40 Pencil Drawing Ideas

Staring at a blank page? Here are 40 hand-picked pencil drawing ideas — each one links to a full step-by-step tutorial, so you can go from "what should I draw?" to actually drawing in under a minute. Save this page: it's built to be your restock shelf whenever the inspiration runs dry.

  1. 1

    Pencil flower drawing

    Start from a small circle for the center and simple ovals for petals and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Flower drawing — hand-drawn flower illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  2. 2

    Dog drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Dog drawing — hand-drawn dog illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  3. 3

    Draw a Cat

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Cat drawing — hand-drawn cat illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  4. 4

    Eye study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Eye drawing — hand-drawn eye illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  5. 5

    Pencil butterfly drawing

    Start from a thin oval body with two large teardrop wings per side and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Butterfly drawing — hand-drawn butterfly illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  6. 6

    Rose drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Rose drawing — hand-drawn rose illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  7. 7

    Draw a Base

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Base drawing — hand-drawn base illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  8. 8

    Tree study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Tree drawing — hand-drawn tree illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  9. 9

    Pencil fire drawing

    Start from stacked teardrops with wavy edges and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Fire drawing — hand-drawn fire illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  10. 10

    Shark drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Shark drawing — hand-drawn shark illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  11. 11

    Draw a Person

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Person drawing — hand-drawn person illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  12. 12

    Frog study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Frog drawing — hand-drawn frog illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  13. 13

    Pencil hibiscus drawing

    Start from five overlapping heart-ish petals around a long stamen and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Hibiscus drawing — hand-drawn hibiscus illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  14. 14

    Fish drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Fish drawing — hand-drawn fish illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  15. 15

    Draw a Girl

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Girl drawing — hand-drawn girl illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  16. 16

    Snake study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Snake drawing — hand-drawn snake illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  17. 17

    Pencil bird drawing

    Start from a circle head on an egg body with a triangle tail and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Bird drawing — hand-drawn bird illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  18. 18

    Horse drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Horse drawing — hand-drawn horse illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  19. 19

    Draw a Bear

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Bear drawing — hand-drawn bear illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  20. 20

    Deer study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Deer drawing — hand-drawn deer illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  21. 21

    Pencil hair drawing

    Start from simple shapes and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Hair drawing — hand-drawn hair illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  22. 22

    Dinosaur drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Dinosaur drawing — hand-drawn dinosaur illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  23. 23

    Draw an Astronaut

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Astronaut drawing — hand-drawn astronaut illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  24. 24

    Panda study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Panda drawing — hand-drawn panda illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  25. 25

    Pencil fox drawing

    Start from triangles — a triangle face, triangle ears, and a triangle tail and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Fox drawing — hand-drawn fox illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  26. 26

    Bunny drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Bunny drawing — hand-drawn bunny illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  27. 27

    Draw a Plant

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Plant drawing — hand-drawn plant illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  28. 28

    Anatomy study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Anatomy drawing — hand-drawn anatomy illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  29. 29

    Pencil bubble drawing

    Start from simple shapes and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Bubble drawing — hand-drawn bubble illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  30. 30

    Water drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Water drawing — hand-drawn water illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  31. 31

    Draw a Family

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Family drawing — hand-drawn family illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  32. 32

    Giraffe study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Giraffe drawing — hand-drawn giraffe illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  33. 33

    Pencil bat drawing

    Start from simple shapes and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Bat drawing — hand-drawn bat illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  34. 34

    Mouse drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Mouse drawing — hand-drawn mouse illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  35. 35

    Draw a Cactus

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Cactus drawing — hand-drawn cactus illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  36. 36

    Seahorse study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Seahorse drawing — hand-drawn seahorse illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  37. 37

    Pencil line drawing

    Start from simple shapes and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Line drawing — hand-drawn line illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  38. 38

    Squirrel drawing, pencil version

    A favorite in this style — the step-by-step guide starts with basic shapes and builds up.

    Squirrel drawing — hand-drawn squirrel illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  39. 39

    Draw an Owl

    A classic pick for pencil sketching. Follow the numbered steps in the tutorial and add your own twist at the end.

    Owl drawing — hand-drawn owl illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  40. 40

    Mouth study

    Great practice subject: the tutorial covers construction, details and shading in six moves.

    Mouth drawing — hand-drawn mouth illustration with ink lines and soft colors

Want one picked for you?

The generator serves a random idea with the matching tutorial — reroll until something sparks.

🎲 Random Drawing Generator

FAQ

What are some pencil drawing ideas?

The list above covers the most popular options — every entry links to a full step-by-step tutorial. Top picks to start with: the first five on the list, which balance easy construction with a satisfying result.

How do I choose which one to draw?

Pick by energy, not by outcome: choose something you can finish in the time you have. Small finished drawings build more skill (and motivation) than abandoned masterpieces. Or let the random drawing generator choose for you.

Do I need special supplies?

No — every tutorial on this site works with a pencil, an eraser and any paper. Markers or colored pencils are a nice finishing touch, never a requirement.