Not sure what to draw next? Whether you’re a beginner staring at a brand new sketchbook or an experienced artist in need of fresh inspiration, one of the hardest parts of drawing can simply be figuring out what to draw. The solution? One hundred distinct drawing ideas to help spark your creativity and get your pencil moving. There’s no pressure, and no perfection required—just pick a prompt that piques your interest and start sketching.

From quick doodles and beautiful botanicals to striking landscapes and expressive faces, there’s something here for every skill level (and every mood). Depending on what you choose, these ideas can relax, entertain or challenge you, and some only take a few minutes, while others could take hours. Jump straight to the categories that excite you most, or work your way through them all—you might just discover a new favorite subject along the way.

Doodles

Doodles are the perfect way to get warmed up and let your imagination roam free: They’re quick, spontaneous and don’t come with any pressure to be perfect. If you’re filling empty space in your journal or simply looking for a way to relax, doodling is a fun and low-stress way to explore your creativity.

1. Joyful Sea Foam 

A person’s hand using a pen to draw tiny circles surrounding big circles on a white piece of paper.
The Skillshare class “Slow Drawing, Slow Living: Get in the Flow with Ocean Doodles” led by teacher Ewa Rosa. 

Skill level: Any.

About the project: Use these easy but beautiful ocean-inspired doodles to start drawing, get in a flow state and relax your mind. 

2. Slow Arcs

A  person’s hands using a pen to draw arcs within a circle on a white piece of paper.
The Skillshare class “Daily Meditative Art Practice: Pen, Paper, and Patterns” led by teacher Neha Modi.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Discover how drawing can help you find your zen with these graceful pen doodles. 

3. Straight Lines 

A white piece of paper filled with geometric shapes which are themselves filled with lots of straight lines.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Patterns: 14 Days of Mindful Drawing for Self-Care” led by teacher Mel Rye.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Take your doodles in a more linear direction with these mesmerizing geometric shapes. 

4. Noodle-Inspired Design

A sketchbook laying open on a white tabletop. Its page is filled with ink doodles that resemble scalloped pasta. 
The Skillshare class “Develop a Daily Creative Habit with Zen Doodle and Zentangle Inspired Art - 45 Exercises Included!” led by teacher Ridhi Rajpal. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: While not an official Zentangle pattern, these noodle-inspired doodles will fit right in with the rest of your Zentangle designs. 

5. Your Initials 

The capital letter M drawn on a wooden surface. The M is composed of concentric waves and arches. 
The Skillshare class “Draw Doodle Typography” led by teacher Joe McMenamin. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Personalize your doodles with a stylized version of your own initials. 

6. Single Line Doodle 

A one-line doodle on an iPad screen. The doodle is in black, and the background is pink.
The Skillshare class “Abstract and Organic iPad Doodling: Foster Your Creativity with Play and Experimentation” led by teacher Rich Armstrong from TapTapKaboom.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Practice letting your creativity flow with a one-line doodle of just about anything. 

7. Decorated Watercolor 

A person’s hands holding a white piece of paper filled with blue and purple watercolor paint that’s accented with ink doodles. 
The Skillshare class “Doodling in Abstract: Reverse Coloring” led by teacher Sarah Leigh. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Add some color to your sketchbook by first filling a page with watercolor washes and then decorating it with organic doodles. 

8. Optical Illusion Mandala 

A black and white mandala drawn on a white piece of paper.  
The Skillshare class “Mindful Mandala: 7 Days of Relaxation and Creative Play” led by teacher Neha Modi. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Create your own optical illusion with this entrancing (but surprisingly easy) ink mandala. 

9. Gustav Klimt-Inspired Patterns 

Two square pieces of white paper filled with geometric shapes decorated with gold accents. 
The Skillshare class “Draw Abstract Art using Patterns inspired by Gustav Klimt” led by teacher Ridhi Rajpal.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: With these bold designs, you’ll take inspiration from the famous Austrian painter Gustav Klimt and his affinity for decorative gold accents. 

10. Abstract Ink Illustration 

A sketchbook laying open surrounded by crystals. Its page is filled with geometric abstract ink drawings. 
The Skillshare class “Intro to Abstract Ink Illustration: Create a Unique Artwork” led by teacher Hattie Linton.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Use several drawing techniques to create a one-of-a-kind pattern that means something to you. 

11. Vibrant Highlighter Art 

An abstract design created with neon highlighters on a white background. The design resembles tropical leaves. 
The Skillshare class “Draw Vibrant Rainbow Art: Easy Tips to Create Abstract Masterpieces Using Neon Highlighters” led by teacher Adam Palmeter.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Take humble highlighters and use them to create a stunning abstract pattern. 

