As the year winds down, your creative spirit is just warming up. December's art challenges are the perfect way to cozy up with your sketchbook and reflect on your artistic journey. Whether you're riding the high of completing Inktober or just looking for a spark to ignite your winter creativity, we've got something for every artist.
We have prepared a list of challenges with prompts to get you started. Some are established art events with official websites, others a fruit of our imagination. From festive birds to icy doodles, let's explore some challenges that'll keep your artistic fire burning brighter than your neighbor's over-the-top holiday light display.
1. Drawcember
Sometimes the simplest challenges bring out our best creativity. Drawcember challenge has been around for a while and it keeps things straightforward: just you, your favorite tools, and daily drawing practice.
It doesn’t have an official website or prompt list. Instead, look out for prompt suggestions on social media and forums from fellow artists starting November or use our prompts below!
How to participate:
Create one drawing each day
Use any medium you prefer
Share your daily pieces with #drawcember, #drawcember2025
Frost - Create a scene featuring delicate frost patterns
Candlelight - Draw something illuminated by warm candlelight
Winter Wildlife - Capture an animal in its winter habitat
Hot Cocoa - Illustrate the perfect winter drink
Night Sky - Draw a starry winter night
Mittens - Design a cozy pair of winter mittens
Ice Palace - Create a fantastical structure made of ice
Holiday Market - Sketch a bustling winter marketplace
Snow Globe - Draw what's inside a magical snow globe
Evergreen - Illustrate a majestic winter pine
Hibernate - Show an animal in its winter slumber
Winter Fashion - Design a stylish cold-weather outfit
Northern Lights - Capture the aurora in the night sky
Warm Hearts - Draw what keeps you warm inside
Winter Sports - Illustrate your favorite winter activity
Fireplace - Sketch a cozy hearth scene
Storm - Capture the drama of a winter storm
Traditions - Draw a cherished holiday tradition
Sweets - Illustrate seasonal treats and desserts
Letters - Design a winter-themed letter or card
Solstice - Create art celebrating the shortest day
Gift - Draw something precious wrapped in surprise
Feast - Illustrate a grand holiday meal
Tales - Bring a winter story to life
Joy - Capture a moment of pure happiness
Peace - Draw your interpretation of tranquility
Gathering - Sketch people coming together
Reflection - Show the year's memories
Light - Illustrate hope in the darkness
Magic - Create something enchanting
New Beginnings - Draw what lies ahead
This list is only our suggestion, you don’t have to follow it. Pick a prompt that you like or mix up ideas to create your own. Or try our Random drawing idea generator for endless art suggestions.
2. Decembird
Ever wondered what a penguin would look like in a Santa hat? Decembird is your chance to find out! With this community-led challenge, we invite you to explore the diverse world of our feathered friends with Christmas elements, one day at a time.
How to participate:
Choose a different bird each day
Experiment with various art styles
Share your avian creations using #decembird, #decembird2025
Useful tips and resources:
Share your complex digital creations on Behance, it already has a few creations under Project tag “Decembird”
Advent of Art turns your December into a daily unwrapping of creativity. The concept is quite simple - instead of chocolate treats you get to create art every day during the advent period. No official prompt lists exist, so you will have to use your imagination. If you want some guidance, use our Advent prompt list below!
How to Participate:
Create art inspired by the holiday season
Follow an advent calendar format
Use #adventofart, #adventofart2025 to share your festive creations
Advent of Art Prompt List:
Snowflake
Candlelight
Evergreen
Cozy socks
Hot cocoa
Jingle bells
Gingerbread
Icicles
Mittens
Star
Gift wrap
Nutcracker
Candy cane
Fireplace
Sleigh ride
Ornament
Winter sunset
Ice skating
Festive lights
Snowman
Holly and ivy
Reindeer
Sugar plum fairy
Silent night
Celebration
If you're looking for even more holiday-inspired ideas, don't miss our dedicated Christmas Drawing Prompts page. It's packed with festive suggestions to keep your creativity flowing throughout the season.
4. Festive Friends Holiday Art Challenge
The Festive Friends Holiday Art Challenge is all about cheerful winter vibes, cozy creativity, and connecting with other artists during the most magical time of the year. Each prompt comes in a little trio, giving you the freedom to draw one idea, mix two together, or go wild and use all three. It’s a light-hearted, warm-spirited way to make art while celebrating the season.
