls in the world, experts can’t even agree how many there are! They are beautiful cascading natural elements perfect for sketching.
310. Remote Control
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a remote control that does everything? Take inspiration from the remote control you have for your TV or design your own with custom buttons you could use in your life.
311. Bakery
Cakes, cookies, bread…mmmm…all of my favorite foods can be found at a bakery, so draw one!
312. Suitcase
Packing to go somewhere? You could draw a suitcase ready to travel the world, or draw yours.
313. Earth
We live on this great big earth, so draw it.
314. Mandala
A mandala is a geometric figure that represents the universe. They are often used for meditative purposes and can be so relaxing to draw.
315. Cassette Tape
Am I showing my age here? Even if everything is digital today, cassette tapes are still cool to draw in my book.
316. Antique Car
Cars from the 1900’s look a lot different than the ones we drive today! Draw an antique or classic car that was manufactured before 1970.
317. Castle
You drew the queen and king in prompt number 177, now where are they going to live? Draw a castle fit for royalty, or take inspiration from one of the famous 500+ castles that already exist in the world.
318. Lightning
Lightning can be mesmerizing and the earth is struck by lightning an estimated 1,400,000,000 times a year – now that’s electrifying!
319. Snakes
Some people are scared of snakes, but the best way to overcome that fear is to draw one on paper. Besides, it’s your imagination – you can make the snake a friendly, non-biting one!
320. Crowd
I heard you can really draw a crowd…haha…I know, that’s a terribly punny joke but I couldn’t resist.
321. Sword
Swords are often seen in coats of armor and in historical fiction stories like the sword in the stone…try drawing one!
322. Compass
Which way north? Draw a compass rose.
323. Pig
Pigs are very intelligent creatures…and they are cute!
324. Wolf
Be careful if you drew three pigs in the last prompt, this could get hairy and become the story of three little pigs quick, which doesn’t end too well for the wolf.
325. Anchor
Anchors are symbols of strength and safety and often used in logos and tattoo designs.
326. Donut
Who doesn’t love a good donut? Draw your favorite flavor donut.
327. Hummingbird
Hummingbirds are very fast to see in real life, but they are beautiful birds to draw.
328. Statues and Sculptures
Draw your own life-like statue or sculpture, or try to draw a realistic rendition of a famous statue such as The Statue of Liberty or the sculpture of Discobolus.
329. Zipper
Zippers are something we use all the time, and they are fun to draw! You can also use the basic shape of a zipper for all sorts of pattern drawing ideas!
330. Television Set
You can draw a retro TV set or draw a more modern day version of a smart TV.
331. Ufo
That alien that you drew in prompt #25…what kind of spacecraft were they flying? Draw an unidentified flying object.
332. Scarecrow
Scarecrows are not really all that useful for scaring away crows, but they have become an iconic decoration around the fall and autumn season.
333. Snipe
One of the popular games for kids to play in the woods is to go snipe hunting…of course you never find one because snipes don’t exist. No one knows what a snipe really is, but this is your chance to imagine what one would look like if it were real.
334. Chameleon
Chameleons are best known for being able to change their colors to blend into their environment. This is a great opportunity to practice shading or draw with multiple colors.
335. Jellyfish
The nice thing about drawing a jellyfish on paper is they can’t sting you! While you’d never want to get too close to one in real life, they are beautifully amazing creatures of the sea.
336. Unicorn
A unicorn is a mythical creature that looks much like a horse with a single horn on its forehead. They are often depicted in art and folklore, making it the perfect drawing prompt.
337. Tulip
Tulips mean spring is coming, and they are fun beautiful flowers to draw in any weather or season. Because they are bulbs, you can even force them to grow in the winter like I did with my flowers. See my post on the seasons of being an artist.
338. Pinwheel
Pinwheels are toys that twirl around when someone blows on them. They are symbolically seen as a way of “turing one’s luck around” and often signify playfulness and happiness.
339. Palm Tree
Did you know palm trees are actually evergreen trees? They are characterized by broad fan-like leaves and usually found in tropical regions around the world.
340. Rainforests
Rainforests are home to thousands of exotic plant species and animals and are typically found around the earth’s equator.
341. Deserted Island
What would you do if you were stuck on a deserted island? What would it look like? I hope you brought a notebook and pencil!
342. Snowflakes
No two snowflakes are alike, and you can have so much fun drawing different patterns and designs of snowflakes.
343. Ball or Sphere
Balls and spheres are a great opportunity to play around with drawing different shadow angles and light sources.
344. Goldfish
Goldfish are easy to draw and are a favorite pet for many people.
345. DNA Helix
It’s crazy to think we have DNA and I even recently just did a DNA test on Ancestry.com – it’s so fascinating to me to trace back all of my ancestors. Drawing the helix is a great way to practice different shading techniques as well.
346. Moon
One of my favorite songs is You Are the Moon by the Hush Sound, and I can’t think but illustrating a beautiful moonlit landscape everytime I hear it.
347. Trapeze Artist
Trapeze artists are highly skilled entertainers who perform all sorts of aerial tricks on ropes. Often seen at circuses, many modern artists can be seen in cities and other places.
348. Atoms and Molecules
You don’t have to be a chemistry major to recognize that atoms and molecule diagrams can be fascinating subjects for drawing ideas!
349. Carousel
I’ve always loved merry go round carousel rides and still ride them even now whenever I get a chance. You can choose to draw the whole carousel or just draw a carousel horse.
350. Cabin or Cottage in the Woods
Draw your own artists retreat place in the form of a cabin or cottage in the woods.
351. Buttons
Buttons make for great doodles, or you can always draw a magic button that you can push for when things go awry.
352. Pot of Gold
What’s at the end of your rainbow from prompt #153? Shamrock optional.
353. Doctor’s Office
Have you ever noticed all the different things they have at the doctor’s office when you go in for a check-up?
354. Panda Bear
Panda bears are just cute and that is why you should draw one.
355. Building Blocks
Building blocks are a great way to play with different angles, lines, and shadows.
356. Ferris Wheel
Ferris wheels are popular carnival rides and a great thing to draw.
357. Turkey
You can draw a turkey – it’s as simple as tracing your hand. Of course, you could always opt to draw a turkey that’s a bit more realistic.
358. Lollipops and Candy
Craving something sweet? Draw a lollipop or another favorite type of Candy.
359. Bus
You could draw a city bus, a school bus, or even a double-decker bus.
360. Flamingo
Flamingos are graceful birds most well known for their ability to balance on just one leg.
361. Ukulele
Ukulele’s only have 4 strings and are smaller and higher pitched than a guitar. Both of my daughters play the Ukulele!
362. Strawberry
Strawberries are amazingly detailed when you look at one up close, making them a great option for a close-up sketch.
363. Sandcastle
Did you know people build sandcastles at a competitive level? It’s amazing what architects, engineers, and creative designers and make out of sand at sand castle competitions!
364. Record Player
We may not play records that often anymore, but they are still a totally fun vintage thing to draw.
365. Magic Wand
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a magic wand? Well, you can always draw one!
I hope you enjoyed this list of 365 Drawing Ideas and of course if you create any of these things to draw I would love to see it in our Artjournalist Facebook community group!
Do you have any ideas for things to draw that I might have missed? I’d love to hear your ideas and how you will use these drawing prompts – tell me in the comments below!
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