Plants and Flowers

Nature provides some of the most elegant and inspiring drawing subjects. From delicate petals to lush foliage, plants and flowers can help you practice shapes, patterns, shading and more. These drawing ideas will help you capture the quiet beauty of the natural world.

12. Floral Cascade 

A person’s hands resting on an open sketchbook. It’s filled with doodles of flowers and vines cascading down from the top of the pages. 
The Skillshare class “Floral Doodling for Beginners: How to Draw a Floral Cascade” led by teacher Chloe Wilson.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Calm your mind and brighten up your sketchbook with these cheerful floral doodles. 

13. Botanical Mandala 

A person’s hands holding a pen above a piece of paper. The paper is filled with a botanical mandala design.
The Skillshare class “Botanical Mandala: How to Make a Mandala Inspired by Nature” led by teacher Altea Alessandroni. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Learn how to create a beautifully symmetrical mandala that’s inspired by the world around you. 

14. One-Line Flowers 

A variety of one-line flower doodles arranged in a grid on a white background.
The Skillshare class “Learn to Draw Flowers - The Art of One-Line Floral Doodling” led by teacher Toby Haseler. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Take a relaxed approach to capturing flowers’ beauty with this approachable one-line technique. 

15. Pressed Flower Doodles 

A white piece of paper filled with an ink drawing of flowers and leaves in a bell jar.
The Skillshare class “Draw Simple Botanical Doodles Inspired by Pressed Flowers” led by teacher Ewa Rosa. 

Skill level: Any.   

About the project: Take the intimidation out of learning to draw flowers by capturing them in a two-dimensional form. 

16. Simple Potted Plants 

A person’s hand using an Apple Pencil to draw basic potted plants on an iPad.
The Skillshare class “Flowers and Foliage: Drawing Plants and Botanical Illustrations in Procreate” led by teacher Sarah Holliday. 

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Go beyond flowers by learning how to draw various plants and their unique leaves. 

17. Scientific Botanical Illustration

A person’s hands using a pen to draw a branch with leaves and berries on the white page of a sketchbook.
The Skillshare class “Botanical Illustration Intensive: Draw Plants Using Science and Style” led by teacher Maggie Heraty. 

Skill level: Beginner.

About the project: Create a scientifically accurate drawing of any plant with simple and easy-to-learn techniques. 

18. Lush Hydrangea 

A drawing of a hydrangea on white paper, next to an iPad displaying a reference photo.
The Skillshare class “Learn to Draw Flowers from Scratch: Hydrangea + Poppy” led by teacher Meenakshi Muthuraman. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Get the hang of drawing details by sketching the many petals of a hydrangea flower. 

19. Sketched Trees 

Several pieces of paper on a white tabletop. Each piece of paper is filled with ink drawings of trees.
The Skillshare class “Let's Sketch Trees- Pine Trees | Birch Tree | Shrubs | Bushes - Floral Illustration” led by teacher Meenakshi Muthuraman.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Discover how to create basic but believable drawings of trees. 

20. Realistic Trees 

A person’s hand using a pen to draw an illustration of a realistic tree on a white sketchbook page.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw Realistic Trees with Ink Pens: Observation, Shading, and Shape” led by teacher Sam Gillett. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Create more realistic-looking trees with easy shading and drawing techniques. 

21. Classic Acanthus

An acanthus design on a beige background. The leaves are rust orange and deep eggplant colored.
The Skillshare class “Classic Illustration - Drawing The Acanthus” led by teacher Bärbel Dressler. 

Skill level: Any.   

About the project: Master a motif that’s been around since ancient times by learning how to draw the acanthus plant. 

22. Detailed Roses 

A realistic pencil drawing of two blooming roses drawn on white paper.
Caption: The Skillshare class “Drawing Flowers: Using iPhone Photos to Draw Roses” led by teacher Elizabeth Floyd. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Take your flower drawing skills into the third dimension by sketching blooming roses from a reference photo. 

23. Lifelike Peonies 

A person’s hand using a pen to create a realistic drawing of peonies on a white piece of paper. There are two similar drawings on either side.
The Skillshare class “Find Your Style and Master Botanical Drawing With Ink Pens” led by teacher Gio Vescovi. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Draw a frame-worthy illustration of peonies with the help of fineline shading techniques. 

24. Romantic 19th Century-Style Trees 

A 19th century-style pen drawing of a gnarled oak tree. Some of its branches are drooping so low they’re touching the ground.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Trees Like a XIXth Century Artist” led by teacher Elwira Pawlikowska.

