42 Simple Drawing Ideas and References

If you’re looking for simple drawing ideas, I’ve got you covered. This post is filled with simple drawing ideas and references to inspire you. Below, you’ll find animal drawings, nature drawings, and more.

Drawing is a wonderful way to express one’s creativity and practice self-expression. Whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting out, simple drawing ideas can provide endless inspiration for your own artwork.

Ballerina Shoes

ballet slippers
Credit: Inkbox

Drawing a pair of ballerina shoes can be a great starting point for anyone exploring the art world. Simple lines and curves can create an elegant, graceful piece that captures the essence of dance.

Bunny Holding a Basket

Cute Bunny Holding a Basket
Credit: iStock/Svt1992

Here’s a cute and colorful illustration of a bunny holding a basket filled with mushrooms and leaves. The addition of the mushroom on its head is so adorable.

Two Dice

two dice
Credit: Inkbox

This simple sketch is a great opportunity to practice symmetry and perspective. Drawing these two dice can help you learn how to create accurate edges and shadows while providing opportunities for lighting and shading experimentation.

Fruit Drawings

fruit drawings
iStock/Sudowoodo

Capture the emotion of cute fruit characters, with this drawing idea. This drawing features a pear, peach, grapes, banana, apple, orange, strawberry, and orange.

Bees and Flowers

bee and flowers drawing
iStock/Kristina Rudkevica

Draw a few bees buzzing around beautiful flowers. This is a cute combination that never grows old and provides an opportunity to get creative with your art.

Adorable Mushroom Drawing

mushroom with red cheeks drawing
iStock/Gabriel Onat

You’ll love drawing this cute and simple mushroom. This type of mushroom drawing is perfect for adding a fun touch to your sketchbook.

Gamer Girl Drawing

Game Girl Illustration
iStock/Viaire

Gamers will enjoy drawing a girl playing a game on her handheld console. Play around with different color palettes, and even change up the design on the handheld.

Cloud and Planets

cloud with planets
Credit: Inkbox

Drawing clouds, stars, planets, and other celestial elements provides an ideal opportunity to experiment with different shapes and sizes while having fun with color.

Head in the Clouds

head in clouds
Credit: Inkbox

Having your head in the clouds is not a bad thing… as long as you take advantage of the inspiration you find while you’re there. – Misty Dawn Seidel

Astronaut Dinosaur

dinosaur astronaut
Credit: Inkbox

Meet Astrosaurus! The adorable animal astronaut is the perfect piece for those who are both intrigued by outer space and obsessed with dinosaurs.

Easy Elephant

easy elephant
Credit: Inkbox

Elephants are seen as a symbol of strength and power and are praised by many cultures for their size, longevity, stamina, and loyalty.

Spaceship and Pizza

spaceship and pizza
Credit: Homesthetics

If you a fan of pizza and space exploration, look no further than this incredible drawing of a pizza being beamed into a spaceship. This art captures the excitement and wonder of intergalactic travel while also making us crave a delicious slice of pie.

Sea Turtle

swimming turtle
Credit: Inkbox

This super cute creature was inspired by the terrapin, a small species of turtle that divides its time between land and swampy waters. A while ago, the species nearly went extinct because of overhunting. But thankfully, the tiny turtle is tough. Now, it’s not only surviving; it’s thriving.

Jar of Peanut Butter

peanut butter drawing
iStock/Zoljo

Show off your creative side by drawing a cute peanut butter jar. If you have more time, consider making a corresponding jar of strawberry or grape jelly.

Cat Sitting in a Tangerine

cat in orange drawing
iStock/SlyBrowney

For something unique, draw a cat sitting inside a tangerine. You could also draw your cat sitting inside of a lemon, mango, watermelon, and more.

Whale Tail

whale tale with stars
Credit: Shihori

There’s something truly majestic about the sight of a whale’s tail breaking through the surface of the water. And now, you can capture that beauty with this stunning drawing.

Strawberry Milk Carton

Strawberry Milk Carton
iStock/Salinee Pimpakun

This drawing of a strawberry milk carton is beyond cute. You can get creative by changing the strawberries to bananas, blueberries, and chocolate.

Whale Drawing

cute whale drawing
iStock/Aletheia Shade

Whales are some of the most beautiful creatures in the ocean, and there’s nothing like drawing one in all its glory. Start with a basic sketch of its body, then add details like the fins, tail fluke, and water spout.

Elephant with Long Trunk and Hearts

elephant with hearts coming from trunk
Credit: Inkbox

I love this simple drawing of an elephant. Draw an elephant with a long trunk. Don’t forget to include a heart at the tip of its trunk. You can also include other doodles like stars or other doodle shapes.

