Drawing Ideas

I’ve always found that the best drawing ideas don’t come from sitting around and waiting for inspiration to strike. They come from looking – closely – and responding to what I see.

My approach to drawing is observational, whether I’m studying a real object in front of me or working from a photo I took while traveling. I always start with large shapes defined by light and shadow, and then slowly move into the smaller details. The more loose and expressive I let myself be, the more alive the drawing feels.

I don’t use formulas or templates to draw. No step-by-step rules. I just keep my eyes open, sketch what I see, and try not to overthink it. Whether you’re just getting started or feeling stuck, the best way forward is simply to draw. So I put together a big list of drawing ideas to help shake things loose, spark your curiosity, or give you something specific to explore.

If you enjoy the kind of ideas I share here, I’ve also put together a collection of my favorite drawing books that go deeper.

Key Points

• Use light and shadow to block in the largest shapes before jumping to detail
• Work from real life or reference photos whenever possible
• Keep your drawing expressive and messy – don't aim for perfection

Drawing Ideas to Spark Your Sketchbook Practice

When people ask me how to come up with drawing ideas, I usually tell them to stop looking for the “perfect thing” and just start observing. It could be your hand, the corner of your desk, the way the light hits a glass of water. Starting simple and staying grounded in observation is a surprisingly powerful way to improve your drawings and enjoy the process more.

Here are a few things that have helped me the most:

Objects From Daily Life

Sometimes the best ideas are sitting right in front of you. These drawings help sharpen your observation skills and make you more aware of form and proportion. I like to draw the things I touch every day – my keys, a coffee mug, even tangled headphones. It trains your brain to slow down and see what's actually there, not just what you think is there.

• Your keys on the table
• A half-full glass of water
• A pair of worn shoes
• Crumpled paper
• Your morning coffee setup
• A potted plant
• The inside of your fridge
• Your hand in different gestures
• A close-up of fabric folds

Try to rotate the object under different light conditions or angles. Draw it large and then try again, smaller and quicker. You’ll start to develop an intuitive understanding of form that will help with everything else.

Natural and Organic Forms

Drawing from nature is endlessly inspiring. I usually draw from photos I’ve taken outdoors, or sketch something I've foraged and brought inside. A pine cone, a dead leaf, a weirdly shaped rock – each one has a story in its textures. Nature teaches you to embrace imperfection, because nothing out there is symmetrical or clean-cut. That’s where the beauty is.

• Leaf veins in close detail
• Twisted tree branches
• Shells and rocks
• Driftwood
• Ferns unfolding
• Roots breaking through concrete
• Clouds on a stormy day
• Mushrooms from a walk
• Seed pods and dried flowers
• Bones and skulls

If you like this kind of thing, you might enjoy my articles on wildlife sketching or how to draw like Leonardo da Vinci.

Light and Shadow Studies

This is my favorite way to start a sketch. I look for big blocks of value first, then refine the drawing within those shapes. You don’t need fancy lighting – just a window and something to cast a shadow. Pay attention to the way light wraps around a form, how shadows have soft and hard edges, and how contrast creates a sense of depth. This is the foundation for believable and expressive drawing.

• A single object lit from one side
• A window with cast shadows
• A portrait in strong lighting
• A candlelit scene
• Still life in a dark room
• Shadows on a white wall
• Silhouettes at dusk
• Backlit objects

This type of study pairs well with expressive mark-making, which I dig into more in my expressive drawing guide.

Movement and Gesture

Loosening up is easier when you draw subjects that move or suggest motion. Even if you're working from a photo, you can exaggerate the action to capture the energy. I try not to get caught up in perfect proportions – just gesture, motion, rhythm. Start with 30-second gesture sketches and build up from there. This helps you draw faster, more intuitively, and with more life.

• People walking past a cafe
• Birds flapping their wings
• A person dancing
• A dog stretching
• Wind-blown trees
• Flowing water
• A flag in motion
• Athletes in mid-action

I talk more about this in my breakdown on how to draw movement.

Unusual Tools or Techniques

One way to come up with new ideas is to change how or what you're drawing with. I’ve found that constraints often unlock creativity. Drawing with a ballpoint pen, for example, forces me to commit to every mark. Using my non-dominant hand reveals all kinds of quirky, wonky beauty I wouldn't otherwise discover. These aren’t gimmicks – they’re tools for getting out of your own way.

• Draw with your non-dominant hand
• Make a piece only using dots
• Use a ballpoint pen and embrace the smudges
• Draw without lifting your pencil (one-line drawing)
• Work on toned or black paper
• Use erasers as drawing tools
• Try using colored pencils on black paper

You can find more about these in my tutorials on non-dominant hand drawing, drawing with ballpoint pen, and how to draw on black paper.

Drawing from Memory or Imagination

Even though I usually draw from observation, I sometimes take a moment to work from memory. It stretches your brain in a different way. It also highlights what parts of form you really understand and which parts you rely on copying. You don’t have to get it “right” – you just have to try. These exercises push you toward your own visual language.

• Draw your childhood bedroom from memory
• Sketch what yesterday felt like
• Invent a hybrid animal
• Imagine your dream workspace
• Create a fantasy treehouse
• Draw a symbolic self-portrait
• Design a coat of arms based on your values

Sketchbook Challenges and Prompts

Sometimes I just need structure. That’s where challenges help – they keep me drawing even on days I feel tired or distracted. A daily prompt removes the decision fatigue and gives me a reason to show up. It’s not about perfection; it’s about consistency. The repetition builds confidence, and it gives you a record of your growth.

• 30 days of drawing one object per day
• Pick one theme for a week (like “glass”)
• Limit yourself to 10 minutes per drawing
• Draw the same object five different ways
• Only use one color for the week
• Follow a drawing bootcamp or take part in a 30-day drawing challenge

You can also browse more ideas from my collection of sketchbook challenge ideas and aesthetic drawing ideas.

Mood, Emotion, and Meaning

Sometimes a drawing doesn't have to look like anything specific. It can simply express something. I often turn to this approach when I’m burnt out on detail or realism. A few lines, a rough smudge of charcoal, or a sudden burst of color can say so much more than a perfect rendering. It's less about what it looks like and more about what it feels like.

• Use line quality to express emotion
• Draw while listening to music
• Create a visual diary entry
• Use abstract shapes to show a mood
• Combine writing and drawing

This connects to how I approach meaningful pencil drawings and also how I use illustrative journaling when I travel or reflect.

Sketching Environments and Places

Drawing a full scene from life or a photo helps you practice composition and storytelling. These drawings are some of the hardest but most rewarding. They push you to think about space, perspective, relationships between objects, and mood. Start by blocking in the largest shapes first, then refine the structure. Don’t worry about getting every detail – just try to convey the feeling of the place.

• A messy desk
• The view from your window
• Your kitchen counter during dinner prep
• An outdoor bench with people passing by
• A coffee shop corner
• A small corner of a park
• An alleyway with trash bins

You can dig deeper into how I think about this in my tutorial on how to draw a scene.

Final Thoughts

The truth is, drawing gets more fun when you stop trying to be impressive and start being curious. Draw what’s around you, even if it seems boring. Pay attention to the way light falls, how shapes overlap, and where the shadows collect. Keep your lines loose, your expectations low, and your sketchbook close.

If you’re interested in going further, I have a whole set recommendations for online sketching courses that break things down in an approachable way. And if you're still figuring out your style, this might help: how to find your drawing style.

All Drawing Ideas