Skill level: Intermediate. 

About the project: Tired of generic trees? Take inspiration from 19th-century artists and discover how to draw trees with character. 

Animals 

Animals offer a rich variety of forms, textures and personalities to explore through art. Whether it’s by sketching the fluffy feathers of a bird, the soft fur of a kitten or the glistening scales of a fish, drawing animals can help you improve your observation skills and anatomical knowledge. 

25. Cute Creatures 

Several illustrations of cute and colorful animals on white paper. They include a bird, snail, ladybug, chicken, turtle and more.
The Skillshare class “You Can Draw Cute Animals! In 3 Simple Steps / Learn Character Drawing for Beginner Level” led by teacher Yasmina Creates. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Learn the formula for cuteness and gain the ability to make any (yes, any) animal look adorable. 

26. Simplified Duck

A person’s hand using a pencil to draw an illustration of a duck on white paper. The reference photo is visible on the left.
The Skillshare class “Animal Drawing: Quickly Sketch a Duck - Easy Drawing for Beginners - Realistic Art Drawing Skills” led by teacher Andy Villon. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Sketch a realistic-looking duck by learning how to break it down into simple shapes. 

27. Playful Birds 

A page of an open sketchbook that’s been filled with pencil drawings of birds in various poses. 
Caption: The Skillshare class “Simple Ways to Draw Stylized Birds” led by teacher Lisa Griffin. 

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Experiment with bird illustration by drawing many species in a variety of poses. 

28. Realistic Owl 

A realistic pencil drawing of a barn owl on white paper. The reference photo of the owl is visible on the left.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Realistic Animals with Simple Shapes: Birds” led by teacher Mirka Hokkanen.

Skill level: Beginner.   

About the project: Use a pencil to capture all the fine details and features of a perching barn owl. 

29. Highland Cow 

A fuzzy highland cow drawn in pencil on white paper.
The Skillshare class “Animal Pencil Drawings: Techniques for Beginners” led by teacher Cherith Harrison. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Turn simple pencil markings into an impressive drawing of an adorable Scottish cow. 

30. Fuzzy Bumblebee 

A person’s hand using colored pencils to create a photorealistic drawing of a bumblebee on white paper.
Caption: The Skillshare class “Learn to draw a bumble bee in colored pencils | Great beginner's class” led by teacher Lauren Kline. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Add a splash of color to your animal drawings and discover how to create a realistic-looking bee with beautifully translucent wings. 

31. Stylized Cat 

Several separate illustrations of cats, four on the top and four on the bottom. Each one is drawn in a different style.
The Skillshare class “Develop Your Illustration Style: Draw a Cat” led by teacher Anne Bollman.

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Develop your own personal drawing style by learning how to draw cats that are realistic, cartoon-like and everything in between. 

32. Sketched Cats 

Several pencil drawings of cats in various poses on white paper.
Caption: The Skillshare class “Sketching Cats: How To Draw 5 Different Poses” led by teacher Emily Armstrong. 

Skill level: Beginner.

About the project: Explore cats’ unique poses with quick feline-themed sketches. 

33. Realistic Cat 

A realistic pencil drawing of a tabby cat. The reference photo used is visible on the left.
Caption: The Skillshare class “Cat Portrait: Pencil Drawing With A Focus On 3D Form | Intermediate” led by teacher Emily Armstrong.

Skill level: Intermediate.   

About the project: Tackle a realistic cat portrait complete with shading, reflections and detailed fur patterns. 

34. Cartoon Dog 

Two cartoon portraits of dogs, with a golden retriever on the left and a pug on the right.
The Skillshare class “How To Draw Cartoon Dog Pet Portrait” led by teacher Ecky O.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Learn how to draw a playful dog portrait that’s bursting with personality (and perfect for gifting). 

35. Sketched Dogs 

An open sketchbook laying on a gray tabletop. Its page is filled with drawings of the same dog in various poses.
The Skillshare class “Doodle Dogs: Easy Techniques for Drawing Dog Heads, Poses, and Legs” led by teacher Toby Haseler.

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Get more comfortable with drawing dogs by sketching them in various poses. 

36. Realistic Dog 

A person’s hand using colored pencils to draw a photorealistic image of a golden retriever on white paper.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Animals: How to Draw Realistic Dogs with Colored Pencils” led by teacher Gemma Chambers. 

Skill level: Intermediate.  

About the project: Use colored pencils to create a vibrant and true-to-life representation of a dog. 

