What to Draw: 20 Simple Drawing Ideas for Beginners

Artist: unexplored_creativity_

Do you ever stare at a blank sketchbook page, wondering “What should I draw?”

Feeling stuck on what to draw is a common challenge, especially for new and improving artists. Thankfully, there are loads of drawing ideas out there to inspire you, and we’re here with 20 of our favourites to make sure you don’t give up before you’ve even started. All of these simple drawing ideas have been brought to life by our Castle Arts community, highlighting what you can achieve with the right supplies, a little perseverance, and a spark of inspiration.

Don’t think, just draw

Getting the practice you need to improve your drawing means sketching all kinds of things and exploring various techniques. Not every drawing needs to be meaningful or original – while you’re getting hung up on ideas for cool drawings, you’re missing out on that all-important creative time, and your sketchbook stays empty.

Next time you pick up your pencil, try quickly choosing a subject that catches your eye and simply enjoy the process of creating art. Along the way, you’ll learn new skills and techniques, discover your style, and come up with new ideas for your next project.

Looking for more drawing tips? Check out our ultimate guide on how to get better at art.

Here’s a list of 20 things to draw to help you get past your artist’s block:

1. People and faces

Whether it’s a self-portrait, sketches of friends and family, or a portrait study of your favourite celebrity, drawing people is a great art skill to practice.

Try drawing these:

• A quick and loose self-portrait
• Your interpretation of a famous portrait
• A favourite celebrity or someone who inspires you
• A person reading the newspaper

Artist: katy_drawingss

2. Pets

Drawing animals is a fun challenge, and what better place to start than your beloved pets? Try working from reference photos and observing your pets in real life to capture their unique personalities and movements.

Try drawing these:

• A close-up of your pet’s eyes or nose
• Your pet in their favourite spot at home
• A playful scene with your pet’s favourite toy
• Your pet sleeping or lounging in the sun

Artist: art.byellennn

3. Wildlife

From the birds in your garden to your favourite exotic animals, wildlife drawing invites you to explore different textures, shapes, and forms.

Try drawing these:

• Your favourite bird
• A majestic wild animal
• Woodland creatures
• Marine animals

Artist: Mandy White

4. Insects

If you like intricate patterns and fine details, insects are one of the best things to draw, with their delicate wings and interesting physical structures.

Try drawing these:

• Butterflies
• Bees
• Dragonflies
• Beetles

Artist: dean.simmons.art

5. Plants, flowers, and leaves

Plants and flowers are good things to draw as they require you to capture natural shapes, patterns, and subtle details, like the veins on a leaf or the petals of a flower.

Try drawing these:

• A collection of different leaves
• A close-up of your favourite flower
• Vine or climbing plants
• A cactus or succulent

Artist: kavigraphy_

6. Studies of eyes and lips

Focusing on smaller details like eyes and lips helps you improve precision and enhance your portraits. These features are essential for conveying emotions in your subjects.

Try drawing these:

• A full-colour close-up of a single eye
• Closed lips
• An eye with tears
• Eyes and lips expressing happiness, surprise, sadness, or anger

Artist: artbylamia

7. Architecture

Drawing buildings is a fantastic way to practice perspective, lines, and structure. Whether it’s a quick sketch of a street scene, a detailed rendering of a historic building, or even your own house, architecture offers plenty of variety and challenge for artists of all levels.

Try drawing these:

• A sketch of your own home
• A street scene from your local area
• A famous building or landmark
• Close-ups of architectural details, like windows or doors

Artist: leeclarkartist

8. Animated characters

If you love video games, comic books, or animated films and TV shows, you already have endless references for things to draw. Drawing animated characters is a fun way to experiment with exaggerated features and expressive emotions.

Try drawing these:

• A character from your favourite animated show or movie
• Video game characters
• Comic book characters
• Your own original cartoon character

Artist: jmzart

9. Food

Still need ideas on what to draw? What about your favourite snack or meal? From fruits and vegetables to sweet treats and elaborate dishes, food is all around us and is an excellent source of inspiration.

Try drawing these:

• Pizza slice
• Stack of pancakes
• Spaghetti
• Ice cream cone

Artist: amy_louise.art

10. Photographs

Using photos of family, friends, or your favourite places as references for your drawings is a fantastic way to capture emotions, relationships, and special memories.

