How to Get Inspiration For Drawing

Finding inspiration for creating art can sometimes be challenging. We’ve all been there, holding a pencil and staring at the paper blankly, not knowing what to draw. This blog post will give you some creative ideas on how to get inspiration for drawing.

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how to get inspiration for drawing

So, you’re looking for some inspiration to get your drawing mojo going? I totally get it. Sometimes, figuring out what to draw can be the toughest part. Remember, inspiration is often a blend of external stimuli and your unique interpretation. Embrace your individuality and let your personal style shine through in your artwork. Lastly, don’t forget that sometimes, stepping away and giving your mind a rest can unexpectedly lead to the most profound creative insights.

Draw from Life

Drawing from real life is one of the best ways to get inspired and improve your skills. You’ll learn to see things differently, and you’ll start noticing details that you might otherwise overlook. 

Life drawing also has other benefits: it can improve your observational skills, help you develop new techniques and ideas, give you confidence in making adjustments on paper (or screen), and even teach valuable lessons about how light behaves in real-life situations. 

Here are some tips: 

• Start with something simple. It doesn’t have to be a person or even an animal. It could be a plant or any other object that interests you.
• Find a subject that interests you and plan to spend at least an hour on it.
• Keep your supplies simple: pencil, eraser, paper, and maybe a ruler for straight lines.
• You can draw people, animals, or anything else you can find.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment! If you don’t like how something looks, just start over again.
• Draw with your eyes, not with your hand. Try to look at everything—including all the little details around an object or scene that most people overlook when drawing from life (for example, how light reflects off different surfaces).

If you want to be inspired, go somewhere that makes you curious about the world around you. Look for things that make your heart beat faster or your mind race with questions.

Simple Drawing Ideas 

These simple drawing exercises are a great way to warm up and practice drawing. They’re also a good way to get the creative juices flowing for more complex drawings later on. The idea is to just have fun and not worry about getting it perfect! 

Here are some easy drawing ideas that anyone can try:

• Fill a page with circles, big, medium, and small. Try different combinations of sizes, and see what happens when you put one circle inside another. – 
• Draw a bunch of overlapping circles in different sizes to create abstract shapes. You can also draw triangles, squares, or other geometric shapes within the circles.
• Draw an object you see around your home, such as food, a pencil, a glass, or a glue stick.
• Try drawing with crayons instead of pencils; this will give your drawings more character and color! 
• Draw a circle on your page—don’t worry if it isn’t perfect! Then take another pencil and draw lines from the center of the circle to each point where it touches the edge. You’ll end up with what looks like spokes on a bicycle wheel.
• Start by drawing simple shapes, such as circles and squares. Then move on to more complex shapes, like triangles and rectangles. (Try drawing realistic objects like a house or tree using these basic shapes).
• If you’re feeling ambitious, try drawing some objects from life, like a cat or a tree. Don’t be afraid to get creative! Try drawing things that don’t have straight lines, like flowers or animals. 
• You can also try copying pictures from magazines and coloring them in with crayons or markers!
• Draw your favorite cartoon characters.
• Practicing art and doodling on a regular basis will help you improve your skills and gain confidence in your abilities. You will also have fun doing it! Here is a great book that may interest you that has simple drawing ideas you can do in 5 minutes. How to Draw Cool Stuff: The 5 Minute Workbook. 

You can only find inspiration if you are willing to see it.

Zentangle

Zentangle is a very popular art form that has gained popularity in recent years. It is an easy way to create beautiful abstract designs or patterns and can be done on almost any surface. The best part about Zentangle is there are no rules! You can use whatever medium you like (crayons, markers, etc.) It’s art doodling taken to the next level.

If you are stuck and need something to inspire you, Zentangles is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. You can also use them as a way to relax after a long day of work or school or if you are feeling stressed out. 

There are tons of resources and tutorials online. The best way to get started is by searching for “zentangle” or “tangle patterns.” You will find many great sources of inspiration for free and paid tutorials. Here is a fantastic website with various patterns. You can also find books on Amazon like Joy of Zantangle and The Great Zentangle Book. 

If you haven’t drawn zentangles before, you should give them a try. You’ll find yourself creating beautiful works of art and designing your own pattern.

Blind Contour Drawing

The idea of a blind contour drawing may sound impossible, but it’s pretty simple and a lot of fun. You draw a subject without looking at the paper and never lifting your pencil or (medium of choice). It’s one continuous line. It breaks down your subject into squiggly lines and leaves you with a piece of abstract art.

For a quick exercise, do a blind contour of your hand. Focus only on the subject (don’t peak at your drawing). Without lifting your pencil, draw your hand in one continuous line. Remember, no peaking at your work until you’re finished! When you’re done, take a look at your drawing. You may be surprised by the end result. 

Blind contour drawing helps you to develop your eye for form and shape. Drawing without looking at your paper will also help you become more aware of the world around you, which can improve your visual perception and drawing skills.

You can do this with almost anything: people, animals, and even inanimate objects like coffee cups, buildings, or trees! You can also play around with different types of mediums like pencils, markers, or crayons if you want something more bold and colorful than just black lines on white paper. The goal of this exercise is to focus on the subject and nothing else. This can be difficult at first, but it will become easier with practice.

To get inspiration for drawing, write a list of random things and place them in a jar. Each time you are stumped, pick one to use in your drawing.

