Free Drawing Templates (For Your Sketchbook!)

Last Updated on January 23, 2026 by Dee

Staring at a blank page in your sketchbook can feel intimidating. You want to draw something, but where do you even start? That’s where free drawing templates come in — they give you a jumping-off point so you can focus on the fun part instead of worrying about getting the proportions just right.

Whether you’re looking for simple sketch templates to trace, easy doodles to fill your pages, or figure drawing references to practice body poses, I’ve got you covered. These traceable drawings are perfect for beginners who want to build confidence, and they work beautifully as coloring templates too.

Why Use Drawing Templates?

Templates aren’t cheating — they’re tools. Even professional artists use references and guides to nail down proportions before adding their own creative spin. Here’s why they’re especially helpful:

They eliminate blank page anxiety. When you have an outline to work with, getting started feels so much easier. No more sitting there wondering what to draw.

You build muscle memory. Tracing and copying simple shapes helps your hand learn the movements. Over time, you’ll find yourself drawing these forms from memory.

They’re endlessly adaptable. Use a flower template as a coloring page, trace it into your sketchbook, or use it as a base for watercolor painting. One template, endless possibilities.

If you’re just getting started with sketching, check out my guide to easy doodle drawings for more beginner-friendly inspiration.

Nature Drawing Templates

Nature subjects are perfect for beginners because they’re forgiving — a leaf doesn’t have to be perfectly symmetrical to look beautiful. These simple sketches make lovely additions to art journals, bullet journals, or just everyday sketchbook practice.

Simple Flower Templates

Flowers are probably the most popular thing to sketch, and for good reason. They’re pretty, they’re satisfying to draw, and there’s endless variety. Start with these easy options:

Daisy — The classic beginner flower. Simple petals radiating from a center circle. You really can’t mess this one up, and it looks adorable every time.

Rose — Looks complicated but becomes easy once you understand the spiral structure at the center. My template breaks it down into manageable shapes.

Sunflower — Big, bold, and cheerful. The large petals make it easy to add color or zentangle patterns inside.

Tulip — Clean, elegant lines that are perfect for practicing smooth curves. Great for spring-themed journal pages.

For more floral inspiration, browse my collection of doodle art flowers — over 150 ideas to keep you sketching for months.

Botanical and Nature Sketches

Beyond flowers, the natural world offers endless easy sketches for your sketchbook:

Leaf with veins — Practice those delicate interior lines while keeping the overall shape simple. Works beautifully with colored pencils or watercolor.

Feather — Elegant and flowing. This one teaches you about creating texture with simple line work.

Mushroom — Whimsical and charming. The spotted cap makes for fun pattern practice too.

Seashell — Perfect for beach-themed pages. The spiral structure is surprisingly satisfying to trace and draw.

Crystal cluster — Great for aesthetic drawings and mystical journal themes. All those geometric angles look impressive but are actually quite simple.

Looking for more nature subjects? My nature drawing ideas post has 20+ prompts to get your creativity flowing.

Cute Animal Drawing Templates

Animals can seem tricky, but these simplified versions focus on the cute factor rather than perfect realism. They’re ideal for kawaii-style art and whimsical sketchbook pages.

Easy Animal Faces

Start with faces before attempting full bodies — you’ll get satisfying results faster.

Cat face — Big eyes, tiny triangle nose, whiskers. This adorable template has been one of my most popular downloads because it’s impossible not to smile while drawing it.

Bunny rabbit — Those long ears and round cheeks are pure sweetness. Perfect for Easter journal pages or just everyday doodling.

Fox face — A bit more angular than the cat, which gives you practice with different shapes while still keeping things simple.

Owl — Round body, big eyes, tiny beak. Owls are wonderfully forgiving subjects because their features are so stylized already.

For more animal inspiration, explore my cute animal pencil drawings collection with 50+ ideas and free templates.

Full Animal Templates

Ready for a bit more detail? These full-body animal templates are still beginner-friendly:

Bird on branch — Captures that sweet perched pose without getting too complicated. The branch gives nice context and makes composition easier.

Sitting cat — A classic pose that’s more forgiving than a walking or running position. Great for practicing fur texture with pencil sketches.

Whale — Simple curves and a friendly shape. Perfect for ocean-themed pages or just when you want something calming to draw.

If you love drawing cute things, you’ll adore my mega post on cute drawings with 200+ ideas and printable templates.

Aesthetic Drawing Templates

These templates are perfect for those aesthetic drawings you see all over Pinterest — dreamy, decorative, and perfect for journaling or Instagram-worthy sketchbook pages.

Celestial and Mystical

Crescent moon with stars — Instantly adds that witchy, dreamy vibe to any page. Simple shapes but maximum aesthetic impact.

Crystal cluster — Angular and geometric, but surprisingly easy when you break it down into basic shapes. Looks amazing with metallic gel pens.

