Ready to stretch your creativity this summer? August art challenges are the perfect excuse to draw every day – whether you're obsessed with dragons, adore dogs, or just want a fun prompt to get your sketchbook moving again.
From dragons to ghosts and cartoon-style drawings, there’s something here for every type of artist.
Named after the legendary dragon Smaug from Tolkien’s lore, Smaugust invites artists to create a new dragon every day throughout August. Whether you’re sketching fierce wyverns, sleepy swamp serpents, or sci-fi robot-dragons, the only rule is: it has to be a dragon.
There’s no single organizer, which means you’ll find a variety of prompt lists circulating by late July – just search the hashtag and pick your favorite list (or go freestyle!).
Official source: Community-driven (search Instagram or DeviantArt)
Hashtags: #Smaugust, #Smaugust2025
Drawing prompt examples:
💡 Want extra monster inspiration? Try the Monster Drawing Prompt Book – it’s packed with 50 mythical creature facts and sketching ideas to help your creatures come to life.
Calling all dog lovers! Doggust is a tail-wagging daily drawing challenge where each day you draw a new pup – often by breed or style prompt. Started around 2019, this challenge has grown a loyal pack of participants who share their furry creations online.
Organizers post a prompt list near the start of August, so keep an eye on their Instagram page for breed-of-the-day updates.
Official source: @dogsinaugust
Hashtags: #Doggust, #Doggust2025, #DogsInAugust, #DogsInAugust2025
Drawing prompts for 2025:
There’s also an official alternative prompt list you can follow if you’re looking for prompts beyond specific dog breeds
AuGhost is a ghost-themed art challenge that takes place every August, blending cozy vibes with spooky charm. This official challenge offers a full month of daily prompts centered on ghost characters, haunted scenes, and supernatural whimsy.
It's a fun and flexible way to ease into autumn creativity — whether you're drawing spectral roommates, haunted objects, or spirits with strong opinions. You can follow the official prompt list, mix things up, or interpret each day in your own unique way.
Official source: @therealaughost on Bluesky and Instagram
Hashtags: #AuGhost, #AuGhost2025
Drawing prompt examples:
💡 This is the perfect challenge for fans of gentle horror, atmospheric illustration, or storytelling through character design — and it’s a great warm-up for Drawlloween in October.
If you love watercolor, colored pencil, or just a good pen sketch, Doodlewash’s August Art Challenge is a stress-free way to create every day. With a fresh list of 31 cheerful prompts, it’s designed to help artists of all levels stay consistent without pressure.
Even a quick five-minute sketch counts here. It’s all about the joy of daily creativity.
Official source: Doodlewash official website
Hashtags: #DoodlewashAugust2025
Drawing prompt examples:
Got just 5 minutes? That’s all you need for this minimalist art challenge. “5-Minute August” pushes you to do a creative sketch, doodle, or scribble in just five minutes each day – it’s about speed, looseness, and letting go of perfection.
It’s perfect for busy artists or anyone working on building a quick daily drawing habit.
Official source: Kick in the Creatives – August Challenges
Hashtags: #5MinuteAugust
Drawing prompt examples:
Love sketching animals? This August-long challenge from Kick in the Creatives invites you to draw one animal each day of the month. From cats and cows to sea creatures and jungle beasts, it’s a great way to improve anatomy, explore different species, or just fill your sketchbook with furry (or scaly) friends.
You can draw from reference photos, live observation, or pure imagination. Any medium is welcome – whether you're doodling, painting, or going full digital.
💡 Stuck staring at a blank sketchbook? Give our Animal Drawing Prompt Generator a try — it’s a quick way to spark ideas and get your pencil moving again.
Official source: Kick in the Creatives – 31 Animals August
Hashtags: #31AnimalsAugust
Drawing prompt examples:
If you like themed prompts, August Trio might be your perfect fit. Each day in August, Kick in the Creatives gives you a set of three unrelated words — your challenge is to create one image that includes all three. It’s a brilliant exercise in visual storytelling, creativity, and lateral thinking.
You can draw, paint, sculpt, or collage — the medium is entirely up to you. The key is finding clever or unexpected ways to combine the trio.
Official source: Kick in the Creatives – August Trio
Hashtags: #AugustTrio
Sample trio prompts:
💡 Want to combine the Animal and August Trio challenges? Check out the Whimsical Creatures Animal Drawing Prompt Book with 50 imaginative prompts that mix animals with unexpected twists, plus fun facts to learn and inspire creative sketching for all ages.
Every Thursday this August, join a community of artists in summoning mythical beings to life. Mythical Marathon Art is hosted by a group of illustrators and features a new legendary creature each week. Whether you're into folklore, fantasy, or exploring mystical aesthetics, this weekly drawing challenge offers a magical way to stay creative all month long.
You’re free to interpret each prompt however you like – go detailed, stylized, or experimental. Don’t forget to tag the hosts so they can see and share your creations!
Official source: @karyn_arty and co-hosts on Instagram
Hashtags: #MythicalMarathonArt
Drawing prompts:
💡 If four mythical creatures is just not enough, find more ideas in our Monster and Mythical Creature Idea Generator — packed with fantasy beings, magical hybrids, and wild concepts to keep your imagination going all month.
Hosted by artist Charlotte Durance and two more artists, this thoughtful August challenge invites you to “draw every day from life - for no longer than 30 mins - using 3 materials”. It’s designed to combat decision fatigue, spark joy, and help artists reconnect with their creativity in a slower, more intentional way.
Official source: @charlotte.durance and co-hosts on Instagram
Hashtags: #3materialsdrawingchallenge
How it works:
💡 Tip from Charlotte: Write down all your art supplies on slips of paper, then draw three each morning to guide that day’s piece — it’s a great way to add surprise and prevent overthinking.
Looking for even more ways to stay inspired this August? These bonus drawing challenges offer fun, flexible themes perfect for artists who prefer variety or want to keep things light. These ideas are easy to jump into at any point in the month.
This fun challenge gives you one letter per day and asks you to draw something that starts with it. From “A is for Alligator” to “Z is for Zeppelin,” you’ll find it strangely addictive – and surprisingly educational.
Great for artists looking for versatility and variety in their prompts.
Hashtags: #AugustAlphabetDrawingChallenge
Drawing prompt examples:A – Avocado
This August drawing challenge is all about cartoons – whether you're designing characters, illustrating punchy jokes, or just exploring expressive line work. You can draw from life, invent scenarios, or try adapting real people into cartoon form.
It’s a light-hearted challenge, ideal for beginners or anyone wanting to add some humor to their art.
Hashtags: #CartooningAugust
Drawing prompt examples:
August drawing challenges are a great way to stay motivated, try new ideas, and fill your sketchbook with everything from dragons to doodle dogs. Whether you stick to one theme or combine a few, the key is to keep creating in a way that feels fun and manageable.
If you're enjoying the rhythm, take it further with our monthly drawing challenges to keep your creative momentum going long after August ends.
And when inspiration stalls, drawing prompt generators and themed drawing books are always there to help you spark a new idea.
Stay curious, share your work, and enjoy every page you fill.