17 Fun Art Prompts to Help You Exercise Your Creativity

Are you feeling uninspired and lacking in creative motivation? Why not try some art prompts to help you get your creative juices flowing?

An art prompt can be a great way to exercise your creative muscles, level up your skill level, and inspire you to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions.

Here are my 17 fun art prompts to get you started!

1) Draw What You Eat Today

Looking for an easy art prompt? Why not try drawing what you ate today? Drawing can be a great way to express yourself, and the best part is that it doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Plus, you don’t need to be an experienced artist to give it a go - all you need is a pencil and paper!

I started off my day with a delicious cup of coffee and some avocado toast, so I thought I’d start by drawing those. It’s amazing how many little details you can capture in a simple sketch. From the delicate curls of steam rising from my coffee mug, to the slices of avocado on my toast - I found myself getting lost in the details!

Next, I drew my lunch - a bowl of vegetable soup. I had so much fun adding details like the different colors of vegetables, the texture of the soup and the steam rising up from the bowl. It’s amazing how quickly these little drawings can come together.

Finally, for dinner, I had some salmon with roasted vegetables. I was surprised at how quickly I could capture the shape of the salmon fillet, and then add some detail to make it look even more realistic. As I added more layers of color to my veggies, they almost looked alive! ;)

Drawing digital art of what you eat can be a fun and creative way to get your creative juices flowing. Give this art prompt a try - you may be surprised at what you come up with!

2) Get Inspired By Your Favorite Song

Music is another fun drawing prompt to help you flex your creative muscles.

It can be a great source of inspiration and what better way to get inspired than by listening to your favorite song?

Drawing prompts based on the emotions you experience while listening to music can be a great way to challenge yourself and bring out the best in your work.

To get started, just sit down with your favorite song playing and let the inspiration flow! Here are some art prompt ideas based on music that you might want to try out:

1. Create a portrait of your favorite singer or musician.

2. Draw a scene that reflects the atmosphere and tone of the music.

3. Illustrate the lyrics of the song.

4. Create an abstract pattern that’s inspired by the beat and rhythm of the music.

5. Draw a creature that embodies the message of the song.

6. Paint a landscape that reflects the mood of the music.

7. Use mixed media to represent different elements of the song.

8. Use bright colors to bring out the energy of the music.

9. Design a logo inspired by the song’s title or message.

10. Create an object that represents a particular line or phrase in the song.

Have fun creating, and let your creativity run wild! ;)

3) Create Something Based On a Dream You Had

Do you ever have an amazing dream that you just can’t help but want to express creatively? If so, you should definitely consider using it as inspiration for an art project!

Take the colors, shapes, characters, and emotions of your dream and use them to create something unique.

Remember, you don’t need to be an artist or a professional to create something meaningful - just let your imagination run free and see what this art prompt unleashes!

4) Pick One Subject and Illustrate it in 5 Different Ways

Go for a creative exercise and add a bit of variety to your art routine. Be wild and explore new ideas. Why not pick one subject and illustrate it in 5 different ways?

I love this exercise because it encourages me to think outside of the box and push my art in new directions. It can be as simple or as complex as you like - the possibilities are endless!

Plus, there’s something freeing about having to draw the same subject five times, but each time in a completely different way. Sound interesting?

You can start by thinking about the subject - what does it represent in your life, or to the world? Once you have a better understanding of the subject, you can start illustrating! You can use traditional materials such as pencils, drawing pads, paper, or paints, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can use digital art tools and apps to bring your ideas to life.

No matter how you choose to express yourself, it’s important that you keep an open mind and take some risks with your digital art. After all, using this art prompt is your chance to explore new ways of expressing your creativity and making something truly unique.

So why not give this exercise a try and see what kind of creative surprises you come up with? If you’re stuck, you could use an AI tool like Stable Diffusion to generate some images like Harry Potter heading to Hogwarts, or Harry Potter on a broomstick, and give you a new perspective to work with. Or, you can use our drawing prompt generator and get a new idea by email every morning.

With the right attitude and a little imagination, you might just be surprised at how much fun you can have while exploring your creative space. Good luck! ;)

5) Turn a Photograph into a Digital Art Painting

Creating a digital art painting from a photograph is a great way to challenge yourself artistically. It requires you to not only develop the art skills necessary to accurately render an image but also to add character and flair to your artwork.

When you turn a photograph into a painting, you show off your unique style and creativity!

Plus, it can be a fun exercise in experimentation - try different brush strokes and color combinations to find something that works for you.