37. Galloping Horse 

A digital illustration of a horse done in a terracotta color against a light brown background. Two reference photos of horses are visible in the lower right corner.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw Horses - A Beginner’s Guide” led by teacher JW Learning. 

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Discover how to draw one of nature’s most majestic animals using techniques anyone can learn. 

38. Fierce Tiger 

A person’s hand using a pen to put the finishing touches on a photorealistic drawing of a snarling Bengal tiger.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw a Tiger” led by Jasmina Susak. 

Skill level: Intermediate.   

About the project: Push your animal drawing skills to the next level with this vibrant portrait of a fearsome tiger. 

39. Elegant Koi Fish 

A black and white pen drawing of two koi fish swimming around each other to form a yin and yang symbol.
The Skillshare class “Koi fishes in ink drawing, stippling technique” led by teacher Ala Lopatniov.

Skill level: Beginner.    

About the project: Capture the elegance of koi fish with this detailed but approachable drawing. 

People and Faces

Drawing people and faces is a powerful way to express emotion, character and story. These ideas will help you break down the human form into manageable, approachable pieces, from easy stick figures to expressive facial features to realistic portraits. 

40. Doodled Figures 

A wide piece of white sketching paper laying on a green cutting mat. The paper is filled with dozens of small doodles of people.
The Skillshare class “Doodling People: Build Confidence and Drawing Skills through Sketching” led by teacher Toby Haseler. 

Skill level: Any.   

About the project: Daunted by the prospect of drawing people? This easy doodling project makes it a breeze to get started. 

41. Cute Character 

A colorful illustration of a princess wearing a pink dress and a gold crown against a white background.
The Skillshare class “You Can Draw Cute People the Easy Way! Learn Drawing for Beginners” led by teacher Yasmina Creates. 

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Discover a simple formula for drawing cute people in any number of outfits. 

42. Proportional Stick Figure 

A person’s hand using a pencil to draw an accurately proportioned stick figure on white sketching paper.
The Skillshare class “Learning to Draw: The Proportions of People” led by teacher Bethany Lindell. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Familiarize yourself with human proportions with this straightforward approach. 

43. People You See 

Several black and white drawings of people doing various activities arranged on a white background.
The Skillshare class “The Ultimate guide to Sketching People from Life” led by teacher Maria Avramova. 

Skill level: Beginner.    

About the project: Learn to draw the people around you and you’ll also improve your observation and artistic skills. 

44. Fashion Models 

Colorful fashion illustrations of models wearing several different outfits, including one in a floral suit and pink overcoat.
The Skillshare class “The Beginner's Guide to Fashion Illustration” led by teacher Lori Burt. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Use fashion illustration techniques to learn how clothes drape over the human body

45. Three-Dimensional Figure 

A realistically shaped pencil drawing of a human figure, drawn in red pencil against a white background.
The Skillshare class “Volume and Structure / Learn the Art of Dynamic, 3D Figure Drawing” led by teacher Brent Eviston. 

Skill level: Intermediate.  

About the project: Use shapes like cylinders and cubes to simplify the process of drawing a 3D person. 

46. Facial Features 

A white piece of paper filled with three sketches of mouths, three of noses and three of eyes.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Portraits: Sketching Eyes, Noses, Mouths” led by teacher Emily Armstrong.

Skill level: Intermediate.  

About the project: Get to know humans’ most prominent facial features by drawing eyes, noses and mouths. 

47. Convincing Eyes 

A pencil being used to draw a realistic illustration of a woman’s eyes and eyebrows.
The Skillshare class “Let's Draw: Sketch Realistic Eyes with Pencils” led by teacher Gabrielle Brickey.

Skill level: Intermediate.   

About the project: Learn to draw realistic eyes using shadows, light and attention to detail.  

48. Basic Portrait 

A person using a pencil to draw the side profile of a woman with long gray hair on white paper. An iPad displaying a reference photo is visible to the left.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Faces: Learn the Art of the Modern Portrait” led by teacher Ann Shen. 

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Master the fundamentals of portraiture, from facial anatomy and proportion to hair and perspective. 

49. Expressive Portrait 

A person using a pencil to draw a portrait of a woman with bangs and curly hair. The reference photo of the woman is visible to the left.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Faces: An Expressive Approach to Portrait Illustration” led by teacher Al Case. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Discover the secrets to successfully conveying emotion in your portraits. 

50. Asaro Head 

A person’s hand using a pencil to sketch a human head composed of many flat planes. The reference photo of the Asaro head is visible to the right of the drawing.
The Skillshare class “Drawing the Skull and Planes of the Head” led by teacher Mark Hill.

