We’ve all experienced the dreaded artist’s block. If you want to improve on your drawing skills, you’ll probably reach a day that you just don’t feel quite as inspired as you normally do. Even experienced artists go through phases, so it’s important to not be too hard on yourself. However, there are plenty of ways to get drawing ideas and start executing on them right away.
In this article, I’ll be sharing my top 9 ways to get drawing ideas quickly and easily. We’ll talk about different processes, locations, materials, and more.
9 Ways to Get Drawing Ideas
1. Find Inspiration From Photos
When I’m really struggling to find ideas on what to draw, I often look up reference photos to help me. There are actually a lot of great websites that offer access to free, royalty-free photos that you can use for inspiration. I have used both Pixabay and Pexels to find professional-looking reference photos to get my drawings started.
Alternatively, you can also find inspiration from your own camera roll! I love drawing scenes and images from recent trips that I’ve taken – it’s a great way to practice my drawing skills while also reliving some of the fun memories I made on the trip.
Using your own photos is also a great option because you’ll have a personal connection to the images. Most likely there’s a good reason why you took those photos in the first place!
2. Draw Something in Front of You
Take a look around wherever you are. No matter where you’re sitting, there’s probably something that catches your eye right in front of you. Maybe it’s the way your cat is sitting or the way your coffee looks in the morning. Find something in your environment and draw inspiration from it.
3. Go Out in Public
Sometimes a change in scenery is all you need to get inspired and start drawing. I shared some of my favorite tips for plein air drawing in this post, but there are plenty of ways for you to get out of your comfort zone and experience something new.
While you’re out, you can choose to draw from a reference photo, draw from your environment, or draw entirely from your imagination. It’s up to you to decide how you want to allow the surroundings to impact you. Many people find that shifting their location can also change their mindset.
4. Combine Hobbies and Interests
Do you love watching Sunday night football? Perhaps you just started getting into gardening? Or maybe you love taking your dog to the dog park. Any of these interests can create inspiration for a drawing. For example, if you love football, take some time to watch YouTube videos of your favorite team and make quick, loose sketches of the teammates.
Combining your interests offers a way to kill two birds with one stone. Drawing is so versatile that it truly allows you to experiment with all different kinds of subject matter. Personally, I like to take my sketchbook along while I go hiking so that I can take a sketch break whenever I find something interesting. That means I get exercise AND some sketching practice in.
5. Find Art Prompts and Challenges
This can be a fun option if you are motivated by community. Kick in the Creatives offers a wide variety of challenges that can help you get inspired no matter what day of the week is. They offer weekly and monthly opportunities to test your limits and share on social media.
Want to really push yourself? Try entering a contest! You never know what you might accomplish. This website features a list of art contests and competitions that you can enter if you’re feeling brave.
6. Use Different Materials
If you’re someone who’s comfortable with pen and watercolor, try using markers instead. You can also experiment with pastels, crayons, charcoal, or any other drawing utensil to create something new. Different materials lend themselves to different techniques.
For example, charcoal pencils can be perfect for quick, loose sketching, perfect for conveying movement in your illustration. Introducing unique color combinations can also help you find inspiration in places you might not have expected.
7. Visit a Gallery or Museum
Museums and art galleries can be great places to visit if you’re in need of some inspiration. It’s hard to be surrounded by art and not want to create something for yourself! I always recommend visiting a museum that you’ve never been to before – allow yourself to be open to surprises and discovery.
If you have a favorite artist, you can also look up some of their pieces and see if you can draw in their “style” or color palette.
8. Take a Walk
Let’s face it, sometimes our minds need a reset. Taking a walk break can give you a chance to clear your head and feel less “blocked” as an artist. If you’d like to bring your sketchbook along, great! But if you’d rather take some time to contemplate other things, that’s totally fine, too.
You can always come back to your sketchbook whenever you’re ready. You might even discover something that strikes your imagination while you’re out on your walk.
9. Go Abstract
Another way to get more ideas for drawing is to just let yourself be free on the paper – doodle, cut up paper, scribble. Allow yourself to be expressive without any intention, which might be hard the first time you try it!
Going into your artwork without any ideas can actually give you the freedom to come up with ideas on the fly. Give your inner creative the reins and see what happens.
Give Yourself Permission
At the end of the day, having a hard time deciding what to draw is a natural part of being a practicing artist. You might discover that your mindset is actually what is holding you back. Perhaps you feel the need to make everything “perfect” or “realistic”. It’s important that we acknowledge our inner critics and allow ourselves some grace when we are feeling indecisive.
Letting go of high expectations for yourself can be a great way to kickstart your creativity. Try any of the techniques above and see where they take you!