Created by @prettyprismatic and joined by several other talented artists, this challenge focuses on fun over perfection. Whether you love patterns, characters, or cute winter scenes, the prompts are designed to help you jump in whenever inspiration strikes.
How to Participate
Check the date range and choose 1–3 words from that prompt set.
Create an illustration or pattern in any medium you like.
Post your artwork on social media.
Tag @prettyprismatic (and the other hosts if you like).
Use #festivefriends25 so others can find your creations.
5. Christmas Creatures & Character Design Challenge
Who says character design can't be festive? This challenge combines the whimsy of holiday creatures with thoughtful character design, inviting you to populate your own magical winter wonderland with unique beings that bring the season to life.
How to Participate:
Design a new character or creature each day
Blend fantasy elements with holiday themes
Consider personality and backstory for each creation
Share your characters using #christmascreatures, #christmascreatures2025 or #characterdesignadvent2025
Yule Be Creative 2025 is a festive, all-media December art challenge created by @inthestudiowithjes, inviting artists to explore holiday magic through a series of joyful prompts. Running throughout the month, it encourages experimentation, celebration, and cozy seasonal creativity.
There are no strict expectations - do one prompt, all of them, or anything in between. Every medium is welcome.
How to Participate
Check the prompt list and pick the dates you want to join.
Create art in any medium - traditional, digital, 3D, anything goes.
Embrace the digital age with this tech-savvy challenge. It's a board concept art challenge that focuses on utilizing digital tools and media creatively for innovative holiday art.
How to Participate:
Create digital art daily
Experiment with different software and tools
Use #digitaldecember, #digitaldecember2025 to showcase your pixel-perfect pieces
Digital December Prompt List:
Glitch art
Neon city
Retro game character
Cyberpunk portrait
Digital landscape
Animated GIF
Low poly animal
Futuristic vehicle
AI-Assisted Art
Vaporwave aesthetic
Digital collage
Pixel art
3D render
Vector illustration
Digital painting
Isometric design
Fractal art
UI design
Digital comic panel
Holographic effect
Emoji design
Digital pattern
Surreal photo manipulation
Generative art
Digital sculpting
Motion graphics
Augmented reality design
Digital graffiti
Glowing effect
Abstract digital art
Future self-portrait
8. December Doodles
Let's take everyday objects and give them a festive twist! The December Doodles challenge is about seeing the holiday spirit in the simplest things around us.
How to Participate:
Create a quick doodle each day
Keep it simple and fun
Share your doodles using #DecemberDoodles, #DecemberDoodles2025, #DoodleDayDecember2025, #DoodleDayDecember
Useful resources:
One of the most active artists to follow on Instagram for December Doodles is @ella_vagg
December Doodles Prompt List:
Chair (maybe with a Santa hat?)
Coffee mug (with festive pattern)
Pencil (as a tiny candy cane)
Book (wrapped in lights)
Spoon (reflecting Christmas scenes)
Light bulb (filled with snow)
Key (as an ornament)
Door (decorated for holidays)
Clock (counting down to Christmas)
Phone (displaying holiday messages)
Glasses (reflecting winter scenes)
Fork (as a tiny Christmas tree)
Umbrella (catching snowflakes)
Shoe (as an elf's boot)
Pillow (with holiday patterns)
Mirror (showing festive reflections)
Bottle (as a snow globe)
Paper clip (as a sleigh runner)
Sock (as a mini stocking)
Bowl (filled with ornaments)
Scissors (cutting snowflakes)
Tape (with holiday patterns)
Brush (painting holiday scenes)
Button (as a tiny wreath)
Box (as a present)
Basket (full of pine cones)
Stapler (decorated with tinsel)
Calendar (counting to new year)
Pen (writing in frost)
Notebook (with holiday doodles)
Watch (striking midnight)
9. Holi-Doodle-Day Art Challenge
The Holi-Doodle-Day Art Challenge is a mix-and-match December adventure with two columns of prompts (plus weekly bonuses) that produce 144 possible combinations. It's designed for maximum creativity and freedom — no two pieces ever have to be the same.
Hosted by @kawaiitash.draws and supported by other artists, participants can join daily, weekly, or whenever inspiration strikes.