Easy Wolf Drawing

wolf howling at moon drawing
Credit: Dragonart (click for tutorial)

This tutorial (make sure you click the link in the credits) will show you how to draw a howling wolf. The artist also shows you the pencils they used to draw this picture.

Message in a Bottle

planets and moon in bottle
Credit: Inkbox

This drawing is a beautiful reminder that there’s always something new and exciting waiting just around the corner if you’re willing to take a chance and explore.

Nature in a Triangle

trees in triangle
Credit: Inkbox

Introducing a stunning drawing that beautifully captures the essence of nature – all within the confines of a single triangle.

Cute and Easy Hedgehog

hedgehog
Credit: Inkbox

This absolutely adorable drawing of a hedgehog is sure to bring a smile to your face. Not only that, but you won’t believe how easy it is to draw.

Toast Wearing Sunglasses

toast drawing
iStock/Neoncat

This is a fun one for all the food lovers out there. Draw a cool piece of toast wearing sunglasses. You can use your imagination to dress it up with other accessories too, such as a scarf or hat.

Cat and Dog Outline

cat and dog easy
Credit: Inkbox

Sometimes, the simplest things can be the most charming, and that’s certainly true of this delightful drawing of a cat and dog outline.

Mushroom Holding a Heart

Mushroom Holding a Heart
iStock/Melazerg

This whimsical drawing features a heart being held lovingly by a mushroom character. This image will surely bring a smile to your face.

Simple Whale

whale with bubbles drawing
Credit: Inkbox

Drawing a whale is easier than you might think. With just a few simple strokes, you can create a charming cartoonish version of this beloved ocean creature.

Dumplings Drawing

dumpling drawing
iStock/Sudowoodo

If you enjoy dumplings, you can draw a plate of cute dumplings, with one of them being held with chopsticks. For more design elements, you can include your favorite condiment.

Panda Drawing

panda drawing
iStock/Gabriel Onat

Pandas are incredibly cute and lovable animals. Put together a sketch of its body shape and then fill in details like fur, eyes, nose, and ears. Don’t forget to draw some bamboo as well – it’s the panda’s favorite food after all.

Bright Moon

shining moon
Credit: Inkbox

It doesn’t get any easier than the drawing of a bright moon. You can draw your moon in whatever phase you prefer. Some examples are the full moon, waxing crescent, and waning crescent.

Dragonfly

dragon fly with rain drops
Credit: Inkbox

There are over 5,000 species of dragonflies that are part of the scientific infraorder called Anisoptera. The globe skimmer is probably the most popular of the species.

Bored Cat Drawing

Bored Cat Drawing
Credit: iStock/Sawitree

Meet the bored cat who’s clearly in need of caffeine to get through the day. In this adorable drawing, we can see a kitty slouching with a cup of coffee in his paw, looking rather irritated.

Cat and Plant

cat with plant easy drawing
Credit: Inkbox

I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior. – Hippolyte Taine

I’m OK Band-Aid

band aid drawing
Credit: Inkbox

We’re all a work in progress, and sometimes we need some help to get us through the bad times. You are always enough and never forget that.

Stegosaurus

small dinosaur drawing
Credit: Inkbox

Rawr! It’s been extinct since the Cretaceous Period, but this precious plant-eater remains one of the most recognizable dinos thanks to its big, bony back.

Balloon with Mountains

wilderness in balloon
Credit: Inkbox

Discover the beauty of a mountain landscape, all contained within the delicate confines of a single balloon. This drawing captures nature in an imaginative way.

Glasses and Nature

wilderness in eye glasses
Credit: Inkbox

Step into a world where the mountains are always in view with this drawing that depicts a landscape nestled perfectly within the lenses of a pair of eyeglasses.

Easy Ice Cream Cone

ice cream cone
Credit: Inkbox

You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy ice cream, and that is pretty much the same thing.

Key with Birds and Trees

wilderness in key drawing
Credit: Inkbox

Unlock the beauty of nature with this drawing that transforms a simple key into a portal to the great outdoors.

Mountain Dotwork

mountains in half diamond drawing
Credit: Inkbox

The great thing about reaching the top of the mountain is realizing there’s space for more than one person. And you’re now in the prime position to help others up. – We Dream of Travel

Cat and the Moon

cat looking at moon
Credit: Inkbox

This silhouette drawing captures a cat gazing up at the moon. If you’re looking for something a bit more elegant, try your hand at drawing silhouettes.

Strawberry Dessert

Strawberry Dessert
iStock/Aratehortua

Nothing says summer like a delicious strawberry dessert. Other strawberry desserts you can draw are a strawberry cheesecake or even a strawberry ice cream cone.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of ideas for simple drawings. For more ideas, check out our post featuring Easy Drawing Ideas.

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