70+ Inspiring Animal Drawing Prompts for Every Artist

Drawing animals is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore your creativity. Their shapes, personalities, and movements offer endless inspiration for artists of all levels. Whether you’re doodling for fun, refining your skills, or simply looking for a creative spark, animal drawing prompts are a great way to get started.

We’ve prepared over 70 creative prompts grouped into categories to help you explore whimsical, imaginative, and realistic styles of the animals you’ll draw.

Why use animal drawing prompts?

Prompts can take the pressure off by giving you a clear, fun direction. They remove the fear of a blank canvas and encourage you to dive into the process without overthinking.

Animal prompts are particularly versatile. Use them to practice shapes, textures, and anatomy, or to unleash your imagination with hybrid creatures and whimsical designs. Whether you’re exploring animals in action or creating surreal concepts, prompts help you grow your skills while having fun.

If you’re looking for even more ideas, the random animal to draw generator is an amazing tool to keep the inspiration flowing.

Quick tips for drawing animals

Before you start sketching, here are some tips to make your drawings more dynamic and engaging:

• Start with basic shapes: most animals can be broken down into circles, ovals, and rectangles. Use these to map out proportions before adding details.
• Observe references: photos, videos, or real-life observations are excellent for studying anatomy and movement.
• Experiment with textures: fur, feathers, scales, and patterns can add life to your drawings.
• Focus on storytelling: incorporate poses or expressions that hint at a personality or story.
• Keep it loose: don’t worry about making everything perfect. Treat each prompt as an opportunity to play and improve.

70+ unique animal drawing prompts

These prompts are organized into creative categories, so you can explore a variety of styles and approaches. We’ve also prepared a shorter, 30 mixed animal drawing prompt list. Print it out and use it as your daily dose of artistic motivation:

Easy-to-draw animals

Perfect for kids, beginners, or anyone looking to sketch something simple yet satisfying, these easy-to-draw animals focus on clear shapes and minimal details:

1. A fish with a round body and flowing fins
2. A cat curled up in a ball
3. A snail with a simple spiral shell
4. A turtle with an oval shell and short legs
5. A bird perched on a branch
6. A rabbit sitting with floppy ears
7. A giraffe with a simple long neck and small spots
8. A penguin standing with its arms stretched out
9. A ladybug with its shell open to reveal wings
10. A simple bee with rounded stripes and small wings

Whimsical animal prompts

Imagine animals in quirky, unexpected roles:

1. A giraffe riding a unicycle
2. A panda sipping tea under a parasol
3. A fox playing the violin beneath the stars
4. A squirrel juggling acorns in a circus setting
5. A bird dressed as a pirate, complete with an eyepatch
6. A turtle wearing sunglasses and lounging on a beach chair
7. A kangaroo delivering mail with its pouch stuffed with letters
8. A hedgehog running a lemonade stand
9. A penguin conducting an orchestra
10. A flamingo performing ballet in a tutu

For even more playful and fun concepts, you might enjoy exploring silly drawing prompts, which are perfect for sparking lighthearted creativity.

Animals in unusual settings

Place animals in creative or unexpected environments:

1. A polar bear eating an ice cream cone at the park
2. A cheetah stuck in traffic, looking frustrated
3. An octopus reading a book in an underwater library
4. A lion snoozing in a hammock
5. A sloth on a skateboard in a bustling city
6. A goat hiking up a mountain with a tiny backpack
7. A rabbit at a picnic surrounded by snacks
8. An elephant sitting on a small chair at a tea party
9. A zebra crossing the road with traffic signs in the background
10. A dolphin leaping through a rainbow

Animals in motion

Practice dynamic poses and movement to add realism to your drawings:

1. A cheetah sprinting at full speed, muscles stretched
2. A dolphin leaping out of the water in an elegant arc
3. A horse galloping across an open field, mane flowing
4. A bird spreading its wings as it takes off
5. A dog leaping to catch a frisbee mid-air
6. A fox jumping over a log in the woods
7. A butterfly fluttering around a blooming flower
8. A deer bounding gracefully through a meadow
9. A fish darting through a school, twisting and turning
10. A seal sliding down an icy slope

To bring these action-packed sketches to life, consider pairing them with ideas from nature drawing prompts for dynamic, context-rich scenes.

Animal studies prompts

If you’re ready to dive deeper into the details of animals, try these prompts designed for studying specific parts, textures, and anatomy:

1. The claws of a toucan gripping a branch
2. The segmented body of a spider, focusing on its head and legs
3. The texture and wrinkles of an elephant’s ear
4. The scaly tail of a crocodile, complete with overlapping details
5. The fluffy mane of a lion blowing in the wind
6. The spotted pattern on a leopard’s fur
7. The feathers of an owl’s wing mid-flight
8. The curled tail of a seahorse
9. The facial markings of a raccoon, emphasizing its mask-like appearance
10. The horns of a mountain goat from multiple angles

Hybrid or fantasy animal prompts

Combine traits from different animals—or add magical elements—to create fantastical beings:

1. A dragon with butterfly wings
2. A lion with a fish’s tail
3. A bear with antlers like a deer
4. A fox with the mane of a lion
5. A turtle with trees growing from its shell
6. A bird with glowing fire-like wings
7. A horse with scales along its back and a unicorn horn
8. A rabbit with a peacock’s feathered tail
9. A snake with shimmering feathers instead of scales
10. A cat with dragon claws and glittering eyes

For those who enjoy dreaming up fantastical creatures, our creature drawing prompts are the perfect complement to this category, offering endless ideas for otherworldly creations.

Career animals

Reimagine animals thriving in human professions for a fun, creative twist:

1. A dog as a firefighter, spraying water from a hose
2. A cat working as a scientist, holding test tubes and a clipboard
3. A pig as a chef, flipping pancakes in a kitchen
4. A tiger as a basketball coach, shouting plays from the sidelines
5. A rabbit running a vegetable stand at a farmer’s market
6. An owl librarian organizing stacks of books
7. A penguin delivering ice cream in a brightly decorated cart
8. A squirrel teaching yoga on tree branches
9. A kangaroo babysitter with animals peeking out of its pouch
10. A fox hosting a cooking show on TV

Seasonal and festive animals

Celebrate the seasons and holidays with these themed animal prompts:

1. A reindeer tangled in Christmas lights
2. A bunny painting Easter eggs
3. A fox jumping into a pile of autumn leaves
4. A bear roasting marshmallows at a campfire
5. A penguin holding a snowball while wearing a scarf
6. A hedgehog surrounded by pumpkins and candles in fall
7. A cat in a witch’s hat for Halloween
8. A turtle delivering presents with a tiny Santa hat
9. A deer standing in a snowy forest at sunrise
10. A frog sitting on a lily pad surrounded by spring flowers

For more festive drawing ideas, explore holiday drawing prompts, which include Christmas and Halloween themes for extra seasonal fun.

Beyond the prompts: tips for finding your artistic voice

Once you’ve explored these prompts, consider these ways to further develop your style:

• Experiment with new tools: try pencils, markers, watercolors, or digital tools to discover what works best for you.
• Blend realism and imagination: use references for anatomy and movement, but don’t be afraid to add a creative twist.
• Build a habit: incorporate prompts into your daily or weekly routine to keep improving.

For long-term goals, check out monthly art challenges for structured inspiration.

Animal drawing prompts are a fun and flexible way to improve your skills, experiment with new ideas, and simply enjoy the process of creating. Whether you’re drawing whimsical animals, realistic movement, or magical hybrids, there’s something here for every artist.