You’re sitting there. The cursor is blinking—or worse, the physical graphite of your pencil is just hovering over a pristine sheet of 100lb cardstock. It’s intimidating. Honestly, the "blank page syndrome" is probably the biggest hurdle for anyone trying to maintain a creative habit. You want to create something cool, but your brain is currently a desert. You need fun images to draw that don't feel like a chore or a high-school art assignment where you're forced to shade a sphere for three hours.
Drawing should be a release. It shouldn't feel like a mid-term exam.
The secret to getting past that initial "what do I even do?" phase isn't just "practicing more." It’s about lowering the stakes. When we look for things to sketch, we often aim too high, trying to replicate a Renaissance masterpiece when we should really just be doodling a cat in a space suit. Real artists—the ones who actually fill up sketchbooks—know that the most fun images to draw are usually the ones that mix the mundane with the absurd.
Why We Get Stuck on the "What"
Most people think they can't draw because they lack talent. That’s usually a lie. Most people "can't draw" because they get bored or frustrated by the subject matter. If you’re trying to draw a realistic portrait of your Great Aunt Martha and it looks like a thumb with a wig, you’re going to quit. But if you're drawing a "Goth Toaster," there is no "wrong" way for it to look.
That’s the loophole.
Psychologically, drawing things that don't have a rigid "correct" form reduces cortisol levels. A study published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association actually found that 45 minutes of creative activity significantly lowers stress, regardless of skill level. The key is finding a "flow state," and you can't get there if you're constantly critiquing the anatomical correctness of a bicep.
Food With Attitude: The Easiest Starting Point
Food is a classic. But don't just draw an apple. That’s boring. Nobody wants to draw a bowl of fruit unless they’re being paid in college credits. Instead, think about food with a personality.
Think about a slice of pizza that’s actually a skateboarder. Or maybe a grumpy taco that’s losing its fillings. These are fun images to draw because they allow you to practice textures—the crunchiness of a shell, the melted goo of cheese—without the pressure of realism.
You’ve got so many options here:
- A sushi roll wearing a tuxedo (The "Soy-phisticated" Look).
- An ice cream cone melting into a puddle that looks like a ghost.
- A pineapple with sunglasses and a very "don't talk to me" vibe.
Notice how these aren't just objects? They’re characters. When you give an object eyes or a tiny hat, you’re no longer just practicing draftsmanship. You’re storytelling. That’s what keeps the pen moving.
The Weird World of Hybrid Animals
If you’re feeling a bit more ambitious, hybrid animals are a goldmine. This is where you can really let the "wild sentence length" of your imagination take over. Start with one animal. Add another. See what happens.
Have you ever tried drawing a "Corgi-Pillar"? It’s exactly what it sounds like. A long, segmented caterpillar body with a Corgi head and tiny little paws for all its legs. It’s ridiculous. It’s cute. It’s incredibly satisfying to shade.
Why Hybrids Work
They force you to look at reference photos. Even professional concept artists for companies like Riot Games or Blizzard use "mashups" to brainstorm. If you’re drawing a "Shark-Owl," you have to look at how a shark’s nose is shaped and how an owl’s feathers layer. You’re learning biology by accident.
- The Octo-Cat: Eight tentacles, one grumpy feline face.
- The Rhino-Bee: A very heavy animal with very tiny, overworked wings.
- The Giraffe-Penguin: Mostly neck, very little slide.
Nature, But Make It Magical
Nature is the traditional go-to for fun images to draw, but it needs a twist to stay interesting. Instead of a forest, draw a forest inside a lightbulb. Instead of a mountain, draw a mountain that is actually the back of a giant, sleeping turtle.
This is what illustrators call "Environment Narrative." You’re building a world.
Think about the way moss grows. It’s just a bunch of tiny dots and squiggles. If you’re stressed, drawing moss on a magical stone is basically a form of meditation. You don't have to think. You just "stipple."
Objects From Your Junk Drawer
Sometimes the best inspiration is literally six inches away from your elbow. Look at your desk. What’s there? A stapler? A half-empty coffee mug? A tangled mess of charging cables?
These are actually great fun images to draw if you approach them like they’re artifacts from an alien civilization. Draw that stapler, but make it look like a futuristic tank. Draw the coffee mug, but make it look like a crumbling ancient tower where a tiny wizard lives.
Complexity doesn't have to be scary.
If you look at the work of artists like Kim Jung Gi (rest in peace to a legend), he could draw a pile of trash and make it look like a masterpiece. Why? Because he understood how shapes fit together. By drawing the junk on your desk, you’re learning "spatial awareness." You’re figuring out how a 3D object occupies space on a 2D surface.
The "Prompt" Game: Breaking the Mental Block
If you’re still staring at the page, you need a system. Some people use Inktober prompts, but those can be a bit rigid. Try the "Noun + Adjective + Verb" method.
- Noun: Toaster.
- Adjective: Melancholy.
- Verb: Flying.
Now you have to draw a "Melancholy Flying Toaster." Suddenly, the brain starts firing. How does a toaster fly? Does it have wings, or does it shoot burnt toast out the bottom like a rocket? Why is it sad? Maybe it’s out of bread.
This kind of structured play is vital.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A lot of people think they need the best gear. They go out and buy a $2,000 iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil before they’ve even doodled a stick figure. Don't do that. Honestly, some of the most fun images to draw come from a cheap ballpoint pen on the back of a receipt.
The "grit" of cheap materials can actually be liberating.
If you use an expensive canvas, you’re afraid to mess up. If you’re using a napkin, who cares? Go wild. Scribble. Make mistakes. The goal is the process, not the product.
Another mistake? Comparison.
You see someone on Instagram who’s been drawing for 20 years and you feel like a failure. Stop. They’re showing you their highlight reel. They aren't showing you the 400 pages of hot garbage they drew to get to that one good piece. Your "bad" drawings are just steps on the staircase.
Actionable Steps to Start Drawing Today
- Set a Timer: Give yourself 10 minutes. No more. This removes the "I don't have time" excuse.
- Pick a Theme: Choose one of the categories above—Food, Hybrids, or Magic Nature.
- Use a Reference: Don't draw from memory. Your brain "summarizes" things too much. Look at a real photo of a strawberry if you’re drawing a strawberry monster. It’ll look 10x better.
- Finish it: Even if it looks weird, finish the lines. There’s a psychological "win" in completing a drawing that keeps you coming back the next day.
Drawing is a muscle. It’ll feel weak at first. But after a week of drawing weird, fun images, you’ll notice that your hand starts to follow your brain more accurately.
Start with a single line. Add a curve. Give it a face. You’re already doing it.
The most important thing is to keep the "fun" in the process. If you find yourself getting frustrated with a specific subject, pivot. There are no rules in your sketchbook. If you want to draw a dragon eating a hot dog while sitting on a cloud, that is your right as a creator. Go make something weird.