Honestly, most people treat a blank piece of paper like it’s a high-stakes exam. It’s weird. We spend hours scrolling through social media looking at hyper-realistic portraits, feeling like if we can't render a human eye with every single tear duct detail, we shouldn't even bother picking up a pencil. But that's just a recipe for creative paralysis. The reality of finding simple drawings to draw is that the "simple" part is actually the most important bit for your brain's dopamine levels.
Drawing is a motor skill. Just like playing a sport or typing.
If you haven't drawn anything since the third grade, your hand-eye coordination is probably a bit rusty. That’s totally fine. You don't start a gym routine by trying to bench press 300 pounds, so why do we expect our hands to immediately produce a masterpiece? You've got to start with basic shapes and low-pressure sketches. This isn't about being the next Picasso; it’s about the meditative flow that happens when you're just doodling.
The Mental Block Behind Finding Easy Things to Sketch
Most of us have a "critic" in our heads that is way too loud. You know the one. It tells you your circle looks like a lumpy potato. Well, let the potato stay. Some of the most successful artists in the world, like Mo Willems (the guy who created the Pigeon books), thrive on simplicity. His characters are basically just circles, triangles, and lines.
When you look for simple drawings to draw, you're looking for a way to bypass that inner critic. You want subjects that are recognizable even if the lines are shaky. Think about a coffee mug. It’s basically a cylinder with a C-shaped handle. Even if it’s wonky, everyone knows what it is. That recognition is key because it builds the confidence you need to keep going.
There's actually some cool science behind this. Studies in art therapy often point to "low-stakes" creative expression as a massive stress reducer. When you aren't worried about the outcome, your cortisol levels drop. It’s basically a cheap form of therapy.
Simple Drawings to Draw When You're Bored
Let's get into the actual stuff you can put on paper right now. You don't need fancy markers. A ballpoint pen and a sticky note will work.
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The Power of Botanical Doodles
Plants are forgiving. Unlike a human face, where if the eyes are two millimeters off, the person looks like an alien, a leaf can be any shape. If you draw a wonky leaf, it just looks like a leaf that had a rough autumn. Start with a "branch" which is just a curved line. Add little ovals along the side. Boom. You've got a sprig.
You can try drawing a succulent. It’s essentially a series of overlapping teardrop shapes. Start from the center and work your way out. It’s repetitive, which is why people find it so relaxing. You aren't making big decisions; you're just repeating a shape.
Household Objects Are Underrated
Look at your desk. See that stapler? It’s a series of rectangles. The lamp? A dome and a stick.
Drawing from real life is significantly better for your brain than drawing from a screen. It forces you to understand 3D space. Try drawing your favorite pair of sneakers. Don't worry about the logos or the laces yet. Just get the big "L" shape of the shoe down. Shoes are great because they have personality. A beat-up Converse says a lot more than a perfect circle.
Celestial Bodies and Night Skies
If you want the ultimate "I can't mess this up" subject, go for space. A crescent moon is just two curved lines meeting at a point. Stars don't have to be perfect five-point shapes; they can just be little "X" marks or dots. If you add some clouds—which are just fluffy, irregular humps—you suddenly have a full scene. It looks intentional. It looks like "art."
Breaking the "Perfect Line" Myth
One thing that kills the fun is trying to draw a long, perfect line in one go. Professional illustrators rarely do that. They use "sketchy" lines—short, overlapping strokes that eventually form a shape. It’s way easier to control.
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If you're looking for simple drawings to draw, try the "blind contour" method. This is where you look at an object (like your hand) and draw it without looking at the paper. It will look absolutely ridiculous. It will look like a monster. But it trains your eyes to see what is actually there, rather than what your brain thinks is there.
Why You Should Avoid Erasers
Seriously, put the eraser away. When you’re doing simple sketches, an eraser is just a tool for hesitation. If you make a "mistake," just draw a new line over it or incorporate it. Maybe that accidental line becomes a shadow. Maybe it’s just a reminder that you’re a human being and not a printer.
Embracing the mess is how you actually get better. If you look at the early sketches of famous animators at Disney or Pixar, they are incredibly messy. They’re "searching" for the form. Your simple drawings are you searching for your own style.
Beyond the Basics: Adding Personality
Once you're comfortable with a lumpy cat or a crooked house, start adding "flair." This doesn't mean shading like a Renaissance master. It means adding tiny details that tell a story.
- Give your coffee mug a face.
- Put a tiny tiny person sitting on top of a giant strawberry.
- Draw a window, but put a tiny alien looking in.
These are still simple drawings to draw, but they have narrative. Narrative makes you want to draw more. It turns a practice session into a storytelling session.
Materials Matter (But Not How You Think)
You don't need a $200 set of Copic markers. Honestly, sometimes high-end gear makes the pressure worse. "I spent $5 on this pen, I better not ruin this drawing." That's a bad mindset.
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Use the back of an envelope. Use a napkin. Use a cheap Crayola marker. There is something incredibly liberating about drawing on "trash." It removes the preciousness of the art. When the paper is worthless, the drawing can be anything.
The 5-Minute Rule for Daily Sketching
The biggest hurdle isn't talent; it’s consistency. We’re all busy. But everyone has five minutes. You can draw a simple mountain range (just a few jagged triangles) while you're on a phone call or waiting for water to boil.
If you do one tiny, simple drawing every day for a month, you will be shocked at the progress. Your hand will stop wobbling. You'll start noticing shapes in the real world. You’ll see a car and think, "That’s just a rectangle on top of a bigger rectangle with two circles."
This shift in perception is the real gift of drawing. It makes the world look more interesting.
Practical Steps to Start Right Now
Don't wait for "inspiration." Inspiration is for amateurs; the rest of us just show up and work. Pick up whatever writing utensil is closest to you and try these specific prompts:
- The Continuous Line Animal: Try to draw a dog or a cat without lifting your pen off the paper. It’s a great exercise for flow.
- The "Blob" Challenge: Draw a random, messy blob. Now, add eyes, legs, and a tail to turn it into a creature. This is a favorite among concept artists for sparking creativity.
- The Icon Set: Draw five tiny icons representing your day (a bed, a coffee cup, a laptop, a fork, a book). Keeping them small—about an inch wide—removes the need for detail.
- Nature Textures: Fill a small square with just "grass" lines. Fill another with "wood grain" swirls. This builds muscle memory for different types of strokes.
- Follow a Simple Guide: Find a creator like Christopher Hart, who breaks down complex characters into very basic geometry. It helps to see how others "see" the world in shapes.
The goal is to keep your pen moving. If you find yourself staring at the page for more than thirty seconds, you're overthinking it. Draw a circle. Turn it into a smiley face. Now you're an artist today. Tomorrow, maybe that circle becomes a planet or a piece of fruit. The momentum is what matters most. Stop searching for the "perfect" thing to draw and just draw the thing in front of you.