115 Drawing Prompts for Adults

Drawing prompts for adults can be a fantastic way to break up routine, spark fresh ideas, and stretch your creativity in unexpected ways. Whether you're just doodling for fun or looking to grow as an artist, these prompts can help you reflect, laugh a bit, and bring a sense of play into your art practice.

We’ve created three lists, each with its unique angle. The main idea behind these prompts is not to simply help you hone your artistic skills, but also reflect on interesting life aspects or revive old and dear memories. 

So here’s our list of personal, funny, and creative drawing prompts designed specifically for adults. Take your time, experiment, and remember to enjoy each moment of creating!

an adult artist ready to start drawing on a big canvas in his work room

Endless drawing prompt ideas for adults

Get a creative prompt for adults every day using our random art prompt generator. Depending on the settings you choose, your prompts can be pretty simple, such as "samurai kicking" or quite complex and imaginative, like "cheerful bazooka training in an old castle".

And if you're interested in specific subjects like mythical beings, scenes and landscapes, or holidays, our themed generators can help focus your creativity. Each specialized prompt generator opens up new possibilities for your artistic journey!

40 personal drawing prompts for adults

These drawing prompts are a great way for any adult to sit down and get to know themselves better. They will encourage you to think about your favorite objects, habits, and preferences. What an interesting task it will be to transform these ideas into drawings!

Here is the list of personal drawing prompts:

  1. Your favorite mug and the drink that comforts you most
  2. A simple object from your childhood (like a toy or book)
  3. Your favorite fruit or vegetable in any colors you like
  4. The view from your favorite window
  5. A small plant or flower that makes you happy
  6. Three items that are always in your bag
  7. Your favorite piece of clothing
  8. A simple weather scene that matches your mood today
  9. Your ideal breakfast plate
  10. A pet you have or wish you had
  11. Your favorite pair of shoes
  12. A simple self-portrait wearing your favorite color
  13. Three things that made you smile today
  14. Your favorite snack and drink combination
  15. A simple sketch of your dream house (just the outside)
  16. Your favorite spot to relax (could be a chair or couch)
  17. A simple drawing of your ideal weekend morning
  18. Your favorite dessert
  19. A tree or plant that reminds you of home
  20. Your favorite book on a shelf
  21. Something you collect (shells, buttons, anything!)
  22. Your ideal room (simple shapes are fine)
  23. A small moment from today that you want to remember
  24. Your favorite seasonal item (like a winter scarf or summer hat)
  25. A simple landscape that calms you
  26. Your favorite kitchen tool or dish
  27. A doodle of your perfect day using simple symbols
  28. Your favorite place to sit outside
  29. A simple memory from last weekend
  30. Your favorite way to exercise (stick figures welcome!)
  31. Something that always makes you laugh
  32. Your favorite time of day (shown through simple nature elements)
  33. A simple drawing of your ideal garden
  34. Your favorite comfort food
  35. A gift you'd love to receive (keep it simple!)
  36. Your favorite holiday decoration
  37. A simple scene from your morning routine
  38. Your favorite way to relax (basic shapes are fine)
  39. A happy memory drawn with basic shapes
  40. Your perfect weather day (sun, clouds, rain - whatever you prefer!)

Each prompt is a chance to explore at your own pace, giving you space to reflect on new techniques, textures, and ideas.

Remember:

  • Stick figures are perfectly fine
  • Simple shapes work great
  • No need for perfect details
  • Focus on the memory or feeling, not artistic perfection
  • Have fun with colors - they don't need to be realistic

Click on the image below to download this prompt list as a PDF file:

list of personal drawing prompts for adults

30 funny drawing prompts for adults

Now for something on the sillier side! These prompts are designed to add a little humor to your drawing time. Have fun, and don’t worry if things get a little weird. Sometimes those are the best drawings!

Have fun with this silly prompt list for adults:

  1. A dinosaur wearing pajamas
  2. A cat trying to do yoga
  3. A superhero who’s really bad at their job
  4. A sandwich with an attitude problem
  5. A snail at a disco party
  6. Yourself, but as a cartoon villain
  7. A fruit that’s terrified of being eaten
  8. A sloth drinking coffee way too fast
  9. A cactus with sunglasses, looking "too cool"
  10. Your pet (or imaginary pet) as a king or queen
  11. A monster that’s actually quite friendly
  12. A hedgehog in roller skates
  13. An alien at their first day on Earth (looking confused)
  14. A robot that’s really into gardening
  15. A turtle who thinks it’s a race car
  16. A fish walking a dog
  17. An ice cream cone trying to survive a hot day
  18. A giraffe at the gym
  19. A dancing skeleton with a big personality
  20. A cloud that’s annoyed about being in the sky
  21. A squirrel that’s way too prepared for winter
  22. A shark with a rubber ducky floatie
  23. A bird that’s way too overdressed for a casual party
  24. A snail in a sports car
  25. A panda who’s fed up with bamboo
  26. A book character you've read recently as a total fashionista
  27. A butterfly that’s afraid of heights
  28. A vampire who’s oddly squeamish about blood
  29. A detective raccoon investigating a “crime”
  30. A musician bee giving a rock concert

Drawing these may feel a bit silly, but each one encourages you to experiment with humor, expression, and unique situations that might spark a new direction in your art.

