If you’re like me, you love the idea of drawing consistently, but sometimes… life happens. You start strong, get distracted by work or Netflix or a perfectly valid existential crisis, and before you know it, your sketchbook is collecting dust.
That’s why I started doing a “Draw Every Week for a Year” challenge—and honestly, it changed everything.
Instead of pressuring myself to draw every day (which felt more like a guilt trip than inspiration), I picked one drawing idea a week. Just one. No pressure to make it perfect, no deadlines. Just me, a pencil, and whatever my imagination felt like serving up.
So if you’ve been feeling stuck, bored, overwhelmed, or just not sure what to draw next—this list is for you. It’s 52 drawing prompts. One for every week of the year. Pick a day, pick an idea, and go for it.
Some of these are silly. Some are simple. Some will challenge you. That’s the point. Let’s dive in.
52 Drawing Ideas (Draw Every Week for a Year)
1. Your favorite snack
Whether it’s a gooey grilled cheese or a bag of chips you swore you’d only have a few of, draw it like it’s your personal delicacy. Bonus challenge: try drawing it realistically and in a cartoon style.
2. A plant with a secret life
Maybe your houseplant moonlights as a jazz musician. Or it’s secretly growing legs. Add some personality to that silent green friend.
3. Your dream bedroom
No budget, no physics, no rules. Want a floating bed made of marshmallows? Go for it. Think Pinterest-meets-Hogwarts.
4. An animal doing your least favorite chore
Imagine a bear scrubbing a toilet or a cat dragging the trash to the curb. Make it struggle as much as you do. Or, just draw an animal. Here are some options and tutorials.
5. A self-portrait as a cartoon character
What would you look like in a Saturday morning cartoon? Big eyes? Bold colors? Exaggerate your quirks and turn yourself into a stylized masterpiece.
6. Your favorite shoes (even if they’re falling apart)
Draw all the scuffs, the stains, the character. The more worn, the better—they tell a story.
7. The view outside your window… but make it magical
Turn your backyard into a fairy forest or a city street into a steampunk wonderland. Use what’s real as the base, then let your imagination rewrite it.
8. A cozy café scene
Capture the vibe—latte art, soft lighting, maybe a person reading or a cat curled up on a windowsill. Bonus: design the café menu in the background.
9. Draw your hands in different poses
Try fists, peace signs, holding things, or reaching for stuff. It’s frustrating but seriously improves your drawing skills. No shame in using a mirror or photo reference.
10. Your pet (or dream pet) dressed for a job interview
Give them a tiny tie. Imagine what job they’re applying for. Are they nervous? Confident? Obsessed with their resume?
11. An old object with a story
That chipped mug, rusty key, or weird souvenir from your grandma’s attic—draw it like it’s the relic of an epic tale.
12. A dessert you’ve never tried
Look up a dessert from another country or invent your own sugar fantasy. Layer it, decorate it, and drool while you draw.
13. Your inner critic, as a character
Give that annoying voice in your head a body. Maybe it’s a cranky goblin. Or a smug parrot. Then put it in a silly hat. Feels good, doesn’t it?
14. A scene from your favorite book
Choose a moment that stuck with you—dramatic, peaceful, or weird. Add your own visual twist to the characters or setting.
15. A futuristic gadget that solves one annoying problem
Think: a machine that folds laundry or keeps your coffee at the perfect temperature. Make it sleek, bizarre, or cobbled together from junk.
16. People at the park (use your imagination if it’s empty!)
Sketch someone feeding birds, a couple having a picnic, or a kid chasing bubbles. Or draw a park full of ghosts—your call.
17. A mythical creature hybrid
Mermaids are cool, but what about a llama-mermaid? Or a phoenix-elephant? Mix creatures like you’re making soup. Weird is welcome.
18. Something broken… made beautiful
Draw a cracked phone, torn jeans, or a shattered mirror—but make it poetic. Think kintsugi, where the flaw becomes the art.
19. Your favorite childhood toy
Even if you don’t have it anymore, remember how it looked and how it made you feel. Add wear and tear for that nostalgic touch.
20. Your alter ego as a superhero
What powers would you have? What’s your costume like? And be honest—what ridiculous weakness would you secretly have?
21. Draw a playlist
Pick 3–5 of your favorite songs and create tiny illustrations for each. Capture the mood, the lyrics, or how the music makes you feel.
22. The inside of your brain right now
Is it chaos? Peaceful? Full of squirrels on roller skates? Don’t hold back—whatever it feels like, draw that.
23. Something you’re afraid of—but make it cute
Turn your fear of public speaking into a shy little marshmallow with glasses. This is low-key therapy with doodles.
24. An outfit you’d wear if you had zero fashion shame
Think feathers, glitter, capes, LED lights—whatever makes you feel like your most extra self. Draw it. Own it.
25. The messiest drawer in your house
You know the one. With old batteries, paper clips, and mysterious crumbs. Draw it like a treasure map.
26. A peaceful scene you wish you were in
Maybe it’s a mountain cabin. Maybe it’s a blanket fort. Create your version of calm and draw every soothing detail.