7 Days of Creepmas is a spooky-festive hybrid challenge celebrating its fifth year. Running from December 1–7, it invites artists to create eerie art inspired by daily prompts—perfect for anyone who loves Halloween energy mixed with holiday cheer.
How to Participate
Create artwork based on the prompt of the day.
Use any medium—drawing, photography, crafting, and more.
Tag posts with #7daysofcreepmas or #7daysofcreepmas25.
Share your creations daily during the seven-day event.
Sillycember is a joy-filled, anything-goes December art challenge returning for its second year. It's all about silliness, creativity, and spreading cheer during the holiday season. With no rules and full artistic freedom, it's perfect for creators who just want to play.
The Wintery Woods Challenge 2025 brings cozy woodland charm to December with four week-long prompts. Now in its third year, the challenge encourages artists to explore festive forests, critters, and winter magic at an easy weekly pace.
Hosted by @elizabeth.leyk.illustration alongside several other artists, it welcomes creators of all levels and styles.
As the year draws to a close, take a moment to pause and reflect through your art. This challenge encourages you to look back at your journey and capture your growth through creative expression. It’s a very personal art challenge, just the perfect thing to tell your story and help you grow your social media following.
How to Participate:
Create art that reflects on your year
Focus on personal growth and memories
Share your reflections with #DecemberReflections, #DecemberReflections2025
December Reflections Prompt List:
Biggest achievement
Favorite memory
Personal growth
Something new learned
Cherished friendship
Proud moment
Life changes
Creative journey
Challenges overcome
Joy found
Lessons learned
Hidden blessings
Small victories
Dreams realized
Helping others
Skills gained
Comfort zone
Personal style
Important choice
Future vision
Self discovery
Creative growth
Memorable places
Special people
Grateful heart
Goals achieved
Looking back
Moving forward
New dreams
Year's story
Fresh start
14. Elfmas
Time to sprinkle some elfin magic into your December! For those who are really serious about their Christmas spirit, they can create their own squad of Santa’s Helpers, one elf a day!
How to Participate:
Draw elves and holiday scenes
Add your own magical twist
Share using #Elfmas2025
Elfmas Prompt List:
Toy workshop
Cookie baker elf
Mailroom helper
Reindeer caretaker
Gift wrapper
Light stringer
Chimney inspector
Snow shoveler
Sleigh mechanic
List checker
Music maker
Tree decorator
Candy maker
Pet trainer
Weather watcher
Star polisher
Magic keeper
Story teller
Hot cocoa server
Dream weaver
Wish granter
Map reader
Time keeper
Santa's assistant
Rest & relax
Party planner
Resolution helper
Joy spreader
New Year prep
Celebration host
Future dreamer
15. Winter Painting December
Transform your sketchbook into a snow-covered paradise with this seasonally inspired challenge. Let's capture the magic of winter, one snowflake at a time.
How to Participate:
Create winter-themed artwork daily
Focus on snowy scenes and seasonal elements
Share using #WinterPaintingDecember, #WinterPaintingDecember2025
Wrap yourself in the warmth of artistic comfort with this hygge-inspired challenge. It's all about capturing those snug moments that make winter special.
How to Participate:
Illustrate cozy scenes and comfortable moments
Focus on warm, inviting themes
Share your comfort art with #cozydecember, #cozydecember2025
Cozy December Prompt List:
Reading nook
Warm socks
Steaming tea
Fireplace glow
Comfort food
Blanket fort
Window seat
Candlelight
Fuzzy sweater
Hot chocolate
Baking day
Winter sunset
Cozy pets
Warm bath
Movie night
Comfort books
Knitting corner
Sleeping cat
Rain on windows
Comfort music
Fresh cookies
Holiday lights
Family gathering
Festive evening
Christmas morning
Lazy day
Comfort games
Winter stories
Warm memories
Evening ritual
New Year's coziness
These challenges are about exploration and growth, not perfection. Each prompt is a chance to try something new or revisit a favorite subject. Take a moment to reflect on your progress and consider techniques you'd like to explore further.
As you wrap up your artistic year, remember that every stroke, every doodle, every digital masterpiece is a step forward in your creative journey. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, these challenges are your playground. So grab your tools, find a cozy spot, and let's make this December a month of artistic discovery.
Happy creating, and here's to ending your year on a high note – artistically speaking, of course!
