Last Updated on December 2, 2025 by Dee
Looking for easy things to draw? These simple drawings for beginners will help you build confidence and fill your sketchbook with cute sketches — no experience needed!
There’s something magical about putting pencil to paper and watching a drawing come to life. But if you’re just starting out, figuring out what to draw can feel overwhelming. The good news? Easy drawings for beginners don’t have to be boring or basic — they can be charming, meaningful, and genuinely fun to create.
Whether you’re looking for things to draw for beginners to practice your skills, or you just want some simple sketches to unwind with after a long day, I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’m sharing 30 easy sketches for beginners that anyone can try — plus tips on supplies and techniques to help you improve.
Want a handy reference? Grab my free printable drawing guides (at the end of this blog post) with step-by-step tutorials for 10 of these easy pictures — perfect for keeping next to your sketchbook!
Table of Contents
What Makes a Drawing “Easy” for Beginners?
Before we dive into the ideas, let’s talk about what actually makes a drawing beginner-friendly.
The secret? Basic shapes.
Almost every drawing — no matter how complex it looks — starts with simple circles, ovals, squares, and triangles. A cat face? That’s a circle with two triangles on top. A cupcake? A rectangle bottom with a cloud-like swirl on top. Once you start seeing the world as shapes, easy doodle art becomes second nature.
Beginner drawings also tend to have:
- Fewer details — you’re not drawing every fur strand or leaf vein
- Forgiving subjects — flowers, clouds, and cartoon animals don’t need to look “perfect”
- Clear outlines — bold, confident lines rather than fussy shading
The drawings in this post all follow these principles. They’re designed to help you build confidence, not frustration.
If you’re new to doodling, you might also love my post on easy doodle drawings — it’s packed with simple ideas and free printable templates!
Essential Supplies for Simple Sketches
You don’t need fancy supplies to create cool pencil drawings. Here’s what I recommend for beginners:
This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend art supplies I genuinely use and love in my own creative practice.✨
Pencils: A basic set of graphite pencils (2H, HB, 2B, 4B, 6B) gives you range from light sketching to darker shading. The Amazon Basics Sketch Kit is a solid affordable starter set.
Sketchbook: Look for a sketchbook with medium-weight paper (around 80-100gsm) that can handle pencil without too much smudging. I love spiral-bound ones so they lay flat.
Eraser: A kneaded eraser is a game-changer — you can mould it into a point for precise erasing, and it lifts graphite without damaging your paper.
Optional extras: Blending stumps (for smooth shading), fine liner pens (for bold outlines), and a pencil sharpener.
That’s it. You don’t need to spend a fortune — just grab a pencil, some paper, and let’s draw!
For more detailed recommendations, check out my guide to pencil drawing ideas where I share my favourite supplies and techniques.
30 Easy Drawings for Beginners (Simple Ideas to Try Today)
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff! Here are 30 easy things to draw, organised by theme. Pick one that catches your eye and give it a go — there’s no wrong place to start.
Nature & Botanical Sketches
Nature is perfect for beginners because nothing has to be exact. Every leaf is different, every flower is unique — which means your drawing is automatically “right.”
1. Simple Daisy
Start with a small circle for the centre, then add oval petals radiating outward. Daisies are forgiving — wonky petals just add charm.
2. Single Leaf
Draw an oval shape, add a central vein line, then sketch a few diagonal lines branching off. Try different leaf shapes: pointed, rounded, or heart-shaped.
3. Basic Tree
A rectangle trunk topped with a cloud-like canopy. Add some texture lines on the trunk for bark, and you’re done.
4. Cute Mushroom
A half-circle cap on a chunky stem. Add spots to the cap and a little grass at the base for extra cuteness.
5. Potted Cactus
A simple pot shape (trapezoid) with oval cactus pads stacked on top. Add tiny lines for spines and maybe a little flower on top.
6. Delicate Feather
One long curved line for the spine, then short diagonal strokes on each side. Feathers look impressive but are surprisingly simple.
7. Mountain Range
Overlapping triangle shapes with some simple shading on one side. Add tiny pine trees at the base if you want extra detail.
8. Cheerful Sun
A circle with rays extending outward. Try straight lines, wavy lines, or triangular rays — each gives a different vibe.
Love botanical doodles? I’ve got over 150 ideas in my doodle art flowers post!
Cute Animal Drawings
Animals are some of the most popular things to draw for beginners — especially when you simplify them into cute, cartoon-style versions.
9. Cat Face
A circle head, two triangle ears, dot eyes, a tiny triangle nose, and whiskers. Add some fur texture around the edges if you like.
10. Little Bird
An oval body, small circle head, triangle beak, and a simple wing shape. Perch it on a branch for a complete scene.
11. Butterfly
Start with a long oval body, then add symmetrical wing shapes on each side. Decorate the wings with circles, lines, or patterns.
12. Bumble Bee
An oval body with stripes, tiny wings, and a cute face. Add a dotted line trail behind it showing its flight path.
13. Ladybug
A half-circle body with a line down the middle, spots on each side, and a small head. Pop it on a leaf for context.
14. Bunny Rabbit
A round body, smaller round head, long ear shapes, and a fluffy tail. Big eyes make it extra adorable.