27. A comic about something awkward that happened to you
Keep it short (3–6 panels) and make it as dramatic or silly as you like. Embarrassment = comedy gold.
28. Redraw a drawing you did a year ago
Pick something old, and see how much you’ve improved. It’s a great reminder that progress happens, even when you don’t notice it day to day.
29. Your kitchen… but from an ant’s perspective
Everything’s HUGE. The toaster is a skyscraper. Crumbs are boulders. Create that wild, low-angle world.
30. A fantasy map of your neighborhood
Turn your local streets into rivers, volcanoes, magical forests, or candy kingdoms. Add little landmarks and legends.
31. An emotion as a monster
Give shape to anxiety, joy, jealousy, or peace. Big teeth? Gentle wings? Show what those feelings look like.
32. Draw something using only one color
Pick your favorite color and use only shades, tints, and tones of that color. It’s weirdly fun and great practice in contrast.
33. A tree that’s seen some stuff
Give it age, scars, maybe a face. Imagine the stories it could tell. Add carvings in the bark or magical objects stuck in the branches.
34. Your breakfast, but illustrated like it’s in a museum
Label it like an artifact. Get fancy. “Ode to Toast, 2023. Crumbs on ceramic. Butter medium.”
35. Aliens visiting Earth for the first time
How do they react to our weird habits? Draw them looking confused at a salad bar or fascinated by socks.
36. Your favorite holiday, redesigned
Change the colors, symbols, or traditions. Halloween with snow? Valentine’s Day in space? Reinvent the vibe.
37. The evolution of your hairstyle
Draw yourself over the years, from toddler fluff to that regrettable phase in high school. Be honest. Be brave.
38. What your dream art studio would look like
Windows, plants, and art supplies galore. Maybe a cat sleeping on your desk. Go wild with cozy and creative energy.
39. An illustrated to-do list
Draw each task as a tiny comic or symbol. “Do laundry” = sock mountain. “Call dentist” = phone with vampire teeth.
40. Something that makes you laugh
Maybe it’s a meme, a joke your friend told, or a ridiculous thought that pops into your head. Turn it into a visual gag.
41. A reimagined classic painting
Take a famous painting and remix it—modern clothes, different settings, add characters. What if the Mona Lisa was taking a selfie?
42. Your version of a tarot card
Design your own symbol, character, and meaning. Make it mystical or hilarious. Just make it you.
43. A place you miss
Maybe it’s your childhood bedroom, a café you used to go to, or a vacation spot. Draw it from memory or mix in imagination.
44. A mashup of two cartoons you loved as a kid
What if SpongeBob met Scooby-Doo? Or Sailor Moon teamed up with the Ninja Turtles? Draw the crossover of your dreams.
45. Draw something with your non-dominant hand
It’ll look weird. That’s the point. Just lean into the chaos and laugh a little.
46. A monster under your bed (friendly or not)
Is it cuddly? Creepy? A little misunderstood? Give it a name, a hobby, and maybe a tiny lamp.
47. A moment you wish you could freeze in time
Think of a perfect little moment—quiet coffee, sunset on a walk, a laugh with a friend—and illustrate it with love.
48. Your current mood as the weather
Stormy? Sunny? Foggy? Translate your emotions into skies, clouds, and forecasts.
49. A portal to another world
Maybe it’s hidden in your closet or under a bridge. What does the world on the other side look like?
50. An animal with the wrong body part
Octopus with eagle wings? Giraffe with tiger paws? Have fun with the ridiculousness.
51. A magical object you wish existed
A pen that draws in 3D? A mug that makes your favorite drink just by thinking about it? Draw it like it’s a catalog item.
52. Your year, in one drawing
Use symbols, characters, or scenes to represent your year. It can be chaotic, funny, bittersweet, or beautiful—just like life.
A Few Drawing Ideas and Tips (Because We’ve All Been There)
Let me be real with you—I still draw lopsided faces. I still smudge things constantly. And sometimes I stare at a blank page like it personally offended me. That’s normal.
Here’s what’s helped:
- Use reference images. It’s not cheating. It’s smart.
- Start messy. Loose lines, stick figures, weird proportions—just get something down.
- Draw in pen sometimes. It forces you to commit. Scary, but freeing.
- Step back (literally). Looking at your sketch from a few feet away helps spot what’s off.
- Keep your old drawings. Seriously. They’ll remind you how far you’ve come.
And if you feel like a drawing totally flopped? Guess what—you still drew. That’s a win. Not everything has to be gallery-worthy. Some weeks, I drew on napkins. Some weeks, I was proud. Others… not so much. But I kept going, and by the end of the year, I had a sketchbook full of memories, mistakes, and moments that made me smile.
You’ve got 52 weeks. Let’s fill ’em with art.
Conclusion
If you try this challenge, I’d love to hear how it goes. Or what prompt got you drawing again. Or even which one made you laugh out loud while sketching a llama in a business suit.
Whatever it is, I’m cheering you on.