This article was written by Kelly Medford and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art.
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This article has been viewed 406,988 times.
When you're bored out of your mind, drawing is a quick and easy way to indulge in some creative fun. But what should you try to draw? Don't worry: we've got you covered if you're short on inspiration. Whether you like drawing portraits, characters, landscapes, or something else, this list will help you find an idea that you love. Grab a pencil and paper, and dive in!
This article is based on an interview with our professional artist, Kelly Medford, founder of Sketching Rome Tours. Check out the full interview here.
Fill up a page with the blooms that you sketch.Flowers are a fun and versatile drawing subject because they're so varied in shape, size, and color. Pick your favorite flower to sketch, and focus on lightly outlining its basic shape before adding in petals and further detail.[1]XResearch source Don’t be afraid to use a reference—it will help you become a better artist![2]XExpert SourceKelly Medford Professional ArtistExpert Interview
If you have a garden, you could go outside and draw the first flower you see. Otherwise, you could look up a picture of the flower you want to draw online.
For example, you can easily draw a rose in bloom by drawing its center as a small circle and then layering petals in irregular rows around it.
If flowers aren't your style, draw a pinecone instead. Draw the pinecone's teardrop shape first and fill in its overlapping scales.
Try a dragon, unicorn, or sea monster if you're a fan of the fantastical. This is similar to drawing a regular animal—it just requires a little more imagination! Outline a dragon's reptilian head, body, and joints before sketching the details. Draw a unicorn the same way you'd draw a horse before adding a horn. Start with a scaly, serpentine body if you want to draw a simple sea monster.
Master spheres and cubes before moving to more complex subjects.[3]XExpert SourceKelly Medford Professional ArtistExpert Interview For spheres, you can make a light rough outline with your pencil, sketching quickly as you capture the overall shape. Cubes are a little easier to sketch since they're all straight lines; draw two overlapping squares of the same size and connect their corners to make your cube.
Try drawing other 3D shapes, like cones, pyramids, and prisms. This will help you develop your skill in creating 3D objects on 2D paper.
Study the tree's branches and overall shape to capture it in detail.[4]XExpert SourceKelly Medford Professional ArtistExpert Interview Each tree has its own way of branching, so start by looking at its basic shapes and then filling it in from there. Once you've got the trunk and head of the tree outlined, fill in branches where you see them. Add in sky holes last—breaks in the leafy tree canopy where you can see the sky.
Think of leaves as masses, especially if you're studying the tree from afar. Don't outline every leaf; instead, add the most detail where leaves meet the sky, as that is where you can see their shape most clearly.
Pick your favorite animal and try either a realistic or cartoon style. If you're looking for less of a challenge, stick to a simple cartoon; you can easily create an animal cartoon by drawing a base shape and then filling in the details.[5]XResearch source If you're drawing a lifelike picture of the animal, start by marking its joints and creating circles for the head, body, and limbs before outlining the animal and adding detail.
Use your pet as inspiration. You could draw a dog, rabbit, cat, bird, or any other animal you might own.
If you like big cats, try drawing a jaguar.
If you find marine life fascinating, draw a shark, dolphin, or another colorful fish that catches your eye.
Get creative by combining different animal features into one drawing. If you're looking to go beyond realistic drawings, use your imagination to craft an animal of your own design. Pick two or three regular animals you'd like to combine and study each animal to find which aspects you want to incorporate in your sketch. Then, outline your animal and add detail to the drawing.[6]XResearch source
Practice your facial drawing skills if you can spare a couple of hours. Portraits typically take a bit longer if you're aiming for detail and realism, but practicing your portrait-drawing skills helps you become a better artist. Pick a reference photo and plan out the head: draw its general shape, then create lines to place the eyes, nose, and mouth. Once everything is mapped out, sketch the face.[7]XResearch source
Make sure you choose a picture where the person in question is eye-level with the photographer. That way, you won't be trying to draw at an odd angle.[8]XExpert SourceRenée Plevy Portrait Artist & EducatorExpert Interview
Put your own spin on a character that makes you smile. From SpongeBob SquarePants to Mickey Mouse, decide which cartoon character to draw. Make sure you have a reference on hand if you haven't drawn them before, and refer to it regularly to ensure your sketch is accurate. Block out the sketch first and draw all the major shapes before adding details like clothes, fur, facial features, etc.
If you're a fan of How to Train Your Dragon, you could try drawing Toothless.
If you like Peanuts, you could always draw Snoopy.