Click on the image below to download this prompt list as a PDF file:

list of fun drawing prompts for adults

If you liked this list, check out 100 silly drawing prompts for even more fun ideas.

30 creative drawing prompts for adults

These fun prompts mix a bit of everything – imagination, memory, and creativity – and are perfect for days when you just want to relax and play with your ideas.

Dive into these creative drawing prompts for adults:

  1. A character who’s a blend of two animals (like a fox-bird)
  2. Your dream home in a whimsical style
  3. An underwater scene with unusual sea creatures
  4. A celebration scene with confetti, balloons, and a character enjoying the moment
  5. A parade of unusual creatures marching down a street
  6. An enchanted forest with magical plants and animals
  7. A day in the life of a ghost (just doing normal activities)
  8. A surreal landscape with floating islands and strange weather
  9. An inventor’s workshop filled with odd gadgets
  10. Your favorite season as a person
  11. An animal living like a human (like a raccoon drinking coffee in a café)
  12. Your favorite song visualized as colors or shapes
  13. A library where the books seem alive
  14. A dance party for objects, like dancing pencils and dancing chairs
  15. A character from your favorite movie but placed in the 1800s
  16. A map of an imaginary world, with cities, forests, and rivers
  17. A street fair with colorful booths and happy characters
  18. A magical shop that sells strange potions and mysterious artifacts
  19. A day in the life of a plant – from sunrise to sunset
  20. An animal living in a treehouse, but make it elaborate
  21. A piece of technology reimagined in a medieval style
  22. An island floating in the sky with villages on it
  23. A rainy day scene where the rain is colorful
  24. A character discovering a secret door in a forest
  25. An ordinary item as a famous work of art (like a Mona Lisa toast)
  26. A family of fairytale creatures on a camping trip
  27. A “hero” version of an unlikely animal (like a hedgehog in armor)
  28. A bookstore at night where the books come to life
  29. An animal baking a cake – but things are getting messy
  30. An ancient temple covered in moss and surrounded by mystical creatures

Each of these ideas is a spark, meant to get your imagination rolling. You don’t need to stick strictly to the prompt; think of them as starting points to take in whatever direction feels most natural to you.

Click on the image below to download this prompt list as a PDF file:

list of creative drawing prompts for adults

15 reflective drawing prompts for adults

These drawing prompts are designed to help you explore your inner world, memories, and dreams in a creative way. Your style and skill level are perfect just as they are – these prompts are about the process of reflection and expression, not creating masterpieces.

  1. Your favorite childhood memory, captured in colors and shapes
  2. Your biggest dream or goal, represented symbolically
  3. A moment that changed your life, captured in abstract or realistic form
  4. A person who inspired you, represented through meaningful symbols
  5. An emotion you're feeling today, expressed through color and form
  6. A challenge you overcame, illustrated as a journey or transformation
  7. A gift you received that touched your heart
  8. A moment when you felt truly proud of yourself
  9. A place from your past that shaped who you are today
  10. Your personal symbol of strength or resilience
  11. Your favorite music translated into visual elements
  12. Your definition of success, represented through imagery
  13. Your idea of adventure, whether big or small
  14. A value or belief that guides your life, expressed visually
  15. A hope or wish for your future self

Take your time with each prompt, reflecting on the memories, feelings, and dreams that surface as you create. Feel free to add notes or words alongside your drawings - and focus on expressing what matters to you.

Click on the image below to download this prompt list as a PDF file:

list of reflective drawing prompts for adults

Additional ideas for your art challenges

If you’re looking for more inspiration or drawing challenges with different themes, consider joining a monthly art challenge. Some of these challenges have dedicated websites and official prompt lists, others are purely community-led. Either way, it’s a fun opportunity to introduce discipline into your art practice and push your limits with new art directions. 

Some of the most notable monthly challenges include:

  • Inktober, where you draw (digitally or on paper) something with ink during the month of October
  • Huevember, that lets you play with the color wheel and create a drawing each day dominated by a certain hue
  • Drawcember - a relaxed challenge to pass the winter months wrapped in a cozy blanked with a sketchbook 

To conclude

There you have it – 93 different drawing prompts designed just for adults. Some are simple and relaxing, others funny and wild, and a few might push you to try something unexpected. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to approach these prompts. Each drawing you create is a little step on your artistic path, a chance to explore new ideas or just have a bit of fun.

If you get stuck, just pick one prompt and let your pen or pencil wander. And, more than anything, enjoy the process. Your unique style will shine through in ways you might not expect. So grab your sketchbook, get comfortable, and see where these prompts can take you!