Easy things to draw
Simple subjects you can finish in a few minutes, no experience needed. The picker below gives you a random idea from this list, or scroll down and choose your own.
96 ideas. Tap any idea to load it into the picker above.
Simple animals
- a round owl on a branch
- a goldfish in a bowl
- a sleeping cat curled into a circle
- a snail crossing a sidewalk
- a fuzzy bumblebee
- a whale spouting water
- a turtle peeking out of its shell
- a mouse with big round ears
- a caterpillar made of circles
- a penguin waddling on ice
- a pig face from the front
- a chick with tiny wings
- a starfish on the sand
- a bird sitting on a wire
- a puppy with floppy ears
- a crab waving its claws
Food and drinks
- a slice of watermelon
- an ice cream cone with two scoops
- a stack of pancakes with butter
- a slice of pepperoni pizza
- a bowl of ramen with chopsticks
- a pair of cherries
- a lemon cut in half
- a cookie with a bite missing
- a carton of milk
- a taco with lettuce sticking out
- a juicy pear with one leaf
- a fried egg in a pan
- a bunch of grapes
- a glass of lemonade with a straw
- a carrot with a leafy top
- a sushi roll
Everyday objects
- an umbrella in the rain
- a pair of sneakers
- an alarm clock ringing
- a key on a ring
- a school backpack with a front pocket
- a candle with a flame
- a pair of round glasses
- a teapot with steam
- an open book
- a paintbrush dripping paint
- a gift box with a bow
- a kite with a long tail
- a rubber duck
- a toothbrush with toothpaste
- a mailbox with the flag up
- a pencil and an eraser
Nature
- a tall sunflower
- a rainbow between two clouds
- a mushroom with white spots
- a saguaro cactus in the desert
- a pine tree
- a palm tree on a tiny island
- a lightning bolt from a cloud
- a leaf with veins
- a tulip in bloom
- a snowflake
- a mountain with a snowy peak
- a wave curling over
- a rock with moss on top
- an acorn
- a daisy with one petal falling
- a family of raindrops
Buildings and vehicles
- a little house with a chimney
- a red barn
- a lighthouse on a rock
- a castle with two towers
- a sailboat on a calm lake
- a school bus
- a bicycle with a basket
- a fire truck
- an airplane pulling a banner
- a rocket blasting off
- a hot air balloon
- a train engine puffing smoke
- a tent under the stars
- a bridge over a stream
- a windmill
- a submarine with a periscope
Shapes, letters and faces
- a smiley face with freckles
- your initials in block letters
- a heart with wings
- a speech bubble that says hi
- a stick figure jumping
- a cartoon eye winking
- a 3D cube
- a crown with jewels
- a paper boat
- a trophy cup
- a pair of music notes
- a sparkling diamond
- a robot made of rectangles
- a tic-tac-toe game in progress
- a zigzag border
- a hand waving hello
How to draw anything the easy way
Almost every easy drawing starts with basic shapes. Look at your subject and ask what it is made of. An owl is a big oval with two circles for eyes. A house is a square with a triangle on top. A cat curled up is just a circle with ears.
Sketch those shapes lightly first, then add the details that make it recognizable, like stripes on a bee or seeds on a watermelon. Finish by going over the lines you want to keep with a darker pencil or a pen, and erase the rest.
Tips for beginners
- Draw small. A drawing the size of a coin feels less scary and finishes faster.
- Do it three times. Your third try at the same subject is almost always the best one.
- Skip the eraser at first. Messy lines are fine, and they show you where the right line is.
- Add a face. Eyes and a smile make a simple object feel like a character.
When these feel comfortable, try the cute drawing ideas or roll a prompt in the drawing prompt generator.
Keep going
- Drawing Ideas for Kids66 fun drawing ideas for kids: animals, trucks, silly scenes, seasons and home.
- Doodle Ideas96 doodle ideas for notebook margins, bullet journals and boring meetings: easy patterns, funny faces, tiny…
- 50 Cute Drawing Ideas50 cute drawing ideas: kittens, pandas, food with faces and cozy little scenes.
- 100 Things to Draw When Bored (Quick and Easy)100 easy things to draw when you are bored: two-minute doodles, objects around you, little stories, practice…
- Drawing Prompt GeneratorRandom drawing prompts with a subject, art style, mood, color palette and a creative challenge.
Questions
What is the easiest thing to draw?
Simple round subjects are the easiest: a smiley face, a sun, an apple, a balloon or a sleeping cat curled into a circle. They are built from one or two shapes, so they look right even on your first try.
What should I draw as a beginner?
Start with objects made of basic shapes, like a cup, a house, a fish or a mushroom. Draw the same thing a few times, then move to animals and simple scenes.
How can I get better at drawing fast?
Draw a little every day, even for ten minutes, and redraw the same subject a few times. Copying real objects in front of you teaches more than drawing from memory.
What are easy things to draw when you are bored?
Pick something around you, like your shoes, a mug or a plant, or choose a quick idea from this list. Our page of things to draw when bored has more short prompts.