Try drawing these:

• A posed family portrait
• A candid moment
• Your favourite vacation photo
• A place you’ve visited

Artist: artbyhayan

11. Landscapes

Landscapes go far beyond just the countryside – they can include everything from rolling hills to deserts, dense woodlands, mountain scenes, and bustling cityscapes. Explore different environments through your art while experimenting with perspective, depth, and light and shadow.

Try drawing these:

• City skyline
• Woodland path
• Mountain range
• Peaceful meadow

Artist: Roman Kwolek

12. Seascapes

Seascapes are another excellent drawing idea, offering a unique opportunity to explore depth, movement, and texture while connecting with nature.

Try drawing these:

• A peaceful beach scene with gentle waves
• A sunset over the sea
• A stormy sea with dark clouds and crashing waves
• Boats or ships floating on the water

Artist: northtexassantadrawing

13. Vehicles

Cars, bikes, and aeroplanes are all things you can draw to practice perspective and proportions. Vehicles feature a combination of straight lines, curves, and complex details, making them an exciting challenge for any artist.

Try drawing these:

• Sports car
• Vintage car
• Bicycle
• Aeroplane

Artist: Dirk Hasenbeck

14. Still life

Still life drawing is a classic exercise that helps you sharpen your observational skills and explore composition, lighting, and texture. Start by arranging simple objects like bowls, vases, or bottles, then move on to flowers, food, and other household items. Experiment with different surfaces—from shiny to matte, smooth to rough—and play with lighting to see how it transforms the shadows on your subject.

Try drawing these:

• Fruit in a bowl
• A collection of everyday objects like books, cups, or keys
• A vase of flowers
• Kitchen utensils or cookware

Artist: Jane

15. Trees

Drawing trees is a fantastic way to practice organic shapes and textures. From the rough bark of a trunk to the delicate leaves or needles, trees offer endless variety and are an easily accessible subject. Why not take your sketchbook outside with you?

Try drawing these:

• Oak tree
• Pine tree
• A tree in different seasons
• A distant tree line in a landscape scene

Artist: Pauline Davidson

16. Books

Whether you’re sketching a single book or a whole stack, books are the perfect answer if you’re wondering what to sketch when bored. This simple subject provides plenty of opportunities to experiment with shading, texture, and perspective. Pay close attention to how the pages curve and the spines bend.

Try drawing these:

• A book with a detailed cover design
• A vintage book with worn edges
• A stacked pile of books of different sizes
• An open book

Artist: Neil C

17. Fantasy scene

If you’re looking for a break from realism, fantasy scenes offer endless possibilities for drawing ideas and could be just the thing to spark your creativity. Draw imaginary characters, mythical creatures and magical landscapes to craft something uniquely yours.

Try drawing these:

• A dragon flying over a medieval castle
• Witches and wizards
• A mysterious forest scene
• A floating city suspended in the clouds

Artist: sophiecolours

18. Shoes, bags, or jewellery

Accessories like shoes, bags, belts, and jewellery are some of the best easy things to draw for beginners, offering interesting shapes and intricate details that are perfect for practice.

Try drawing these:

• Trainers
• Handbags
• Watches
• A statement necklace or brooch

Artist: kayleighashmanartistry

19. Something in one colour

Challenge yourself by drawing an entire subject using just one colour, experimenting with different shades and tones. This monochromatic approach helps you focus on light, shadow, and texture, as you explore how much you can achieve with a single hue.

Try drawing these:

• A portrait in shades of blue
• A landscape in greens
• A single flower in one colour
• An animal in shades of grey

Artist: cubreart

20. Something on dark paper

Experiment with dark paper to create striking contrasts and make vibrant colours stand out. Black paper works well with coloured pencils, white graphite pencils, metallic pencils, white fineliner, and gel pens, giving your artwork a unique visual impact.

Try drawing these:

• Metallic objects like jewellery, coins, or utensils
• A moonlit sky
• A vibrant flower with neon or pastel colours
• A snowy owl in white graphite pencil or fineliner

Artist: Carol Ann Doran

Once you’ve tried out some of these drawing ideas, reflect on your favourites and think about where else you could find inspiration. If you’re ever stuck, the Castle Arts Gallery is a fantastic resource, filled with amazing creations from our community of artists to spark new ideas.