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It happens to all of us artists from time to time: creative block. It is one of the most frustrating things when you open your sketchbook and the page stares back at you blank. You go to Pinterest and search for ideas, and if you are anything like me, you try to figure out how the artists of these posts came up with ideas so creative. It can be a bit discouraging when you come across something so clever where you are mad that you did not think of it first.
I have also found that the longer I go without drawing, the harder it is for me to come up with ideas. So, I wanted to create an endless list of drawing prompts to fill your sketchbook that could generate some ideas from within you. This means that I will be constantly adding to this list as I come up with new ideas (so forgive me if I repeat any topics).
Now keep in mind, all of these topics are very simple and meant to give you an initial idea. So if you want to take it a step further and make "the object sitting in front of you" into a live character, by all means, go for it! The weirder, the better. [ARTIST TIP: Write out (or print this post and cut up) each of these prompts on a slip of paper, roll it up and put it in a jar. When you run into a creative block, randomly pull a prompt from the jar to come up with your next drawing prompt :) ]
Click here to browse for some great sketchbooks!
This list was last updated on: August 10th, 2020
Your favorite city skyline
A rose
An avocado
A landscape screen still of your favorite movie
A forest
The Milky Way
A mountain
Your favorite art supplies
Top view of latte art
Your vacation essentials
A collage of clippings from a magazine
The object sitting in front of you
A self portrait
Recreate the cover of your favorite book
A bear
A roadmap of your favorite city
A camera
Your childhood home
The man on the moon
A slice of pizza
An eye
A character from your favorite movie/tv show
Your icon/hero
A jar of cookies
Your pet / your favorite animal
A beach scene
Peonie flowers
A seascape
A city skyline reflecting in a pair of sunglasses
A glass of water
A skull
An open package of your favorite candy
A glass bottle
A car
Multiple hands in different gestures
One-point perspective looking down a road in between tall buildings
Figure studies
Your favorite international monument
A globe
Recreate your favorite movie poster
A two-point perspective of the space you are in (or your favorite room)
The technology/electronics you own
A pair of lips blowing a kiss
Your favorite childhood cartoon character
A motorcycle
A cactus
The food that is in your refrigerator
An airplane
A map of your favorite city
A portrait of your sibling or friend with exaggerated features
Your favorite fast food
Your favorite board game
A cheeseburger
Sushi
A fashion design sketch/rendering
What is in your makeup bag
Sea creatures
Wild animals
Things that are in your junk drawer
Geometric shapes
Monsters
Imaginary creatures
Your hometown
Furniture
Patterns
Your favorite things
Everyday objects
Places you have been
Song lyrics
Words that inspire you
Your dreams
Elephants
A crowd of people
Fruit
Leaves
Your favorite book or movie characters
Facial expressions
Birds
Houses
A rhino
Aliens
Trees
Feelings
Illustrations of your own version of social media icons
The last Instagram picture you liked
Hair in a ponytail
Feet
Different types of street lights
Your favorite beauty products
A landmark you hope to visit one day
The 15th photo on your phone
A building from the last trip you took
The events that happened in your day
Your morning cup of coffee (try to do this every morning. If you don't have time in the morning, take a picture of it and come back to it later)
Your favorite cartoon character
An airplane
Vegetables that are grown in a garden
Your favorite water bottle
To be continued...