Skill level: Intermediate.   

About the project: Refine your portrait-drawing abilities with the help of the Asaro head, a classic tool for artists. 

51. Realistic Pencil Portrait 

A person using a pencil to draw a realistic portrait of a woman with long straight hair. The reference photo of the woman is visible to the left.
The Skillshare class “Draw Realistic Pencil Portraits - Basic Techniques To Help You Learn” led by teacher Helena Artbook.

Skill level: Intermediate.   

About the project: Draw a face in photorealistic detail using just one color.

52. Colorful Portrait 

A colorful portrait of a woman with wavy hair on white paper against a yellow background. The portrait utilizes shades of pink, green and orange.
The Skillshare class “Steps to Creating Vivid Portraits with Coloured Pencils!” led by teacher Chris Hong. 

Skill level: Intermediate.  

About the project: Spice up your portraits with vibrant colors that pop off the page. 

53. Anatomically Correct Hands 

Several realistic drawings of human hands laying on a brown wooden tabletop.
The Skillshare class “From Beginner To Pro: Simple Techniques To Draw Expressive Hands” led by teacher Gio Vescovi. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Many artists struggle to draw hands, but after completing this project, you won’t be one of them. 

54. Anatomically Correct Feet 

A realistic drawing of a human foot drawn in red pencil against a white background. Blue arrows indicate the directions the tendons of the foot are going.
The Skillshare class “Beginner Figure Drawing - How To Draw Feet” led by teacher JW Learning. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Why stop at hands when you can learn to accurately draw feet, too?

Food and Drink

Tasty and visually satisfying, foods and beverages make surprisingly delightful drawing subjects. The colors, textures and familiar forms of everyday meals and treats offer plenty of opportunities to play with detail and design, and the sheer variety of subjects makes for endless inspiration. Ahead, you’ll find ideas that are as fun to draw as they are to eat. 

55. Adorable Food

Four illustrations of food items with faces on a white background. They include a cookie, a donut, peas in a pod, and a plate of eggs, bacon and toast.
The Skillshare class “You Can Draw Cute Foods! In 2 Simple Steps / Learn Drawing for Beginners” led by teacher Yasmina Creates. 

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Turn everyday foods into cute characters with uncomplicated techniques. 

56. Still Life Apple 

A still life pencil drawing done in red pencil on white paper. The drawing emphasizes the shading of the apple and the shadow it casts.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Fundamentals: Realistic Shading and Illustration Techniques” led by teacher Ethan Nguyen. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Learn how light, shadows and shapes interact with each other by drawing a classic still life. 

57. Vibrant Berries 

Two colorful illustrations of berries, one of strawberries and one of blueberries, against a white background.
The Skillshare class “Drawing with Markers: Learn How to Sketch Expressive Fruits and Berries” led by teacher Julia Henze. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Draw juicy, colorful berries that look good enough to eat. 

58. Sweet Cupcake 

A person’s hand using markers to complete a realistic drawing of a chocolate cupcake decorated with purple frosting.
The Skillshare class “Sketching With Markers: Draw a Sweet Cupcake” led by teacher Olga Sh. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Learn how to draw fluffy frosting with this tasty-looking cupcake. 

59. Delectable Cake 

A realistic illustration of a slice of blueberry cheesecake on white paper. The paper is laying on a gray stone tabletop.
The Skillshare class “Sketching With Markers: Draw a Piece of Cake” led by teacher Olga Sh.

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Use alcohol markers to depict a delicious slice of cake. 

60. Crosshatched Teapot 

A realistic drawing of a teapot done in pencil on white paper. The reference photo of a real teapot is visible in the top left corner of the image.
The Skillshare class “Beginners Guide to Crosshatching Drawing Techniques” led by teacher Ankit Jasmatiya.

Skill level: Beginner.   

About the project: Delve into crosshatching techniques while creating a charming drawing of a teapot. 

61. Hyperrealistic Bell Pepper 

A realistic drawing of a red bell pepper with a green stem, done in colored pencils on a white piece of paper.
The Skillshare class “Introduction to Realism with Colored Pencils-Basics and Still Life Drawing” led by teacher Smitha Rao. 

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Bring a bell pepper to life with this colorful pencil drawing. 

62. Delicate Macarons 

A colored pencil illustration of three macarons stacked on top of each other. One is yellow, one is green and one is pink.
The Skillshare class “Reference Photos and Colored Pencil Drawings Made Easier: Realistic Food Illustration” led by teacher Smitha Rao. 

Skill level: Any.   

