40 creepy things to draw that are eerie and fun, from strange creatures to dark doodles and gothic motifs. Simple starting shapes any beginner can use.
Looking for creepy things to draw that are eerie but still fun? This list is for you. Every idea here is built from easy shapes like circles, ovals, and crooked lines. Nothing gross or grim, just the kind of strange and shadowy doodles that make a sketchbook feel a little mysterious. We cover creepy creatures, unsettling objects, dark doodles, and gothic motifs. The trick is mood: thin wobbly lines, deep shadows, and odd little details turn a plain shape into something wonderfully unsettling. Grab a pencil, find a quiet corner, and let's draw something delightfully creepy.
How to use this list
Pick any idea that calls to you. You do not need to go in order. Each idea names the simple starting shape so you know exactly where to begin. Sketch light first, then darken the lines you like. To finish, color with purples, grays, and ink black, then leave a little glow where you want eyes or candles to shine.
Creepy creatures
Big eyed beastie
Start with a round blob body. Add two huge eyes, tiny pupils, and a thin straight mouth.
Long armed shadow
A tall thin oval with arms that stretch way past the body. Add two glowing dot eyes.
Many legged crawler
An oval body with rows of bent legs down each side. Add little antennae on top.
Floating wisp
A wavy teardrop shape with a soft trailing tail. Add two hollow eyes and a faint mouth.
Hollow eyed bird
A teardrop body with a wedge beak. Leave the eyes as empty circles for an eerie stare.
Pale moth
A fat body with two wide wings and pattern dots. Add feathery antennae and a soft glow.
Spindly spider
An oval body with eight very long bent legs. Hang it from a single thin thread line.
Slithering shape
One long curved line that loops back on itself. Add a forked tongue and tiny scale marks.
Watcher in the wall
A flat oval cut into bricks with a single eye peeking out. Add crack lines around it.
Twin headed critter
A small body with two necks and two faces, each with a different expression. Spooky fun.
Unsettling objects
Cracked doll head
A round head with a crack line and one closed eye. Keep the smile small and stiff.
Old porcelain mask
An oval face with hollow eyes and a calm mouth. Add a ribbon tie at the back.
Dripping candle
A tall rectangle with a melted top and a teardrop flame. Add wax drips down the side.
Stopped clock
A circle face with hands frozen near midnight. Add a small crack across the glass.
Empty birdcage
A dome of curved bars on a round base. Leave the door open and add one floating feather.
Dusty jar
A jar shape with something dim floating inside. Add a label with a smudged scribble.
Faded photograph
A rectangle with worn corners and a blurry shape inside. Add a thin shadow behind it.
Music box
A small box with a tiny crank and an open lid. Add little note marks drifting out.
Wilted bouquet
A bundle of drooping flowers tied with ribbon. Add a few petals falling below.
Single worn shoe
A side view shoe with a loose lace and scuff lines. Place it alone for a lonely feel.
Dark doodles
Eyes in the dark
A black square with two or three pairs of bright eyes peeking out. Simple and eerie.
Shadow hands
Several thin hand shapes reaching up from a dark edge. Keep the fingers long and bent.
Spiral stare
A circle with a tight spiral inside. Add a thin outline so it looks like a hypnotic eye.
Tangled thorns
A web of crisscross lines with little thorn spikes. Wind it around a corner of the page.
Melting smile
A wide grin where the corners drip downward in long lines. Unsettling but cartoony.
Floating question
A bold question mark with a faint face inside the curve. Add a soft glow behind it.
Crooked door
A tall rectangle that leans, with a glowing crack down the middle. Add a worn handle.
Whispering shadow
A simple silhouette with wavy sound lines curling from where its mouth would be.
Inky puddle
A black blob with little reaching tendrils at the edges. Add two eyes rising from it.
Endless stairs
A few steps that loop back into themselves like a knot. A fun eerie optical doodle.
Gothic motifs
Pointed arch window
A tall window with a pointed top and crossbars. Add a dim glow and curled vines.
Iron gate
Two posts with a swinging gate of straight bars and curls. Add a curl of mist at the base.
Bare gothic tree
A trunk with twisty bare branches reaching wide. Add a single crow on the highest twig.
Stone gargoyle
A crouching blocky shape with wings and a stern face. Add weathered crack lines.
Candle holder
A tall stem with three branches, each holding a dripping candle. Add three small flames.
Lace web
A spider web drawn with extra fine looping threads. Hang one tiny spider in the center.
Faded rose
A rose with a few drooping petals and a thorny stem. Sketch it with thin shaky lines.
Crescent and stars
A thin crescent moon with a calm closed eye and a scatter of tiny pointed stars.
Old chapel
A narrow building with a pointed roof and a round window. Add a thin path leading up.
Ribboned skull
A rounded skull with two dark eye holes and a small bow on top. Keep it cute and gothic.
These creepy things to draw all start the same way: a plain shape, then a few odd details to set the mood.
Tips
- Thin, wobbly lines feel creepier than bold, confident ones.
- Hollow or oversized eyes instantly make a creature feel eerie.
- Leave empty dark space around your subject so it feels mysterious.
- Color with purples, grays, and black, then add one glow for contrast.
- Sketch light first, then darken the lines you like to keep it tidy.
FAQ
What are easy creepy sketch ideas for beginners?
Eyes in the dark and a dripping candle are the easiest places to start. Both use one simple shape and a couple of eerie details. Add a lace web or a stopped clock and your page fills up fast.
How do I make a drawing look creepy without being scary?
Lean on mood instead of gore. Use thin shaky lines, hollow eyes, faded colors, and lots of empty shadow. A wilted flower or an empty birdcage can feel eerie while staying gentle and fun.
Keep drawing and coloring
You just unlocked a whole page of eerie ideas. Pick a few, color them in, and watch the mood come alive. For more, browse our big list of things to draw, turn up the chills with scary drawing ideas, or fill a page with Halloween drawing ideas. Want a step by step? Learn how to draw a spider for your web doodles. And when you are ready to color, our fantasy coloring pages are waiting. You've got this.