40 Sketch Drawing Ideas

Staring at a blank page? Here are 40 hand-picked sketch 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

    Sketch dog drawing

    Start from a circle for the head and a bean shape for the body and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Dog drawing — hand-drawn dog illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  2. 2

    Cat drawing, sketch version

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

    Cat drawing — hand-drawn cat illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  3. 3

    Draw an Eye

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

    Eye drawing — hand-drawn eye illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  4. 4

    Butterfly study

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

    Butterfly drawing — hand-drawn butterfly illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  5. 5

    Sketch base drawing

    Start from a proportioned mannequin of ovals and cylinders and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Base drawing — hand-drawn base illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  6. 6

    Heart drawing, sketch version

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

    Heart drawing — hand-drawn heart illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  7. 7

    Draw Fire

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

    Fire drawing — hand-drawn fire illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  8. 8

    Shark study

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

    Shark drawing — hand-drawn shark illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  9. 9

    Sketch person drawing

    Start from a stick-figure armature padded with simple volumes and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Person drawing — hand-drawn person illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  10. 10

    Frog drawing, sketch version

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

    Frog drawing — hand-drawn frog illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  11. 11

    Draw a Fish

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

    Fish drawing — hand-drawn fish illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  12. 12

    Girl study

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

    Girl drawing — hand-drawn girl illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  13. 13

    Sketch book drawing

    Start from two joined parallelograms for the open spread and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Book drawing — hand-drawn book illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  14. 14

    Snake drawing, sketch version

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

    Snake drawing — hand-drawn snake illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  15. 15

    Draw a Bird

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

    Bird drawing — hand-drawn bird illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  16. 16

    Horse study

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

    Horse drawing — hand-drawn horse illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  17. 17

    Sketch bear drawing

    Start from a big oval body with a round head and small round ears and keep the lines loose — the full tutorial breaks it into six steps.

    Bear drawing — hand-drawn bear illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  18. 18

    Deer drawing, sketch version

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

    Deer drawing — hand-drawn deer illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  19. 19

    Draw a Cloud

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

    Cloud drawing — hand-drawn cloud illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  20. 20

    Moon study

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

    Moon drawing — hand-drawn moon illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  21. 21

    Sketch giraffe drawing

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

    Giraffe drawing — hand-drawn giraffe illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  22. 22

    Owl drawing, sketch version

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

    Owl drawing — hand-drawn owl illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  23. 23

    Draw Water

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

    Water drawing — hand-drawn water illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  24. 24

    Volcano study

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

    Volcano drawing — hand-drawn volcano illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  25. 25

    Sketch nose drawing

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

    Nose drawing — hand-drawn nose illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  26. 26

    Forest drawing, sketch version

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

    Forest drawing — hand-drawn forest illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  27. 27

    Draw a Ladybug

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

    Ladybug drawing — hand-drawn ladybug illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  28. 28

    Tiger study

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

    Tiger drawing — hand-drawn tiger illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  29. 29

    Sketch ocean drawing

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

    Ocean drawing — hand-drawn ocean illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  30. 30

    Wave drawing, sketch version

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

    Wave drawing — hand-drawn wave illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  31. 31

    Draw a Mountain

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

    Mountain drawing — hand-drawn mountain illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  32. 32

    Dolphin study

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

    Dolphin drawing — hand-drawn dolphin illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  33. 33

    Sketch mexican flag drawing

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

    Mexican Flag drawing — hand-drawn Mexican Flag illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  34. 34

    Otter drawing, sketch version

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

    Otter drawing — hand-drawn otter illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  35. 35

    Draw the Statue of Liberty

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

    Statue of Liberty drawing — hand-drawn Statue of Liberty illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  36. 36

    Wolf study

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

    Wolf drawing — hand-drawn wolf illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  37. 37

    Sketch panda drawing

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

    Panda drawing — hand-drawn panda illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  38. 38

    Koi Fish drawing, sketch version

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

    Koi Fish drawing — hand-drawn koi fish illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  39. 39

    Draw Money

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

    Money drawing — hand-drawn money illustration with ink lines and soft colors
  40. 40

    Chain study

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

    Chain drawing — hand-drawn chain 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 sketch 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.