About the project: Decorate your sketchbook with cheerful and colorful macarons. 

63. Fresh-Baked Croissant 

A person using markers to draw a realistic image of a croissant drizzled in chocolate on white paper. 
The Skillshare class “Sketching With Markers: Draw a Croissant” led by teacher Olga Sh. 

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Another French pastry, this time drizzled in shiny chocolate and drawn with markers. 

64. Sundae in a Glass  

A photorealistic colored pencil drawing of an ice cream sundae in a glass dish. The colored pencils used to create the drawing are visible on the left.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw Large Detailed Drawings with Coloured Pencils: Drawing an Ice Cream Sundae” led by teacher Gemma Chambers. 

Skill level: Advanced.  

About the project: Challenge yourself by drawing a delicious sundae served in a realistic glass dish. 

Landscapes 

Learn to draw landscapes and you’ll be able to capture the world around you, or realize imagined scenes from your mind. From majestic mountains to dense forests, landscapes help you practice perspective, depth and atmosphere. 

65. Mountain Sketch 

A person using a pencil to create a drawing of a mountain peak in a sketchbook resting on a wooden tabletop.
The Skillshare class “Learn to Draw Landscapes: Exploring Diverse Environments in Graphite” led by teacher Paul Richmond. 

Skill level: Beginner.   

About the project: Start with a simple but beautiful drawing of a mountaintop. 

66. Observational Landscape Sketch

A person’s hand using a pencil to draw a quick sketch of a hilly landscape. Their sketchbook is resting on a rock covered in lichen and moss.
The Skillshare class “Landscape Sketching in Ireland” led by teacher Siobhan Twomey. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Get into the flow of landscape drawing with this relaxed project. 

67. Cozy Cabin 

A person’s hand using a pen to illustrate a drawing of a small cabin in the woods.
The Skillshare class “Sketching Practice: Draw a Cozy Cabin Scene with Ink Pens” led by teacher Sam Gillett.

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Create a complete scene of this charming cabin in the woods. 

68. Van Gogh-Inspired Landscape 

A van Gogh-style drawing of a landscape done on the white page of a sketchbook. A yellow daffodil is visible in the background.
The Skillshare class “Draw Landscapes like Vincent van Gogh: Simple Ink and Pencil Techniques” led by teacher Moon Maxwell. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Use simple mark-making techniques to draw impressive van Gogh-inspired landscapes. 

69. Charcoal Forest 

A person using a charcoal pencil to create a drawing of trees in a forest. The trees in the foreground are casting long shadows on the ground.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Landscapes With Charcoal: Texture and Distance” led by teacher Emily Armstrong. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Capture trees in a forest at sunset with charcoal pencils. 

70. Bold Desert Scene 

An black and white ink drawing of a Joshua tree growing in the desert in front of a large rock formation.
The Skillshare class “Inking Basics: Drawing with pen and brush” led by teacher Tim Eggert.

Skill level: Beginner.  

About the project: Use inking techniques to portray a tranquil desert landscape in black and white. 

71. Fantasy Landscape 

The white page of a sketchbook filled with a pencil drawing of a medieval tower and bridge in a valley between several mountains.
The Skillshare class “Drawing From Imagination: Sketch a Fantasy Landscape in Pen or Pencil” led by teacher Sam Gillett.

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Bring an imaginary landscape to life in a believable way. 

72. Stylized Landscape 

A black and white illustration of a lake in front of a mountain. The drawing has been decorated with abstract elements such as a floral pattern on the sun.
The Skillshare class “Drawing Your Personal Landscape: Next Level of Drawing in Pen and Ink” led by teacher Jamie Smith.  

Skill level: Intermediate. 

About the project: Take what you know about landscape drawing and infuse it with your own personal style. 

73. Vibrant Stylized Landscape

A colorful digital illustration of a mountain lake with birds flying over it. The sun is setting in the background.
The Skillshare class “Illustrated Environments: Draw a Stylised Landscape Scene in Procreate” led by teacher Sarah Holliday. 

Skill level: Intermediate. 

About the project: Use digital tools to create a stunning landscape of your own creation. 

74. Realistic Landscape Sketch 

A person’s hand using a pencil to draw a landscape scene of a river rushing over rocks in front of a dense forest.
The Skillshare class “Sketching Realistic Landscapes: Depth, Composition, and Detail” led by teacher Sam Gillett.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Practice observation skills by sketching a lifelike landscape from a reference photo. 

