Finding new things to draw can be a challenge, especially when you're staring at a blank sketchbook page. Whether you're a beginner artist or just looking for fresh inspiration, there are countless drawing prompts that can spark your creativity.

From simple doodles like circles and lines to more complex subjects like food items or fantasy scenes, your options are virtually unlimited.

You don't need to be a professional artist to enjoy drawing. When boredom strikes, your sketchbook can become a playground for experimentation.

Many artists turn to resources like Pinterest for ideas or practice basic shapes and expressions to improve their skills.

These simple exercises can help you develop your technique while keeping your creative muscles active.

Your drawing journey can include everything from sweet desserts and chocolate fantasies to rainbow macaroons or even everyday objects around your home.

Having a variety of drawing prompts ready for those uninspired moments means you'll never have to face the dreaded blank page without ideas again.

Try keeping a list of potential subjects in your sketchbook for the next time you need a creative boost.

Stuck on what to draw? 🎨 Explore our Things to Draw When Bored Pinterest board for endless inspiration! Pin your favourites and start sketching today! ✏️✨

Essentials of Drawing

Getting started with drawing requires understanding a few key fundamentals and having the right tools at hand. These basics create a strong foundation for your artistic journey.

Understanding Things To Draw Basics

Drawing begins with seeing objects in their simplest forms. Start by practicing basic shapes like circles, squares, and triangles before moving to more complex subjects.

Train your eye to observe proportions—how objects relate to each other in size and space. This skill makes your drawings look more realistic and balanced.

Learning about values (light and shadow) helps create depth in your artwork.

Practice shading techniques by drawing a simple sphere and showing how light falls across it.

Perspective is another crucial skill. It helps you show depth on a flat surface.

Try drawing a simple box in one-point perspective to understand how lines converge.

Young artists often rush to detail, but mastering these fundamentals first will improve your overall drawing abilities.

Setting Up Your Sketchbook

Choose a sketchbook that fits your needs. Spiral-bound options stay flat when open, making them easier to draw in. Consider paper weight—heavier paper (70-90 lb) handles multiple media without bleeding through.

Create a comfortable drawing space with good lighting. Natural light is best, but a desk lamp works well too.

Keep your sketchbook portable. Drawing regularly improves skills quickly, so carry it wherever you go. Quick 5-minute sketches during downtime add up to significant practice.

Label and date your work to track your progress. Many artists feel discouraged until they look back and see how far they've come.

Choosing the Right Materials

Essential Drawing Tools:

2B, 4B, and 6B graphite pencils

Kneaded eraser and vinyl eraser

Blending stumps

Quality drawing paper

Pencil sharpener

Start with graphite pencils before exploring charcoal or ink. Softer pencils (higher B numbers) create darker lines, while harder ones (H series) make lighter marks.

Experiment with different papers. Smooth paper works best for detailed drawings, while textured paper suits sketchy styles and charcoal.

You don't need expensive materials as a beginner. Quality matters more than quantity.

Focus on understanding how each tool works rather than collecting many supplies.

As you progress, add colored pencils or markers to your collection based on your interests and style preferences.

Things To Draw Ideas for Various Skill Levels

Drawing skills develop over time with practice. The right projects can help you grow your abilities while keeping you motivated and excited to create art.

Thins To Draw For Beginners

Simple shapes form the foundation of all drawing. Start with basic objects like apples, mugs, or boxes to practice shading and proportions.

Try drawing your hand in different positions. Hands are always available as models and offer great practice for beginners.

Doodling patterns is another excellent starting point. Create rows of circles, squares, or zigzags to develop line control without pressure.

Nature provides perfect subjects for new artists. Draw leaves, flowers, or simple landscapes using basic lines and shapes.

Practice cartoon faces with different expressions. These simplified forms help you understand facial features without requiring perfect realism.

Simple objects: cubes, spheres, fruit

Basic landscapes: horizon line with simple elements

Everyday items: books, shoes, furniture

Pattern doodles: geometric shapes, swirls, dots

Intermediate Things To Draw Techniques

At this level, focus on adding depth and detail to your work. Try still life arrangements with multiple objects to practice composition and perspective.

