There is one question that has always baffled master painters and young prodigies alike: “What should I draw today?” Thanks to these Drawuary prompts, you don’t have to worry about deciding what to draw; just grab a pen and paper and check the prompt of the day.
The prompts are simple and may be interpreted as literally or metaphorically as you’d like. Use the keyword(s) as a starting point and see where your creativity takes you!
Whether you’re fighting back against art block or looking for a starting point in your artistic journey, following these prompts for the full 31 days is sure to help you grow as an artist as you switch gears each day and draw a wide variety of subjects. Whip out the sketchbook you’ve been trying to finish or unwrap the brand new one that you’ve been dying to start. These sketchbook-buster prompts will help you start off your new year with a bang and encourage creative growth!
You decide whether you use these prompts as a daily warmup or fill a canvas each day; focus on oil painting for the next month, or try as many new tools and media as you can get your hands on. Delve into realism, or experiment with your own cartoonish style–it’s all up to you! The ultimate goal is for you to try new things and enjoy the creative process.
Share your work with the creative community by using #drawuary2026 when you post your daily sketch!
- Self Portrait
Stare at yourself in the mirror and sketch what you see, or design what you would look like as a character in your favorite anime. - Breakfast
Sketch what you had for breakfast! Or draw your favorite breakfast food, if you skipped the most important meal of the day. - Wishlist
One of my favorite subjects to draw as a broke–I mean, starving artist in high school was stuff I wanted but didn’t have the means to buy. Not very materialistic? Okay, draw any object of your choosing, enlightened one. - Picnic
A closeup of the feast of your wildest picnic dreams? A happy couple unpacking their picnic basket? ANT INVASION? The possibilities are endless. - Room
Take this opportunity to break out the ruler and practice perspective as you draw your bedroom, or design the room of your dreams–or nightmares, if that’s more your thing. If that doesn’t interest you, design a bedroom for somebody the size of a mouse. How could household objects be used as building blocks or decor in a mouse’s house? - Glitter
A hand covered in shiny rings, a dark sky sparkling with stars, the translucent wings of a fairy, droplets of morning dew on a spiderweb … - Firelight
Fire can be used to cook a delicious comfort meal, or as a tool for mass destruction. What role will it play in your sketchbook? - Comfort
A hug from your favorite person, a 25-year-old video game, a dog-eared book… Draw whatever/whoever brings you comfort. - Fantasy Creature
Draw that monster from your last D&D campagne, or make up your own creature! - Weapon
Maybe you’ll draw a brutal battleaxe, decorative daggers, or … uh, fists? Is that allowed? Okay, tough guy. - Favorite Animal
No, it doesn’t have to be real. Can’t decide on just one? Draw them both… or a hybrid. - Travel Destination
Anywhere from your favorite park to a waterfall on the other side of the planet. - Ocean
Did you know that humans have only explored about 5% of the ocean? Sketch an undiscovered deepsea creature, or take this opportunity to add a watery landscape to your sketchbook. Is a beautiful sunset reflected on gentle waves, or is a fishing boat battling a dreadful storm at sea? - Magical
Take this as literally (magic wands and water bending) or metaphorically (falling in love or seeing a cute dog in public) as you’d like. - Anxiety
Draw a visibly anxious character, your favorite method for de-stressing, or maybe an abstract representation of the feeling. - Mermaid
This one is self-explanitory… the question is, will your merperson be sun-kissed and sociable, or a sinister ocean predator? - Something extinct
Anything from dinosaurs to Myspace. - Melting
Portray the feeling of a summer day so hot that it feels like you’re melting, or get literal and draw the icecream cone in your hand actually melting. - Maximalism
Everything! Cover the whole page! - Statue
Bonus points if you add a background. - Alien
What does a being from another planet look like? - Soft
Soft like heavenly clouds, a touching moment between loved ones, or… like a soft serve ice cream. - Wings
I was thinking birds and dragons, but yeah, hot wings count, wise guy. - Tech
Think circuitboards, cyborgs, super computers, wires. - Roots
Ancestral, hair, or tree… what kind of roots are we talking about? - Night time
Are you more a night owl, or afraid of the dark? - A dangerous plant
Feed me, Seymore… - Snow day
Pretend it’s a snow day! In a perfect world, how would you spend it? - Pink
Pink is the new pink. 🩷 - Self portrait (again)
Aw, does this bring back memories? - Song
Draw something inspired by your current favorite song; illustrate a line from the song, how it makes you feel, or maybe draw a frame from the music video in your style.