75. Colorful Realistic Landscape 

A person’s hand using a colored pencil to put the finishing touches on an illustration of a tree in a green field underneath a stormy sky.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw A Landscape with Colored Pencils: Realistic Drawings” led by teacher Gemma Chambers.

Skill level: Intermediate. 

About the project: Give your hand-drawn landscapes new depth with colored pencils. 

76. Impressionist Landscape 

An impressionist-style drawing of the Titanic ship next to a dock. A person in the foreground is turning their head to look at the ship.
The Skillshare class “Impressionist Drawing Vol. 1: Fundamentals for All Levels” led by teacher Baudilio Perez.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Employ the key principles of impressionist drawing to portray the iconic RMS Titanic.  

77. Soft Pastel Landscape 

A person’s hand using pastel pencils to create an illustration of idyllic cottages behind a small stream with blooming flowers on either side.
The Skillshare class “The Art of Soft Pastel Landscapes: Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Dreamy Countryside Scenery” led by teacher Wiktoria Miko. 

Skill level: Intermediate. 

About the project: Create an idyllic countryside landscape with blendable soft pastels. 

Buildings 

Whether modern or historic, grand or humble, buildings are fantastic subjects for practicing structure and perspective. Drawing architecture can sharpen your eye for detail, symmetry and spatial relationships, and can also help you notice beautiful details you might not otherwise appreciate. 

78. Architectural Doodles 

Several pieces of white paper lying on a white tabletop surrounded by plants. Each paper features a pen drawing of a multi-story building.
The Skillshare class “Introduction to Architectural Doodles- How to draw Buildings” led by teacher Meenakshi Muthuraman.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Dip your toes into architectural drawing with straightforward doodles. 

79. One-Line Building 

Alt: A sketchbook lying open on a wooden tabletop. One page is filled with a blue ink drawing of a multi-story building. 
The Skillshare class “Draw Buildings with One Continuous Lines” led by teacher Donna T. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Use one-line drawings to capture buildings in a unique way. 

80. Simple Medieval Castle 

A simple black and white pen illustration of two medieval towers with a gate between them.
The Skillshare class “How To Draw a Simple Medieval Castle” led by teacher John Anderson. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Draw a medieval castle straight from a storybook in just a few minutes. 

81. Street Sketch 


A person holding up a pencil drawing of a cathedral in front of the cathedral in real life. The drawing is on white paper clipped to a brown clipboard.
The Skillshare class “Street sketching, part 1 - Tricks and hints” led by teacher Evgeniy Stasenko. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Use observation skills to draw buildings based on a real-life reference. 

82. Rural Barn 

A pencil drawing of a wooden barn next to an empty country road with trees in the background.
The Skillshare class “Draw A Barn Using One Point Perspective” led by teacher Emily Armstrong. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Create a quiet country scene while practicing one-point perspective. 

83. Tiny House 

A pencil drawing of a tiny one-room house with a peaked roof in the forest.
The Skillshare class “Drawing In Two Point Perspective: Tiny House Project” led by teacher Emily Armstrong. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Master two point perspective with a charming tiny house in the woods. 

84. Guggenheim Museum 

A person using a pen to create a drawing of New York City’s Guggenheim Museum on white paper.
The Skillshare class “Urban Sketching: Draw the Guggenheim Museum in NYC” led by teacher David Drazil.

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Use a two-point perspective and other tried-and-true techniques to capture a famous American museum. 

85. Wooden Cottage

A detailed pen illustration of a log cabin with a stone foundation, peaked roof and chimney.
The Skillshare class “‘Drawing Houses Step by Step’ based on a very nice example of a wooden cottage” led by teacher Elwira Pawlikowska. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Take a step-by-step approach to creating an architecturally accurate drawing of a cottage. 

86. Ancient City 

A painting propped up on an easel next to a stained glass window. The painting depicts a sepia-toned alley between two buildings.
The Skillshare class “Drawing and Sketching Vol. 3: Capturing Ancient Urban Spaces” led by teacher Baudilio Perez. 

Skill level: Any. 

About the project: Learn how to draw cities from the distant past. 

87. Detailed Cityscape 

A person using a pen and a ruler to create a detailed and realistic drawing of city buildings next to a busy road on white paper.
The Skillshare class “Urban Sketching for Beginners: Draw the World Around You With Ink” led by teacher Gio Vescovi.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Use perspective, shading and composition to draw a realistic urban scene. 

88. Intricate Gothic Cathedral 

An intricate black and white drawing of the front facade of a Gothic cathedral.
The Skillshare class “Drawing various forms in perspective based on a GOTHIC CATHEDRAL” led by teacher Elwira Pawlikowska.

