50+ Sketchbook Ideas and Drawing Prompts for When You Don't Know What to Draw
Updated: 5 days ago
Staring at a blank sketchbook page and not knowing what to draw is something almost everyone feels. Here are 51 sketchbook ideas and drawing prompts to get you started. Pick one, set a timer for ten minutes and see what happens. If you are new to sketchbooks, begin with how to start a sketchbook.
Ideas from the world around you
Something you see in nature: a tree, a flower, a cloud or an animal
Something you see in the city: a building, a street, a bridge or a sign
A cityscape
A still life
Things around your house
What you wore today
A musical instrument
Your favourite food
A food item drawn in an unusual way
Your favourite hobby
A self-portrait
An animal in an unusual pose
Ideas from stories and imagination
A scene from a book
A mythical creature
A creature from a myth or legend
A comic character
A character from a fairytale
A scene from a play
An imaginary creature
A figure from your imagination
A character from a story
A scene from a fantasy world
A scene from outer space
An alien landscape
A robotic character
A map of a fictional world
A dream you had
A scene from a dream
A scene from a nightmare
Ideas inspired by other art and culture
Something from a favourite movie or TV show
A famous historical figure
A historical event
A celebrity
A famous monument
Something inspired by fashion
A scene from your favourite video game
Something inspired by a song
Something inspired by a poem
Something inspired by a painting
Something inspired by a sculpture
Something inspired by a photograph
Copy exercises from your favourite artists
Ideas from your own life and memories
A landscape from your childhood
A scene from a memory
Drawings from old family photos
A map
Playful and experimental ideas
An abstract shape or pattern
Hand lettered quotes
Illustrated recipes
Continuous line drawings
Quick sketches on the go, in a tiny sketchbook that fits in your bag
Try a different material
You can sketch with graphite pencils, charcoal, coloured pencils, markers and pastels, and each one changes how your drawing looks. Charcoal gives a soft, smudgy effect, while markers give a bold, vibrant look. Try the same idea in a new material and see how it feels. My guides to colour pencils for beginners and alcohol markers for beginners are good places to begin.
Make drawing a habit
Setting aside a little time each day helps. It can be just 10 minutes, but consistency is key. Draw something you enjoy, such as a landscape or a portrait of someone you love, and it will be easier to keep going. For more help, read how to build a sketchbook habit. You can also join me in the Sketch Hub for five short sketching videos each week, or draw with company in the Sketchbook Circle on Thursday evenings.
Let me know which ones you have tried!
Irene