If you have original characters, drawing can help you flesh them out. Whether you like to write stories or play roleplaying games, you've probably dreamt up more than a few original characters. Pick a distinctive posture and style before sketching the character, and finalize your character once you've drawn a few different sketches to pick the one you like best.[9]XResearch source
It's helpful to have a character concept before you start drawing, including a short description of their physical appearance and role in your story.
Find a photo on your phone or look out the window for inspiration. Once you have your reference for the drawing, start off by blocking out the biggest shapes in the landscape. Then, refine it with contour lines and smaller elements—like rocks and plants in the background. Finally, capture the landscape’s details, like blades of grass and texture on trees and rocks.[10]XResearch source
To ensure accuracy, consider using a grid. Draw grid lines over your reference photo and the same-proportion grid lines over your drawing paper. You'll have a more detailed guide as you sketch your landscape.
Sketch while keeping your eyes on the subject, not your drawing. A blind contour drawing is a simple exercise with two main rules. First, you need to pick a subject and draw it without looking at your paper. Second, once your pencil touches the paper, you can't lift it again. This will help you improve your skills and train your eyes to work in tandem with your hand.[11]XExpert SourceKelly Medford Professional ArtistExpert Interview
Observation is one of the biggest components of a successful drawing. If you're looking to become the best artist you can be, observing your subject matter carefully is key.
Sketching interesting individuals is a great way to get better at drawing. Spy on people in the park to try and draw them as they talk, eat or sunbathe.[12]XExpert SourceKelly Medford Professional ArtistExpert Interview Go to a cafe and people-watch, sketching those who come in for a coffee. Observing people and completing quick sketches of them gets you comfortable drawing humans of all shapes and sizes—and it's fun!
Find a comfortable place to sit in a public area and do your best to look inconspicuous; wear earbuds and sit with your back to the wall if you don't want anyone to see you sketching.[13]XResearch source
Pick a piece you love and draw it to learn how it was made. Print out the piece you want to draw and recreate it using the visual reference, or use tracing paper and a pencil to go over the printout and make your drawing. This will help you understand different approaches to drawing and improve your own skills simultaneously.[14]XExpert SourceKelly Medford Professional ArtistExpert Interview
Whether you're a novice or seasoned artist, you probably have a few artistic role models. You can recreate art from any era, whether it's a da Vinci or your favorite character artist on Instagram.
Hone your technical skills by drawing three-dimensional buildings. Using a two-point perspective can create accurate drawings with depth. First, draw a straight horizon line, and place dots called vanishing points at either end of the line. Then, as you draw your building, use a ruler to ensure that any parallel receding lines of the building follow back to one of the vanishing points.[15]XResearch source
If it helps you create an accurate building, you can trace receding lines back to a vanishing point and then erase them later.
Vanishing points don't have to be placed on your page. It's helpful to do so if you're just starting out, but vanishing points are often located at imaginary spots further back from the page.
Feeling indecisive or just in the mood for surprise? This Random Item Generator gives you something offbeat, quirky, or completely unexpected. Use it to inspire a game, a story, a doodle, or just a moment of “what even is that?”
I am still wondering what creation work of art I should make?
Aanya Gadodia
Community Answer
If you are a beginner, maybe start with something simple, like something on the internet. If you have experience with art, maybe try recreating more elaborate art or classical art such as starry night.
Question
What is the best thing to draw?
NATHALIE PAAT SUN EN Moe
Community Answer
It can be anything. For me, I like to draw water droplets because I think they are interesting and fun.
Question
If I'm good at drawing, should I practice more?
Community Answer
Yes, it's a good idea to practice as much as possible. This way, you'll remember everything you have learned, and learn new things, too.
Try drawing exactly what you see in front of you, like your bedroom, piles of clothes, or natural areas. Look at the thing you draw as you draw—it may seem awkward at first but it will improve your realism.
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
If you’re a beginner, take some time to learn human anatomy. It’s fun drawing practice and really pays off in the long run.
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This article was written by Kelly Medford and by wikiHow staff writer, Glenn Carreau. Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Kelly is a graduate of the Florence Academy of Art. This article has been viewed 406,988 times.
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Co-authors: 18
Updated: October 28, 2025
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Dec 23, 2023
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Aanya GadodiaCommunity AnswerIf you are a beginner, maybe start with something simple, like something on the internet. If you have experience with art, maybe try recreating more elaborate art or classical art such as starry night.
Community AnswerYes, it's a good idea to practice as much as possible. This way, you'll remember everything you have learned, and learn new things, too.
"I found a lot of helpful advice for when I can't decide what to draw."
