Every artist, no matter their skill level, has faced the dreaded creative block—those moments when you’re staring at a blank page with no idea what to draw. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been sketching for years, feeling uninspired can be frustrating. The good news? There are simple, effective ways to keep the creativity flowing and make sure you’re never stuck without something to draw.
Here are five easy strategies to help you always have fresh drawing ideas, even when boredom hits.
1. Use Drawing Prompts and Challenges
One of the easiest ways to get inspired is by using drawing prompts. These are short, creative suggestions or themes that give you a starting point. They can be as simple as “a rainy day” or as specific as “a dragon drinking coffee.” The goal is to spark your imagination and push you to think outside the box.
You can find daily, weekly, or monthly drawing challenges online (like Inktober or Sketchtember), or you can create your own personal list of prompts. Save them in a notebook or keep a jar full of ideas nearby. When you’re bored, pull one out and start sketching. No pressure—just a quick creative warm-up.
Pro tip: Try combining two random prompts to create something completely original.
2. Draw from Your Surroundings
Inspiration is everywhere—you just have to look. When you’re bored and don’t know what to draw, turn to your environment. Your room, a view from a window, the objects on your desk, or even your pet can be great sources of inspiration.
Try doing a quick sketch of whatever you see around you. Don’t worry about making it perfect. Focus on shapes, shadows, and textures. Drawing everyday objects not only helps improve your observation skills but also trains your eye to find beauty and interest in the ordinary.
If you want to make it more fun, try drawing your surroundings in a different style, like turning your room into a fantasy setting or reimagining your coffee mug as a robot.
3. Keep a Sketchbook of Random Ideas
Think of your sketchbook as a visual journal. Use it to jot down doodles, quotes, dreams, or anything that catches your attention. When you’re feeling uninspired, flip through the pages. You’ll often find half-finished sketches, strange concepts, or notes that can spark a new idea.
You can also dedicate a few pages in your sketchbook specifically to “idea dumps.” Anytime a drawing idea comes to you—no matter how small or silly—write it down. That way, when you’re bored, you’ll have a list ready to go.
Over time, this sketchbook becomes a creative goldmine, full of inspiration you can revisit again and again.
4. Experiment with a New Drawing Style or Medium
Sometimes boredom comes from doing the same thing over and over. If you always draw in pencil, switch things up. Try using ink, charcoal, markers, or even digital tools. Experiment with different styles—go from realistic to abstract, or try cartooning, minimalism, or surrealism.
Trying something new forces your brain to work differently and can instantly reignite your excitement for drawing. It also helps you grow as an artist and discover techniques you might not have tried otherwise.
You don’t need fancy tools to do this—just the willingness to explore. Even using a different color scheme or line thickness can make a drawing feel fresh and interesting.
5. Reimagine Something You’ve Already Drawn
You don’t always need a brand-new idea. Sometimes the best inspiration comes from revisiting something you’ve already drawn. Take an old sketch and redraw it with a new twist—maybe change the setting, the character’s mood, or update the style.
This not only gives you a creative starting point, but it also helps you see how much you’ve improved over time. Plus, it’s fun to look back and reinterpret past work with your current skills.
If you’re feeling adventurous, turn one of your previous drawings into a full scene, a comic panel, or a concept for a series.
Final Thoughts
The key to never running out of drawing ideas is to stay curious and open to experimentation. Creativity thrives when you’re not afraid to play, explore, and make mistakes. The more tools and strategies you have in your creative toolkit, the easier it becomes to push through boredom and keep your artistic momentum going.
Next time you’re staring at a blank page, try one of these five methods—and watch your imagination take off. Drawing should be fun, engaging, and, most of all, an outlet for self-expression. Keep your mind open, your pencil moving, and you’ll never be stuck for ideas again.
These tips are great! I’ve been stuck lately, but now I’m excited to try some new drawing ideas. Thanks for sharing!