Stuck on what to draw? Here are 70 drawing ideas grouped by theme, from easy animals to cool doodles, each with a quick shape tip so you can start in seconds.
The hardest part of drawing is often the blank page. When you can't think of anything, the fastest fix is a list to point at. Below are 70 things to draw, sorted into themes you can recognize, each with a one-line tip for the shape to start from. These drawing ideas work for any age and any skill level, so grab a pencil, pick the first one that makes you smile, and start. No skill needed, and the first wobbly line is always the hardest part.
How to use this list of drawing ideas
Pick one idea and begin from its basic shape. Almost everything you want to draw is a circle, an oval, a triangle, or a few lines underneath the details, so the shape tip in each idea is the part that actually gets your pencil moving. Keep the early lines light so they're easy to erase, then darken the lines you love at the end. You don't have to draw them in order, and you don't have to make it look real to make it good.
Easy animals to draw
Animals are the most-requested subject, and the friendliest ones are just a couple of rounded shapes with a face.
A round cat
A circle for the head, two triangle ears, and a smiley face. Big eyes set low read as cute.
A happy dog
An oval head with two floppy ears, plus a round nose and a little tongue. Learn the full version in our how to draw a dog guide.
A simple fish
A sideways oval with a triangle tail. Add one dot for the eye and a few curved fins.
A butterfly
A thin body with two big symmetrical wings. Match the pattern on both sides. See how to draw a butterfly for the step-by-step.
A snail
A spiral shell on a long bean-shaped body, with two little antennae.
A friendly spider
Two body circles and eight bendy legs, four on each side. Our how to draw a spider guide breaks it down.
A turtle
A dome shell with a rounded head poking out and four stubby legs.
A bunny
An egg-shaped body, a round head, and two tall ears. Add a fluffy tail.
A bear
A round head with small ears, a wide oval body, and a little snout.
Cute things to draw
Cute is mostly about big eyes and round shapes. For a whole list, see our cute things to draw ideas.
A smiling cloud
A bumpy cloud shape with two dot eyes and a smile. Add a tiny rainbow underneath.
A kawaii strawberry
A rounded heart shape with little seeds and a leafy top, plus a happy face.
A baby chick
A small yellow circle with a triangle beak and two stick legs.
A cup of cocoa
A mug with a heart on the side, steam curling up, and a marshmallow smile.
A sleepy moon
A crescent moon with closed eyes and a nightcap.
A potted cactus
A rounded cactus with little arms in a striped pot, with a tiny flower on top.
Cool things to draw
Want something that looks impressive but stays simple? Try these, or browse more cool things to draw.
A lightning bolt
A sharp zigzag with a glow around it. Great for filling negative space.
A flaming skull
A rounded skull shape with simple flames licking up behind it.
A paper airplane
A few straight lines and triangles, with a dotted line showing its flight path.
A galaxy jar
A jar outline filled with stars, swirls, and dots for a tiny universe.
A skateboard
A long rounded deck with two wheels and a fun pattern on top.
A diamond
A faceted gem made of straight lines, shaded on one side to look shiny.
Nature and flowers
The outdoors is full of simple shapes. For more, see our flower drawing ideas.
A rose
Start from a center spiral and wrap petals outward. Full steps in how to draw a rose.
A tulip
A rounded cup with three petals on a single straight stem.
A tree
A wavy cloud of leaves on a simple trunk, with a few branches showing.
A mushroom
A domed cap with dots, sitting on a short rounded stem.
A sun
A circle with triangle or wavy rays, maybe with a calm little face.
A mountain range
Overlapping triangles with snowy caps and a sun behind them.
Food doodles
Food is fun because it's all rounded, friendly shapes.
An ice cream cone
A criss-cross cone with one, two, or three round scoops on top.
A slice of pizza
A triangle with a wavy crust, a few pepperoni circles, and melty cheese.
A donut
A circle with a hole, a drip of frosting around the top, and sprinkles.
A cupcake
A wrapper base with a swirl of frosting and a cherry on top.
A bunch of grapes
A cluster of small circles in a triangle shape with a leaf.
A fried egg
A wobbly white blob with a round yellow yolk. Surprisingly satisfying.
Fantasy and characters
Let your imagination off the leash with these.
A unicorn
A horse head with a spiral horn and a flowing mane. Color the mane like a rainbow.
A dragon
A rounded body, bat wings, and a row of spikes down the back.
A robot
Stack rectangles and circles for a body, head, and bolts. Add antennae.
A ghost
A rounded sheet shape with a wavy bottom and two simple eyes.
A wizard
A tall pointy hat, a long beard, and a star-tipped wand.
A little alien
An oval head with big almond eyes on a small body, waving hello.
Everyday objects
Objects around you make great quick studies in shape and shading.
A coffee mug
A cylinder with a curved handle and a little steam.
A house
A square with a triangle roof, a door, and two windows.
A book
An open book with curved pages and a ribbon bookmark.
A light bulb
A rounded bulb on a screw base, with a few lines for a glow.
A key
A circle handle with a long stem and little teeth at the end.
A balloon
A rounded teardrop with a knot and a curling string.
Patterns and doodles when you're stuck
When you just want to move your pen, doodles and patterns are perfect. We have a whole list of things to draw when bored too.
Swirls and spirals
Fill a strip with loops of different sizes. Oddly relaxing.
A row of hearts
Hearts in every size, overlapping and tilting.
Zigzag mountains
Repeating triangles that build a tiny skyline.
Bubble letters
Write your name in fat, rounded letters and color each one differently.
A mandala
Start with a center dot and repeat shapes in rings around it.
Stars everywhere
Five-point stars, sparkles, and little bursts to fill any gap.
Tips for coming up with your own drawing ideas
- Start from a shape, not the whole picture. Ask "is this a circle, an oval, or a triangle underneath?" and the drawing almost starts itself.
- Keep early lines light. Sketch like a whisper so mistakes erase clean, then darken your favorite lines.
- Draw small and draw a lot. Little doodles are low pressure, and a page of them teaches you more than one big careful drawing.
- Borrow a theme. Pick a category above, like food or animals, and draw five from it. A theme beats a blank page every time.
- It doesn't have to look real to be good. If you're proud of it, it worked.
Frequently asked questions
What should I draw when I'm bored? Pick any idea from the list above and start from its basic shape. Doodles, patterns, and food are the lowest-pressure picks, since they don't have to look exactly right to be fun. We also have a full list of things to draw when bored.
What is the easiest thing to draw? Round, simple subjects like a cat face, a fish, a flower, or a smiling cloud are the easiest, because they're built from one or two basic shapes. Browse our easy things to draw for more beginner-friendly picks.
How do I come up with my own drawing ideas? Start with a theme (animals, food, nature, fantasy), then break each subject into basic shapes. Keeping a running list, and drawing small and often, makes ideas come much more easily over time.
Keep drawing and coloring
Found something you love? Take it further with a step-by-step tutorial like how to draw a rose, or print our free animal coloring pages and nature coloring pages to color while you take a break from the pencil. Happy drawing.