6) Practice Continuous Line Drawings

Continuous line drawings are a great way to practice and improve your drawing skills. All you need is a pen, some paper, and your imagination. To start, pick one object and draw it using only one continuous line.

Sounds simple enough, right? But it can be quite tricky! After completing one object, challenge yourself by picking something more complex or abstract.

By practicing this technique, you’ll gain better control of your hand movements and become more familiar with the lines you draw. You’ll also be able to create digital art from interesting shapes and forms with a single stroke of the pen. The possibilities are endless, so have fun exploring!

7) Illustrate a Scene from Your Favorite Book

Why not try illustrating a scene from your favorite book? Whether it’s a classic novel, a children’s tale, or a modern bestseller, you can use this art prompt to bring your favorite literary worlds to life.

Start by selecting a moment that resonates with you - perhaps a key character interaction or an iconic scene.

Then, use whatever medium you like to express it visually. It could be pen and ink, pencil sketches, watercolors, oils, or even digital artwork. You could even combine multiple techniques. The sky’s the limit!

As you explore this project, you’ll find plenty of inspiration along the way. You may want to research the artist who created the book’s cover art, visit art galleries online, or explore the works of famous illustrators. Allow yourself to be creative and have fun with it.

Another alternative is to use an AI tool like Stable Diffusion with different topics and generate an image for you to draw.

Once you complete your artwork, why not share it with friends and family? You can even post it online and invite other readers to share their interpretations of their favorite books. Who knows? Maybe you’ll even inspire creators to take up their own artistic challenges just like I did. :D

8) Draw an Object From the First Letter of Your Name

I was thinking of what object to draw from the first letter (“N”) of my name. I had so many ideas of what I could draw! My first thought was a nest, but then I considered a necklace or a noose. Ultimately, this art prompt challenged me to create something more abstract. ;)

I grabbed some colored pencils and started sketching. After an hour or so of trial and error, I managed to come up with a design that felt like it captured the essence of the letter N. It ended up being a combination of the shapes of the letter, various lines and swirls, and bright colors.

Creating art from nothing but a single letter can be incredibly rewarding. It’s amazing what you can come up with when you push yourself to think outside of the box. This exercise helped me flex my creative muscles and explore my own unique style.

If you’re looking for an inspiring art exercise to help get your creative juices flowing, why not give this one a try? Pick a letter from your own name and see what kind of artwork you can create. Who knows, maybe you’ll come up with something totally unexpected!

9) Photograph 10 Random Things, Then Choose One to Draw

I love going for photo walks and using my camera to capture the beauty of the world around me.

Recently, I decided to challenge myself by creating a list of 10 random things that I would photograph as I went on my walk. It was so much fun to turn them into drawing pieces!

Every day, I would pick something different, like a tree or a mailbox, and get creative with how I captured it. These prompt ideas are great practice for art and creativity, and this art prompt gave me an amazing collection of photos to draw.

When you’re ready, try drawing one of the photos you took on your walk using one of your drawing pads. You’ll be surprised at how it brings back the feeling of being outside and experiencing nature firsthand.

10) Practice Painting With Your Non-dominant Hand

As an artist, it’s important to keep your creativity alive and well. Using this art prompt is one of the best ways to do this! I suggest that you practice painting with your non-dominant hand.

It may seem intimidating at first, but with a bit of practice, you can unlock a new perspective on art that you may have never experienced before. This can be a great way to challenge yourself and unlock new techniques. Place yourself in unfamiliar territory and watch as you become more confident with each stroke of the brush, just like I did. ;)

11) Draw a Map of Your Hometown

Growing up in my hometown, I have a lot of great memories of the places I used to visit and the people I used to see.

Drawing a map of my hometown was an enjoyable way to reflect on all the fond moments I had. It was a way to bring those moments to life and make them tangible.

I had a lot of fun gathering digital art images of the places I wanted to include on the map. I was surprised by the level of detail I could add to the map.

Not only did it help me remember my hometown and the people I met there, but it also showed me how many aspects of life are connected. It made me realize how small our world is and that we can never really be disconnected from the people around us.

12) Draw an Item You’re Grateful for

One fun activity I like to do is to draw items I’m grateful for. This exercise helps me to focus on the positive and remember all the wonderful things in my life. It also serves as a great way to explore different techniques, such as shading, line work, and color palettes.

I find that taking a few minutes each day to draw something I’m grateful for can be incredibly refreshing and motivating. If you ever need help with getting ideas, our art prompt generator will send you an email every morning.