Heart with flourishes — Take a simple heart and add decorative swirls for something romantic and whimsical. Perfect for Valentine’s pages or love-themed journals.

Cozy Doodles

Coffee cup with steam — That curling steam is oddly satisfying to draw. Add your own latte art design inside the cup for extra creativity points.

Dragonfly — Those detailed wings look intricate but follow a simple, repeatable pattern. Beautiful with colored pencils.

Butterfly — Always a favorite. The symmetrical wings make excellent coloring templates, and you can customize the patterns endlessly.

For more easy doodle ideas, check out my post on cute easy doodles with 50+ simple designs.

Figure Drawing Templates

Want to practice drawing people but find anatomy intimidating? These simplified body base templates give you a starting point without overwhelming detail.

Body Pose Templates

Standing pose (female) — A basic neutral stance that teaches you proportions without complicated foreshortening. Great as a free art base for fashion illustration practice.

Sitting pose (female) — Slightly more dynamic but still manageable. Perfect for practicing how the body bends and folds.

These drawing templates for poses work brilliantly as a starting point — trace the basic structure, then add your own clothing designs, hairstyles, and details on top.

For more extensive pose references, browse my female pose reference guide with 80+ images for artists.

Anatomy Practice Templates

Hand in relaxed pose — Hands are notoriously difficult, so having a template to trace builds confidence. This body base drawing focuses on a natural, relaxed position.

Face proportions guide — Shows you where eyes, nose, and mouth should sit in relation to each other. Use it as a coloring template or trace it repeatedly until the proportions feel natural.

If you’re interested in portrait practice, my drawing reference photos for faces includes 30 essential images plus free templates.

Creative Drawing Prompts

Sometimes you have a template but still need inspiration for what to actually do with it. Here are some creative drawing prompts to spark ideas:

Fill it with patterns — Take any simple outline and fill it with zentangle designs, stripes, dots, or doodles. My zentangle art guide has 50+ pattern ideas.

Layer multiple templates — Combine a flower with a butterfly, or put your sitting cat inside a celestial moon frame. Unexpected combinations make the most interesting pages.

Add a background — Turn a simple owl into a scene by adding a branch, some stars, or a forest silhouette behind it.

Make it seasonal — That daisy becomes a spring page. That mushroom works perfectly for autumn. Context transforms simple sketches into themed spreads.

Use different mediums — Trace the same template multiple times and try it with graphite pencil, colored pencils, markers, and watercolor. See which version you like best.

For more ideas on filling your sketchbook, explore my fun drawing ideas post with 50+ prompts.

Best Supplies for Tracing Templates

You don’t need fancy supplies to use drawing templates effectively, but a few key tools make the process smoother.

Pencils for Sketching

A good set of drawing pencils in various grades (2H to 6B) gives you flexibility for light tracing lines versus darker finished sketches. Start with an HB for tracing, then go darker as you build up your drawing.

For a complete starter kit, the Amazon Basics Sketch Kit includes everything a beginner needs in one convenient package.

Fine Liner Pens

Once you’ve traced in pencil, going over your lines with a fine liner creates that clean, finished look. Mogyann Drawing Pens come in 12 sizes and are waterproof — perfect if you want to add watercolor later.

Light Box for Easy Tracing

If you want to trace templates directly without printing on your sketchbook paper, a LitEnergy A4 LED Light Box makes the process effortless. Slip your template underneath, place your paper on top, and the light shines through so you can trace with ease.

Sketchbook Recommendations

Any sketchbook works, but I personally love ones with slightly textured paper that holds pencil well. Look for something around 80-100 lb weight if you plan to add any wet media like watercolor washes.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. I only recommend products I genuinely love and use myself!

How to Use These Free Drawing Templates

Here are a few different ways to make the most of your templates:

Print and trace directly — Print the template on regular paper, place it under your sketchbook page, and use a light source (window or light box) to trace the outlines.

Print as coloring pages — Use them as coloring templates with colored pencils, markers, or even watercolors for a more painterly look.

Reference while you draw freehand — Keep the template beside your sketchbook and use it as visual reference while you draw your own version. This builds skill faster than tracing alone.

Create practice sheets — Print multiple small versions on one page for repetition practice. Drawing the same subject 10 times in a row is one of the fastest ways to improve.

For more tips on building a sketching habit, read my guide on how to start a daily sketchbook with 100 things to draw when you’re stuck.

Download Your Free Drawing Templates (at the end of this post!)

Ready to fill your sketchbook with easy sketches? Grab your free printable pack below — it includes 25 traceable templates covering flowers, animals, body poses, celestial designs, and more.

These templates work beautifully whether you’re practicing pencil sketches, creating aesthetic drawings for your journal, or just looking for cute things to draw on a quiet afternoon.

Happy sketching! 🎨

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Why Use Drawing Templates?