Drawing for Beginners: Get Inspired with These 10 Ideas!
Last Updated: June 3, 2025
Starting your drawing journey can feel a bit overwhelming. With so many styles, tools, and techniques out there, it’s easy to wonder: Where should I even begin? The good news is, you don’t need fancy materials or advanced skills to start making art today. All you need is pencils, pens, or markers, some paper, and a willingness to practice.
Today’s blog will offer 10 ideas to help drawing for beginners become a fun and easier process. The process always starts with inspiration, so we hope these can give you a better idea of what makes you feel happy and fulfilled when drawing. Let’s begin!
Why Is It So Important to Draw Things That Speak to You?
Drawing encompasses a wide range of media and subjects. You can work with materials like shading pencils, fine liner pens, alcohol markers, and more to start sketching. On the other hand, there are a ton of different subjects to consider as well, such as people, animals, nature, and more.
The important thing is to work with something familiar when you start. Maybe pencils are the most beginner-friendly since you can easily erase mistakes. The same goes for your subject. If you love animals, then you should definitely focus on honing your sketching skills there first. Beginners should prioritize inspiration, discipline, and practice over anything else.
10 Drawing Ideas for Beginners to Try
Need a bit of inspiration before you start drawing? Here are 10 subject ideas to help get those creative juices flowing!
Doodles & Abstract
Making doodles or abstract art can be a great start for drawing newbies. It gives you more creative freedom, whether it’s the elements you draw or the shape and manner in which you draw them. The concept is limitless, so feel free to explore and mix and match different elements that you think look great!
Human Anatomy
We get how this might be intimidating for some artists, since drawing a human or any human body can be challenging. However, with the right understanding of shapes and some reference drawing, you’ll find it’s actually quite achievable! Having this skill is incredibly impressive for artists, since the messages and artwork vibes you can achieve when working with the human anatomy are endless!
Florals, Foliage, and Nature
When it comes to nature, you’ll likely never run out of things to draw. From blue skies to grassy fields, beautiful sunsets, and more, the inspiration is never-ending. Pick what elements speak to you the most and start perfecting your sketches. Bonus points if you can actually be in front of whatever you’re sketching for amazing references.
Pets and Other Animals
Calling all the animal-lovers out there! We get how drawing these beautiful creatures can be intimidating, but you’ll find the process is completely worth it. You may choose to draw your pet at home, like a dog, cat, or goldfish, but feel free to explore exotic wildlife too, such as reptiles, birds, or sea creatures.
Scenes and Locations
Possibly one of the most popular things to draw would be scenes and locations. You can sketch a place that means something to you, or maybe a place that you would like to visit someday!
Mythical Beings
Let your imagination run wild and create a fantasy world of your own making! Bring some mythical creatures like mermaids, unicorns, or aliens to life when you try and sketch beings that are not of this earth. Bonus is that these sketches may be extra enjoyable to color in!
People & Portraits
If you want to go further into human anatomy, you can zoom in on faces and portraits. It’s a great way to bring stories and emotions to life through your sketches, not to mention a formidable skill that fine artists should aspire to have.
Fashion
An interest in fashion doesn’t end with shopping or wearing your favorite clothes, you can also sketch them and bring your designs to life! Who knows, maybe you can be a professional fine artist and a fashion designer too!
Patterns
Somewhat similar to doodling, you can play around with sketching patterns like mandalas. They’re relatively easier to do and fun to color as well! And let’s face it, creating aesthetically pleasing, satisfyingly beautiful patterns just hits that unscratchable itch in your artistic brain.
Your Favorite Fictional Characters
In a world with movies, comics, books, and TV shows ruling the entertainment industry, you’re bound to have some favorite fictional characters. Show your love for them through a sketch and maybe even create a frame-worthy artwork to hang in your home!
Pick Up Your Pens, Pencils, and Markers to Level Up Your Drawing Skills Today!
Learning how to draw doesn’t have to be complicated. These sketch ideas are designed to help you start simple, build skills gradually, and most importantly, enjoy the process. Whether you’re aiming to become an artist or just looking for a relaxing hobby, drawing can bring joy, calm, and creativity into your day.
Give it a try and don’t hesitate to share your creations! For more tips and tutorials on all things artistry, feel free to do some reading in The Creative Corner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do you start drawing for beginners?
A: The best way to start drawing for beginners is to get the right supplies, find what inspires you, and begin practicing basic shapes and sketching techniques!
Q: What is the 4 8 8 method of drawing?
A: The 4 8 8 drawing method divides basic sketching into 3 parts. The first is to create 4 lines that define the shape of your subject, then 8 lines to further build on the proportions, and then another 8 lines to create more specific, detailed shapes.
Q: Can I teach myself to draw?
A: Yes! There are lots of videos and tutorials online that’ll teach you how to draw whenever, wherever you like. Take advantage of those classes, both free and paid, to make the most of your experience.
Q: What can an 11-year-old draw?
A: Depending on the experience level, an 11-year-old can draw anything they set their mind to! In fact, this may be a great opportunity to harness their creativity, since children are known to have fun, vibrant, and active imaginations.