15. Snail
A spiral shell attached to a simple curved body. Add eye stalks and a little smile.
16. Owl on a Branch
A rounded body shape with big circular eyes, a small beak, and wing suggestions on the sides. Owls can be as simple or detailed as you like.
For more adorable animal ideas (plus free printable templates!), head over to my cute animal pencil drawings post.
Fun Objects & Food
Everyday objects make great drawing subjects because you can look right at them for reference. Food drawings are especially fun — and cute!
17. Cupcake
A pleated cup shape on the bottom, swirly frosting on top. Add sprinkles or a cherry for the finishing touch.
18. Coffee Cup
A simple mug shape with a handle, plus steam swirls rising from the top. Cosy and easy.
19. Ice Cream Cone
A triangle cone with criss-cross pattern, topped with scoops (circles or cloud shapes). Add drips for extra detail.
20. Apple
A slightly lopsided circle with a small indent at the top, a short stem, and one leaf. Simple but classic.
21. Charming Cottage
A square base with a triangle roof. Add a door, windows, and maybe a chimney with smoke. Keep it whimsical rather than architectural.
22. Little Sailboat
A curved hull shape with a triangle sail. Add simple wave lines underneath to complete the scene.
These cute sketches are perfect for bullet journals, greeting cards, or just filling a sketchbook page. Find more ideas in my cute drawings collection!
Whimsical & Meaningful Drawings
Sometimes you want to draw something that feels like something — drawings that capture a mood or hold a bit of meaning.
23. Decorative Hearts
Simple heart shapes filled with different patterns: stripes, dots, florals, or geometric designs. Great for practising pattern work.
24. Stars and Crescent Moon
A curved crescent moon surrounded by simple star shapes. Add some dots for a starry sky effect. Dreamy and peaceful.
25. Fluffy Clouds
Overlapping curved bumps to create cloud shapes. Add gentle shading underneath for dimension.
26. Rainbow with Clouds
An arc of curved lines (you don’t need all seven colours in a pencil sketch — just suggest the bands) with clouds at each end.
27. Cute Whale
A large rounded body with a tail fin and a spout of water from the top. Add a small eye and smile.
28. Simple Fish
An oval body, triangle tail, and fin details. Decorate with scales (small curved lines) or keep it minimal.
29. Hot Air Balloon
An upside-down teardrop shape for the balloon, with a small basket underneath connected by lines. Add stripes or patterns to the balloon.
30. Shooting Star
A star shape with trailing lines behind it. Simple but captures that sense of magic and possibility.
These meaningful drawings are lovely for art journaling or creating little illustrations for notes and letters. For more creative inspiration, browse my fun drawing ideas post.
Tips for Improving Your Pencil Sketches
Now that you’ve got 30 easy sketches for beginners to try, here are some tips to help you keep improving:
Start light. Begin with very light pencil strokes so you can easily erase and adjust. Once you’re happy with the shape, go over it with darker, more confident lines.
Practice basic shapes daily. Spend five minutes drawing circles, ovals, and lines. It sounds boring, but it genuinely helps with control.
Use reference images. There’s no shame in looking at a photo while you draw — that’s how everyone learns! Pinterest is brilliant for finding simple reference images.
Try tracing to build confidence. If you’re really struggling, use a light box to trace simple images and get a feel for the shapes. It’s a legitimate learning technique, not cheating.
Fill your sketchbook — don’t aim for perfection. The goal is practice, not masterpieces. Draw the same subject ten times. You’ll be amazed at the improvement.
Experiment with shading. Once you’re comfortable with outlines, try adding simple shading to give your drawings dimension. Blending stumps help create smooth gradients.
For more simple doodling techniques, check out my post on cute little doodles.
What to Draw Next? Keep Your Sketchbook Momentum Going
The hardest part of learning to draw isn’t technique — it’s showing up consistently. So keep that sketchbook handy! Draw while you’re watching TV, waiting for an appointment, or unwinding before bed.
Here are some ways to keep your creative momentum going:
- Try a daily drawing challenge — commit to one small sketch per day for a week
- Explore new subjects — once you’ve mastered these easy pictures, try zentangle art for meditative pattern drawing
- Add colour — grab some coloured pencils or watercolours and bring your sketches to life. My watercolor painting ideas for beginners is a great place to start!
Don’t forget to grab your free printable at the end of this post! My step-by-step drawing guide includes 10 easy tutorials you can keep next to your sketchbook for instant inspiration.
Ready to Start Drawing?
That’s 30 easy drawings for beginners to keep your sketchbook happy! Remember, every artist started somewhere — and that somewhere was probably a wobbly circle or a lopsided cat face.
The point isn’t perfection. It’s the joy of creating, the satisfaction of improving, and the peace that comes from putting pencil to paper.
So grab your sketchbook, pick one of these simple sketches, and start drawing. You’ve got this. 🎨
PIN THIS POST FOR LATER:
You might also enjoy:
- 80+ Easy Doodle Drawings for Beginners
- 36 Game-Changing Pencil Drawing Ideas
- 50+ Cute Animal Pencil Drawings
- 50+ Fun Drawing Ideas & Amazing Sketches