Whether it’s a beautiful view from my window, a special moment with a loved one, or even a simple cup of coffee, there’s something special about expressing my gratitude through art. Plus, it never hurts to add a bit of beauty to the world!

13) Have Someone Draw a Random Shape and Complete the Drawing

I love playing around with an art prompt as a fun way to exercise my creativity. It’s an especially great activity if you’re looking for something to do with a friend. One fun idea is to have them draw a random shape on a piece of paper, then it’s up to you to complete the drawing!

The possibilities are endless—especially if you use an AI tool like Stable Diffusion—you can turn the shape into a person, an animal, or a landscape. You can fill the shape with patterns and textures. Experiment with different mediums such as pencils, watercolors, markers, or collage. Or, just use our art prompt generator to get an email every morning!

No matter how you choose to finish the drawing or digital art creation, it’s sure to be creative and unique! Have fun with it!

14) Draw the Clothes You Wore Today

Today, why not challenge yourself to draw the clothes you wore today? Easy drawing ideas like this let you practice your digital art drawing skills and have some fun at the same time! Whether you’re an experienced artist or a complete beginner, this is an excellent art prompt to help you exercise your creativity.

What makes this prompt particularly enjoyable is that you can draw the items you already know and love.

Don’t worry if your drawings aren’t perfect - just focus on capturing the essence of your outfit and have a bit of fun with it!

15) Look at the Sky and Draw Whatever Comes to Your Mind

The beauty of the sky is an ever-changing canvas with a million potential stories waiting to be told. Whether it’s a cloudless blue sky or a dramatic stormy sky, you can use it as a source of inspiration for some creative art. The next time you look up at the sky, challenge yourself to draw whatever comes to your mind.

This art prompt encourages you to tap into your creativity and take your artwork in unexpected directions.

If you feel stuck, try picking out shapes and objects from the sky that you find interesting and sketching them out. Simple drawing ideas like this can be a fun and liberating exercise as you let your imagination take the lead. You might be surprised at the unique pieces of art you can come up with!

16) Pick the Words Your Family Member Says

I’m always looking for fun and creative possibilities to express myself. That’s why I love using an art prompt!

One of my favorite types of prompts is to pick the words your family member says.

This art prompt is simple yet effective. All you need to do is think of something a family member might say, then turn it into a visual representation.

It could be anything from I love you to Let’s take a trip! ;)The possibilities are endless!

Plus, it’s a great way to show off your artistic skills and bring some of your loved ones closer together. Try it out today!

17) Nature Drawing Prompt Ideas

Here are 15 nature drawing prompt ideas to get you started:

1. Draw a landscape of your favorite natural scene.

2. Sketch an animal in its natural habitat.

3. Create a pencil drawing of a field of wildflowers.

4. Illustrate the ocean and its many creatures.

5. Draw a desert landscape with all its cacti and succulents.

6. Sketch a tree from your backyard or a nearby park.

7. Capture a sunset or sunrise in all its glory.

8. Design a portrait of a bird perched in its nest.

9. Paint a picture of a waterfall cascading over rocks.

10. Create an abstract interpretation of a thunderstorm.

11. Illustrate a cloudy sky full of fluffy white clouds.

12. Craft a drawing of a moonlit night in the forest.

13. Draw a blooming flower in vivid detail.

14. Doodle, an underwater scene featuring coral and fish.

15. Paint a colorful image of the Northern Lights.

Let your imagination run free, and try these nature drawing prompts! You never know what digital art piece you might create with these ideas.

Conclusion

An art prompt can be an excellent way to get your creative process started, especially when you feel stuck or uninspired.

By engaging in a creative process that requires some level of effort, you can exercise your creativity and sharpen your art skills. This can be a great way to make progress on personal projects or simply just to give yourself a fun activity.

Not only can an art prompt help you come up with cool drawing ideas, but it can also help you break through the artist’s block and even inspire new ideas.

By having a specific task in mind, you can focus your creative energy and come up with an art prompt you might not have thought of otherwise.

So, if you’re feeling stuck and need some inspiration, art prompts are definitely worth trying out!

FAQS

What AI Tools should I consider?

AI is absolutely becoming a great resource for generating a great art prompt. I have used Stable Diffusion and Midjourney to help me stay creative. Most people haven’t tried AI tools yet, but Stable Difusion is an accessible resource to generate anything you can dream up.

But if you want me to do the work for you, just sign up for my daily prompt emails and let our drawing idea generator nudge you every morning.