Skill level: Any.  

About the project: Draw an intricately detailed Gothic cathedral from start to finish. 

Anime and Cartoon 

Anime and cartoon styles let you bring personality and movement into your art in bold, expressive ways. Here, you’ll find fun prompts to help you explore facial expressions, master poses and even create your own character. 

89. Versatile Anime Eyes 

Several anime-style eyes drawn in black ink on a white background.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw Anime Eyes - For Beginners” led by teacher Enrique Plazola. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Dive into drawing anime with the genre’s distinctive eyes. 

90. Anime Face (Female) 

An anime-style portrait of a woman with red hair wearing a white tank top. On the left is the pencil sketch of the portrait, in the middle is a more refined version and on the right is the full-color finished portrait.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw Anime Girls in 3/4 View | Anime and Manga (Basics)” led by teacher Pigliicorn. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Draw a polished three-quarter portrait of a female anime character. 

91. Anime Face (Male) 

Digital illustration software displaying an anime-style sketch of a man’s portrait on a white background.
The Skillshare class “Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Drawing Male Anime Face” led by teacher Veldymort Co. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Create a simple but impressive portrait of a male anime character. 

92. Classic Manga Portrait 

A person using a pen to draw a portrait that closely resembles one from a manga. The manga they’re using as reference is visible to the right of the drawing.
The Skillshare class “Master Manga Portraits: From Classic Views to Dynamic Storytelling” led by teacher Milan Glozić.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Use references to draw portraits like a pro manga artist. 

93. Anime Hairstyles (Female) 

Three anime-style portraits of a woman side-by-side in digital illustration software. Each one features a different hairstyle.
The Skillshare class “How To Draw Female Hairstyles | Anime and Manga (Basics)” led by teacher Pigliicorn. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Give your anime characters different personalities with the help of unique hairstyles. 

94. Dynamic Anime Poses 

A person using a pen to sketch a human figure leaping toward the viewer, using perspective to make the pose believable.
The Skillshare class “How to Draw Dynamic Anime Poses” led by teacher Enrique Plazola. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Learn crucial techniques for drawing impactful anime poses. 

95. Anime-Inspired Portrait (Female) 

 An anime-style portrait of a woman with bangs and a short bob hairstyle on white paper.
The Skillshare class “How To Draw A Manga / Anime Styled Portrait” led by teacher Thumin.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Use manga inking pens to draw a stunning anime-style portrait of a woman. 

96. Anime-Inspired Portrait (Male) 

An anime-style portrait of a man with messy hair on white paper.
The Skillshare class “How To Draw A Manga / Anime Styled Portrait: Male Edition” led by teacher Thumin. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Create a striking anime-style portrait of a man. 

97. Cartoon Elephant 

A white piece of drawing paper filled with several pencil illustrations of a cartoon elephant making various facial expressions.
The Skillshare class “The Ultimate Guide to Drawing Cartoon Characters” led by teacher Maria Avramova. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Explore a variety of facial expressions on an adorable cartoon elephant. 

98. Cartoon Pose 

A black and white digital illustration of a female cartoon character clasping her hands together and looking into the distance while smiling.
The Skillshare class “Cartooning: Drawing Bodies and Poses” led by teacher Ira Marcks.

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Create a posing character that instantly conveys the emotion of your choice. 

99. Recognizable Caricature

A photo of the actress Amanda Seyfried on the left, and a black and white caricature of her on the right.
The Skillshare class “Character Design Crash Course: Develop Expressive Characters Through Caricature” led by teacher Melissa Lee. 

Skill level: Intermediate. 

About the project: Discover the principles of character design by learning how to draw recognizable caricatures of famous people. 

100. Original Character 

Three illustrated characters next to a chart that lays out their body proportions and notes whether each part of the body is wide, narrow or medium.
The Skillshare class “Character Design Crash Course: Dynamic Design in Four Steps” led by teacher Melissa Lee. 

Skill level: Beginner. 

About the project: Use your own creativity to design a one-of-a-kind character from scratch. 

Keep Your Pencil Moving 

Creativity thrives on momentum, so the more you draw, the more inspired you’ll be. Whether you complete one category in its entirety or try a little bit of everything, each sketch you make will be a small but significant step forward in your artistic journey. 

And if you’re looking for help reaching your next creative milestone, there’s a Skillshare class for you. With thousands of online drawing and inking classes at your fingertips, you’ll never be without an expert teacher to guide you in the right direction. 

Written By
Carrie Buchholz

Carrie Buchholz

Carrie Buchholz is a freelance writer who lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and dog.

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