9 Sketchbook Ideas Easy Enough Even for Beginners!

Craving a little creativity and need ideas for your sketchbook?

Want to stretch your drawing skills but don’t have the time (or the energy) for more complex pieces?

Don't worry— if you want to get back into drawing, but don’t know where to start, we gotchu!

We've rounded up 9 amazing sketchbook ideas that will get your creative juices flowing in mere minutes, so you don't need to stress out over the blank pages staring back at you!

Whether you’re a beginner, an aspiring artist, or just looking for something fun to do that taps into your creativity, these easy drawing ideas will help you jump back into being creative.

Enjoy getting into that artistic headspace with some of these easy-to-draw sketches and doodles – no stress, just create!

Pick up your sketchbook, pens, and drawing pencils, and let’s get started!

A Simple Self-Portrait Drawing

Drawing yourself is a great way to get started with sketching.

The human figure is something we all know and recognize, so starting off with a simple self-portrait is the perfect way to begin--best of all, you always have it with you!

It doesn’t have to be super detailed; it could even be a simple line drawing of your face.

This is also a great way to practice proportion and perspective.

You can even focus in on a specific part of the body, taking care to draw it accurately.

Doing a study of the body is a great way to get started on your sketching journey!

Also, feel free to create a blind contour drawing of yourself, as it's a great way to practice drawing. different

The goal is to draw the shape of your face without looking at your paper, just like a continuous line.

This exercise is great to focus on the shape of your features and get better at observing.

And it’s always fun to see how your drawing turns out!

A Landscape Drawing

Try using colored pencils or markers for this one and draw scenes from your favorite places.

Think of the sky, an ocean with boats, or a park filled with trees and wildlife--all easy enough to draw.

Pick a place near you that you find beautiful and draw it out from memory or from photographs.

Take the time to observe how each element fits together and explains the landscape.

This is a great way to practice how light affects objects and surfaces in different environments, as well as getting more comfortable with color theory.

If you’re short on time, this can be a great way to get some quick sketching practice in.

Feel free to experiment with different drawing tools and techniques while you draw your landscape!

A Still Life Drawing

Gather up some items from around your home or workspace, arrange them in a composition, and draw it!

Find some small objects around your home like books, vases, plants, cups etc., and draw them in your sketchbook.

Make sure you pay attention to light and shadow, as this will help you create a more realistic-looking drawing.

It’s also a great way to practice your shading skills.

A still life drawing helps you practice the basics of light and shadow on everyday objects as well as improving your observational skills when looking at real-life objects compared to what is drawn on paper!

An Animal Portrait

Choose your favorite animal and draw it in its natural habitat, whether it be your pet or a wild animal.

Pay close attention to the details like fur, scales, or feathers and how they move and interact with the environment.

This is a great way to practice texture, color theory, and proportion.

Focus on the animal’s facial features and expressions to make it more realistic.

It can also be helpful to research your animal of choice before you start drawing!

Drawing animals can be a lot of fun, so let your creativity run free and don’t be afraid to experiment!

A Food Illustration or Sketch

Got a few minutes to spare?

Whip up an illustration of your favorite dish or snack!

This is a great way to practice shapes and colors while also capturing something delicious-looking on paper.

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can even add a little bit of texture or shading to make it look more realistic.

Drawing food can be super easy and fun, so don’t be afraid to get creative with it!

Abstract Geometric Designs and Patterns

Geometric shapes are simple yet powerful, and abstract designs can be a great way to practice shading and color combinations.

Choose your favorite shapes, like circles and squares, or get creative with something more complex like a spiral or polygon.

You can even choose to use only straight lines, or combine multiple shapes to create a more intricate design.

Feel free to play around with combining multiple shapes, colors and patterns to create something beautiful and produce interesting visual effects!

This will help train your eye for composition, too, and you can try making something balanced yet unique with these shapes!

It’s also a great way to practice your technical skills and get creative with design.

Textured Drawings

Experiment with different materials, like charcoal or ink, for textured drawings that stand out from the usual pencil sketches!

You can draw anything from trees to people with this technique; just make sure the materials don’t bleed together too much so they look intentional instead of accidental marks on the page!

Textured drawings are an excellent way to practice different techniques and develop your imagination.

Just make sure you don’t overdo it when using different materials!

Comic Strips

Get creative by creating mini comic strips with stick figures or characters you design yourself!

The possibilities are endless here—you can make funny jokes or tell stories through these comic strips if that interests you more than traditional sketches do.

Experiment with colors and different techniques to make your comic strips look more dynamic!

You can even try adding some dialogue for an extra touch.

Comic strips are a great way to practice storytelling and have some fun with your sketches!

It’s also a great way to practice perspective and motion by using characters that move.

Doodles

Finally, don’t forget about doodling!

This doesn’t have to be complicated either; just grab a pen or medium of choice and draw whatever comes to mind.

Doodling is a great way to explore your creativity and come up with some fun designs!

Don’t worry if it’s not perfect— just let your creativity flow and have fun with it.

You can even combine different elements to come up with a unique design.

Whether it's of your dream house, an abstract drawing, fun doodles, or anything else, doodling is a great drawing idea to practice your creative skills.

It can even be a great way to relieve stress and have some fun!

The Power of Keeping a Sketchbook

Having a sketchbook can be incredibly beneficial to your art practice; it’s a great way to keep track of ideas and practice different techniques.

Using a sketchbook encourages you to stay creative and also helps you reflect on your artistic journey.

You’ll be able to look back and track your progress over time, which is incredibly rewarding!

Plus, it’s a great way to express yourself in a creative way.

No matter what sketchbook drawing idea you choose, just remember that the goal here is to have fun and embrace creativity.

Take your time and don’t forget to enjoy the process!

How to Fill Up Your Sketchbook with Creative Ideas

It can be intimidating filling up an entire sketchbook, but there are many ways to do it.

A great way to get creative with your sketchbook is to use it as a place to explore different concepts and ideas.

You can draw things you’ve seen in daily life, or try something completely new.

You can also use it to practice certain techniques like shading and perspective.

If you find yourself stuck on an idea, try looking up tutorials or doodles for inspiration.

The internet is a wealth of information and inspiration, so if you get stuck, there are many drawing prompts and cool drawing ideas you can search for to get your creativity flowing.

It's also great if you want to uncover some of the most challenging sketchbook ideas for detailed drawing projects.

Most importantly, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the process of sketching—it’s not about perfection!

Your sketchbook should be a place where you can experiment and explore without any pressure or stress.

So, don’t be afraid to get creative and let your imagination run wild!

With these sketchbook ideas, you’re sure to find drawing inspiration and fill up your sketchbook with amazing drawings in no time.

Embracing Sketchbook Ideas Easy to Draw

Having a sketchbook is an amazing way to express yourself, practice your skills, and explore different concepts and ideas.

There are so many options when it comes to filling up your sketchbook—from landscapes to comic strips—so don’t feel constrained by any particular idea right away!

Whether you’re starting out on your creative journey or just looking for something fun to do in your free time, these easy sketchbook ideas will get you going in no time.

These 9 sketchbook ideas are easy to draw and will give you the perfect opportunity to jump back into being creative.

Have fun experimenting with all the possibilities and use these ideas as a starting point for creating art that truly express who you are as an artist!

Good luck creating something amazing today!