We all know the feeling of sitting down to draw…and suddenly not knowing what to draw! Sometimes, a small prompt can make a huge difference in getting our creative wheels going.
In this post, find some unique drawing prompts that might just give you the inspiration you need.
1. A character in a surreal dreamscape
Maybe you have a character that you’ve drawn before. But, have you put that character in an underwater carnival with the craziest rides and games? It can be fun to take a tried and true character, but put them a completely different context!
2. An animal fused with a plant
Mashups can be a fun way to get the creative juices flowing. We often think of mashups that take advantage of different animals, like a lion and a tiger. But, what if we take the mashup to the next level and pick and animal and a plant? Think about how neat a mashup between a tiger and monstera plant could be.
3. A futuristic cityscape
What do you imagine a future city to look like? How unrealistic or realistic do you want to be? Grab a picture of your favorite city and try to re-imagine it with your ideal, futuristic setting!
4. An emotion within a scene
Pick an emotion and try to express it without using any faces. See if you can express that emotion within the landscape or your character’s body language.
5. A scene with a large group of mythical creatures
Mythical creatures can be creatively inspiring by themselves, so why not put a whole group of them together? Research some fun mythical creatures and then think of a scene where they could interact with each other.
6. Combine opposites
Whether you believe the old bromide that opposites attract or not, it can be a fun way to get the next idea for a piece of art! Think of opposites like fire and water, sugar and salt, light and dark – what opposites can come together for a neat piece of art?
7. A self-portrait in a unique style
Try taking a new approach to a self-portrait by giving it a mythical, surreal, abstract, or floral flair. The self-portrait aspect gives you something concrete to work from, while switching up the theme gives you room for creativity.
8. A scene inspired by the season
Are the leaves starting to change for Fall? Is snow falling outside? Are the flowers starting to bloom? Is the sunshine making a trip to the beach sound appealing? Think about the season you’re currently in and what inspiration you can take from it for your next piece of art.
9. A landscape from a bird’s eye view
Landscapes are fun to draw, but how much more fun would they be if we switched up the perspective? Try imagining what a landscape looks like from a bird’s perspective.
10. Your dream home
Having fun with architecture can be a great way to have some creative fun. Think about a home you’ve always wanted to live in, whether real or imagined, and see how you can recreate it in your art.
11. Combine the future and the past
Imagine someone from the 1800s encountering a smartphone. There are so many neat elements from both the past and the future. Merging them together can be a great way to add a unique storyline to your piece of art.
12. A new type of plant
Take botany into your own hands and see what types of interesting plants you can come up with. Maybe you merge different parts of existing plants, or come up with something new altogether.
Sometimes a small prompt can trigger a wave of creativity! I hope these drawing prompts have inspired you to grab your sketchbook.
Diana has been an artist for over 27 years and has training in drawing, painting, digital drawing and graphic design. Diana’s latest obsession is digitally drawing with Procreate and Procreate Dreams. Diana has experience selling her art across a number of platforms and loves helping other artists learn how to make money from their art as well.