Drawing can be a joyful and enriching activity, but even the most passionate artists can sometimes find themselves stuck in a creative rut. Why not try a drawing challenge to reignite your artistic flame and challenge your skills? Drawing challenges can help you explore new techniques, subject matter, and styles, all while engaging your creativity in ways you might not have imagined. Here are ten engaging drawing challenges sure to spark your creativity and flow your artistic juices.
1. 30-Day Drawing Challenge
Embark on a creative odyssey with a 30-day drawing challenge, where you’ll kick-start your artistic abilities by creating something new every day. Whether you draw inspiration from online prompts or craft your own list, this exciting challenge will guide you on a thrilling journey of self-discovery and artistic growth. From capturing the likeness of your favorite animal to bringing your dream scene to life, this month-long adventure will keep your creative juices flowing and your pencils sharp.
Here are some suggestions for a 30-day drawing challenge using prompts inspired by well-regarded art instructors and popular challenges:
Week 1: Fundamentals
- Self-portrait (inspired by Andrew Loomis)
- Still life with basic shapes (cube, sphere, cylinder)
- Gesture drawings of people (inspired by Glenn Vilppu)
- Landscape with linear perspective (inspired by Scott Robertson)
- Animal studies (inspired by Aaron Blaise)
- Drapery study (inspired by Leonardo da Vinci)
- Hand studies in different poses
Week 2: Exploring Mediums
- Ink drawing using hatching/cross-hatching (inspired by Alphonso Dunn)
- Watercolor sketch of flowers (inspired by Anna Mason)
- Charcoal portrait (inspired by Proko)
- Colored pencil drawing of fruit
- Pastel landscape (inspired by Liz Steel)
- Mixed media collage
- Digital painting of a character (inspired by Loish)
Week 3: Creativity and Imagination
- Surreal scene combining unrelated objects
- Design an original character
- Illustrate a scene from your favorite book
- Draw something in an artist’s style you admire
- Create art inspired by a piece of music
- Invent a new animal by combining two existing ones
- Draw your dream home or environment
Week 4: Challenging Subjects
- Complex still life with reflective objects
- Figure drawing with foreshortening (inspired by Michael Hampton)
- Cityscape with multiple vanishing points
- Portrait showing a strong emotion
- Draw a challenging texture (fur, glass, water)
- Action scene with multiple figures
- Interior scene with natural and artificial lighting
Week 5: Reflection and Growth
- Redraw your day one self-portrait to see improvement
- Create a piece that represents your artistic journey
This challenge incorporates a variety of subjects, techniques, and mediums to help develop well-rounded artistic skills. Remember to adapt the prompts to suit your interests and skill level.
2. One Line Drawings
The one-line drawing challenge dictates that you can’t lift your pen, pencil, or drawing instrument from the paper until the drawing is complete. This limitation forces you to think creatively about how to construct an image, which often results in stylized, abstract works that are wonderfully unique.
3. Draw With Your Non-Dominant Hand
If you’re right-handed, try drawing with your left hand and vice versa. This challenge is not only fun but also helps to strengthen neural connections in the brain. The results may surprise you, often yielding more relaxed and expressive lines.
4. Recreate a Masterpiece
Choose an artwork by one of your favorite artists and attempt to recreate it. This exercise is both humbling and educational, offering a glimpse into the techniques and processes used by masters of the trade. You’ll gain a deeper appreciation of the original work and may learn a few new tricks along the way.
5. Draw with a Limited Palette
Restrict your color palette to just three or four colors for every drawing you produce during this challenge. This constraint can help you focus more on form, value, and composition, ensuring that the drawing can stand independently, regardless of the color scheme.
6. Nature Sketching
Head outside with your sketchbook and draw what you find in nature. This can be in your backyard, at a park, or during a hike. The organic shapes, textures, and patterns found in nature make for endlessly interesting and educational subject matter.
7. Draw in Different Art Styles
Sometimes stepping outside of your comfort zone can be the best way to unlock creativity. Try drawing in various art styles such as Cubism, Surrealism, Pop Art, or Anime. Each style comes with its own set of rules and characteristics, providing a fun challenge.
8. Self-Portrait Series
Drawing yourself can be one of the most challenging subjects, mainly due to the personal connection. Start a series of self-portraits, but interpret your image differently each time—perhaps realistically, abstractly, or in the style of another artist.
9. Use Unexpected Materials
Forget your usual pencils and pens and try drawing with something unexpected. Coffee, lipstick, or even your finger dipped in mud can become your medium. This can lead to discovering new techniques and, most importantly, it’s a great exercise in adaptability and spontaneity.
10. The Five-Minute Sketch
Finally, set a timer for five minutes and start sketching. The time limit forces you to focus on the essentials and not to get bogged down by details. This challenge is excellent for practicing speed and honing your ability to capture the essence of a subject quickly.
Conclusion
Drawing challenges are a fantastic way to push yourself out of your comfort zone while practicing and improving your skills. Each of these challenges can offer a fresh perspective, new ideas, and a burst of creative energy. Remember, the key to any challenge is to have fun and allow yourself the freedom to explore and make mistakes. Who knows what incredible artwork you might produce when you dare to try something new?