Animal drawings can help you develop your skills with organic shapes. Start with pets or wildlife using reference photos.

Practice different textures using various pencil techniques. Create samples of wood grain, fabric folds, fur, and metal surfaces.

Try urban sketching of buildings or street scenes. This helps you apply perspective principles to real-world subjects.

Work on portraits with basic shading. Focus on capturing the main features accurately rather than perfect detail.

Useful exercises:

Value studies (light to dark scales)

Negative space drawings

Gesture drawings (quick 30-second poses)

Perspective studies with vanishing points

Advanced Things To Draw Prompts

Challenge yourself with complex compositions that tell stories. Create scenes with multiple characters or detailed environments that convey emotion.

Master the human figure by drawing people in dynamic poses. Study anatomy and practice capturing movement and weight distribution.

Experiment with unusual viewpoints or lighting situations. Try drawing objects from below, above, or with dramatic shadows.

Create detailed landscapes with atmospheric perspective. Show depth by making distant objects lighter and less detailed than foreground elements.

Develop your personal style by reimagining familiar subjects. Take something ordinary and transform it through your unique artistic lens.

For committed doodlers, try intricate zentangle-inspired designs that fill entire pages with detailed patterns.

Advanced projects to try:

1. Self-portrait with reflective surfaces

2. Surreal combinations of unrelated objects

3. Architectural details with precise measurements

4. Action scenes with multiple figures

Incorporating Creativity and Imagination

Drawing from your imagination opens up endless possibilities beyond copying references. You can create worlds that don't exist and express ideas that are uniquely yours.

Fantasy and Science Fiction

Fantasy and science fiction themes offer rich territory for imaginative drawing. Try sketching creatures that combine features of different animals or design a spaceship with technology that doesn't yet exist.

Start small by reimagining familiar objects. What would a coffee cup look like on an alien planet? How might dragons adapt to living in New York City?

Create visual rules for your imaginary worlds. Maybe gravity works differently, or light behaves in unusual ways. These guidelines will help your drawings feel consistent even when they're fantastical.

Collect inspiration from books, movies, and games, but twist these influences to make them your own. A good exercise is to take a common sci-fi trope and draw it from a fresh perspective.

Abstract and Surrealism

Abstract drawing frees you from representing reality exactly. Begin with a simple shape or line and let it evolve without planning the outcome.

Try automatic drawing—move your pencil across the paper without lifting it for two minutes. Don't think about what you're creating. This bypasses your inner critic and taps into subconscious creativity.

Combine unrelated objects in impossible ways. Draw a clock melting like Salvador Dalí or floating objects that defy gravity.

Use unexpected color combinations to express emotions rather than reality. A blue tree or purple sky can convey feelings that realistic colors cannot.

Play with scale and proportion. Make tiny objects enormous or vice versa to create visual interest and unexpected narratives in your work.

Abstract stencil pattern of swirling lines and geometric shapes, high-contrast black and white, symmetrical design, vector-inspired, intricate yet bold, full-frame, 16:9 aspect ratio.

Personal Themes and Stories

Your experiences provide unique material no one else can access. Draw scenes from your dreams or memories, focusing on emotional truth rather than perfect recall.

Create a visual diary. Sketch moments from your day, but add imaginative elements—maybe your commute involves passing through a portal or your pet has secret superpowers.

Develop characters based on people you know, but give them exaggerated features or place them in unusual settings. How would your friend look as a space explorer?

Use symbols that have personal meaning. These might be objects, colors, or patterns that represent important ideas or feelings in your life.

Explore "what if" scenarios through your drawings. What if you lived in a different time period? What if your neighborhood was underwater? These questions spark creative visual solutions.

Drawing Inspiration from the World Around Us

Finding things to draw can be as simple as looking at your immediate surroundings. The world offers endless visual inspiration that can help develop your artistic skills and creative vision.

Urban Landscapes and Cityscapes

Cities like New York provide perfect subjects for your sketchbook. The mixture of architecture, people, and energy creates dynamic drawing opportunities.