Get Lost in an Art Book or Museum

Visit an art museum. Look at art books at your local library, magazines, TV shows, and movies that feature paintings or other forms of visual art. Take note of the colors used in the paintings and how they affect you emotionally. You can also look at advertisements to see how images are used to sell products or services.

One of the things I love doing is looking at the work of other artists. Artists like Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gogh, and Andrew Wyeth (there are too many to list). I love looking at their paintings and taking note of their color palettes, brush strokes, as well as emotions that come across in their work.

When studying other’s art, keep a journal and write down the feelings that each piece of art evokes in you. How do these feelings compare to your own experiences in life? Does art sometimes give you a better understanding of your own emotions?

Take a Class

An art class is a great way to learn new skills and enhance your drawing. There are many different types of art classes, from painting to sculpture. Some classes focus on specific techniques, such as watercolor or oil painting. You can even find classes that teach you to draw cartoons or caricatures. Ask your local community center or library for recommendations if you want to take a class but need help knowing where to start.

You’ll get hands-on experience with different techniques and mediums and feedback from your peers. And if you’re lucky, you might even meet someone who inspires you!

If you’re looking for something that allows you to go at your own pace, try taking an online class. There are tons of free lessons on YouTube and social media sites. Plenty of paid ones can be found on sites like Skillshare, Udemy, or Craftsy.

Draw Inspiration From Nature and Other Natural Forms

One of the best ways to get inspired by drawing is to look at nature and other natural forms. Nature provides a never-ending source of inspiration for artists, so why not take advantage of it? Go outside and look at the world around you. You can find inspiration in everything from trees and flowers to birds and insects.

• Look at how light falls on your subject matter. Use this as a guide for shading and highlighting in your drawings.
• Look at how light reflects off of objects. This can help you create a realistic depiction of your subject matter’s texture and surface qualities.
• Look at the colors around you and notice how they blend together to form different shades (for example, look closely at what happens when a red light is shined on a purple wall).
• Draw in a sketchbook (check out my blog post about the best art journals), where you can easily flip through pages when inspiration strikes. Use it to experiment with different drawing styles and techniques inspired by nature’s beauty.

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

One of the best ways to get inspiration is to step out of your comfort zone. This means doing and looking at things outside your usual realm of interest. 

Try a new medium. If you’re a lifelong painter, try using charcoal for a change. If you’ve never done any painting, try oil paint or acrylics. Try different mediums and different techniques—creating art is all about exploring is the key to becoming a better artist.

If you’re bored with drawing human figures, try drawing animals instead! Or objects! Or nature! Don’t be afraid to experiment—you may surprise yourself and create something incredible.

And don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out perfectly—that’s actually part of being creative: sometimes things go wrong, and that’s okay too because then we learn from them and become better artists as a result!

When you’re trying something new, it often feels like an awkward experience at first because you’re not used to doing it. If you continue exploring and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone—even when it feels uncomfortable—you’ll find that things start feeling easier and natural over time.

When we step outside our comfort zone, it forces us to do things that make us feel uncomfortable. But discomfort is often a sign of growth and learning; without being pushed out of our comfort zones, we might never advance as artists or achieve what’s important to us. This applies to all aspects of life!

Draw your Feeling, Emotions, or Moods

Draw your feelings, emotions, or moods. What are you feeling right now? Are there any emotions that come to mind when thinking about drawing? What do you desire to change in yourself or your life? Do you have any wishes for yourself that still need to be fulfilled? Are there any fears currently nipping at your heels because of where you’re at with your drawing (or anything else for that matter)?

Drawing brings out the artist within us all. But sometimes, it takes work to find that artist. Sometimes we must dig deep, past the layers of fear and self-doubt. In order to draw well and be happy with your work, you must first know yourself.

Several years ago, I read a fantastic book called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. It’s a book about self-discovery and creativity. If you’re looking to find your inner artist or just want a boost of inspiration, I highly recommend it! 

The book talks about “artist’s block,” which is a familiar feeling many people experience. It can feel like you’re drowning in your own insecurities and fears of failure. But this feeling doesn’t have to last forever! The trick is to acknowledge that it exists and then work through it. You can let your fears hold you back or use them as fuel for motivation.

Drawing Inspiration from Social Media

When I’m struggling and need inspiration, I often search TikTok, Instagram, Pinterest boards, blogs, and other social sites.

There are many creative people willing to share their knowledge and art techniques. Social sites are a great place to get good ideas but don’t get too caught up in them. I have seen people (like myself) get so wrapped up in their online search that they lose sight of their own creativity. When you are ready to create, put down your phone and pick up a pencil!

Turn up the Music

When I’m having a lack of inspiration or I feel creative, I love to listen to music.

Music is a great way to get into your creative zone. It can help you forget about your worries and cares, which can help you avoid getting distracted by negative thoughts. 

Whatever type of music you like, whether rock, jazz, or classical music, turn it on and enjoy where it takes you. The rhythm will help you focus, and the lyrics will inspire you to create something new. 

If you need help getting started on your project, try listening to a song you like and see if it inspires you.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, I’ve given you enough new ideas to get you inspired for your next creative endeavor. Like I said earlier, sometimes you just have to get out of your comfort zone—You’ll never know what you’re capable of unless you take the chance to discover it firsthand. Get out of your comfort zone and into your creative space. Grab a sketchbook and get out there!

P.S. I want you to re-ignite that fire and that passion we all had as excited kids. Remember, art is not about being perfect – it’s about having fun! Go have FUN!