Try capturing iconic skylines or focus on interesting architectural details like fire escapes or ornate doorways. Urban sketching doesn't require perfection—quick gesture drawings can capture the essence of busy streets.

For beginners, start with simple building silhouettes against the sky. As you improve, add details like windows, textures, and street furniture.

Use perspective techniques to create depth in your cityscape drawings. One-point or two-point perspective helps buildings look three-dimensional and properly scaled.

Prompt: Stencil of a modern city skyline, sharp building silhouettes, high-contrast black and white, clean architectural cutout design, balanced perspective, 16:9 aspect ratio.

Nature and Wildlife

Natural settings offer organic shapes and textures that contrast with urban environments. From local parks to wilderness areas, nature provides ever-changing subjects.

Start with simple leaf forms or flower petals before attempting more complex landscapes. Using a small sketchbook makes outdoor drawing sessions more manageable.

Animals present interesting challenges because they move. Try quick gestural sketches to capture their essential shapes and movements. Birds, squirrels, and pets make accessible subjects.

Weather conditions and seasons create different moods to explore. The same tree looks dramatically different in spring versus winter.

Prompt: Detailed stencil of an oak leaf with crisp edges, high-contrast black and white, smooth vector cutout, organic symmetry, centered with negative space, 16:9 aspect ratio.

Observational Drawing for Tourists

As a tourist, drawing helps you notice details you might otherwise miss. Instead of just taking photos, spend time sketching landmarks and scenes.

Create a travel sketchbook documenting your journey. Include quick sketches of fellow tourists, street scenes, or cafe views. These personal drawings become more meaningful souvenirs than photographs.

For tourists in New York, try drawing from different vantage points—perhaps from a park bench or museum steps. The High Line and Central Park offer perfect drawing spots.

Don't worry about creating masterpieces. Simple line drawings with minimal detail can effectively capture the feeling of a place.

Exploring Different Mediums and Techniques

Art becomes more exciting when you try different materials and methods. Experimenting with various mediums can help you discover new ways to express your ideas and develop your unique style.

Pencil and Charcoal

Pencils offer incredible versatility for drawing. Start with an HB pencil for outlines, then use softer B pencils (2B-8B) for darker tones and shadows. Harder H pencils work well for light details and textures.

Charcoal creates bold, expressive lines and rich blacks that pencils can't achieve. Try vine charcoal for initial sketches—it erases easily. Compressed charcoal sticks provide deeper blacks but are harder to erase.

Keep a kneaded eraser handy to lift highlights and fix mistakes with both mediums.

A good quality sketchbook with at least 80 lb paper will prevent indentations and tearing. Consider a 304-page sketchbook to document your progress over time.

Ink and Markers

Ink pens create crisp, permanent lines perfect for detailed work. Try fineliner pens in various thicknesses (0.1mm to 1.0mm) for different effects.

Brush pens offer a dynamic line quality that changes with pressure. They're excellent for both delicate details and bold strokes in the same drawing.

Markers provide vibrant colors and blend well on proper paper.

Consider these techniques:

Stippling: Create texture with small dots

Hatching: Use parallel lines for shading

Cross-hatching: Layer lines in different directions for depth

Dedicate separate pages in your sketchbook for testing different pen techniques. Then, you can apply them to finished pieces.

Mixed Media Experimentation

Combining multiple mediums creates unique effects impossible to achieve with a single material.

Try these popular combinations:

Pencil + watercolor creates subtle, dreamy images. Draw lightly with pencil first, then add transparent watercolor washes. Your pencil lines will show through for definition.

Ink + colored pencil lets you establish strong lines with ink while adding soft colors with pencils. The ink provides structure while colored pencils add dimension.

Take risks in your sketchbook by experimenting with unusual pairings like charcoal with a white gel pen or markers with pastels.

A 304-page sketchbook gives you plenty of space to try different combinations without fear of running out of paper.

Document your experiments with notes about what works and what doesn't.

This reference will prove invaluable as you develop your personal style.

Ready to fill your sketchbook with creative ideas? 🎨 Check out our Things to Draw When Bored Pinterest board for even more inspiration! Pin your favourites and start sketching today! ✏️📌