Holiday Drawing Prompts for the Whole Year
Holiday drawing prompts are here to add a spark of seasonal fun to your art practice. Every holiday brings something fresh, so you’ll always have a new drawing theme to explore. Maybe you’re in the mood for a cozy winter sketch or want to capture the bright energy of a summer festival—whatever it is, these prompts are your ticket to year-round creativity!
In this guide, we’ll cover holiday drawing prompts for every season, from Valentine’s Day to Halloween to Christmas and beyond. Grab your sketchbook, and let’s dive into a year of festive art ideas together! And if you ever run out, you always have our infinite holiday prompt generator.
Winter Holiday Drawing Prompts
Christmas
Christmas is packed with inspiration for holiday drawings. Try these ideas to capture the spirit of the season:
- Santa Claus portraits: experiment with different expressions for Santa, drawing styles, or even add a quirky twist!
- Decorated Christmas trees: draw a tree adorned with ornaments, lights, or even presents underneath.
- Gingerbread houses: add colorful candies, frosting, and unique designs.
- Snowy scenes: think cozy cabins, snowfall, and animals like deer or foxes.
Our tips: Play with reds, greens, and snowy whites–it’s the core of Christmas spirit!
That’s not all! The Christmas period is especially lively in the arts community, so much so that many creative drawing challenges take place in December. Here are a couple worth checking out:
- Drawcember is one of the oldest community challenges out there with a very simple goal–a drawing a day!
- December Doodles has a slightly more narrow topic and is the perfect challenge for beginner artists.
Feeling particularly inspired? Check out our full guide for Christmas drawing prompts and challenges.
New Year’s
Capture the energy and celebration of the New Year with these drawing ideas:
- Fireworks in the sky: practice creating vibrant bursts of color in the night.
- Champagne and cheers: sketch champagne flutes clinking or people celebrating.
- Clocks and countdown: try different clock designs striking midnight.
- New Year’s resolutions: illustrate goals like fitness, travel, or creativity.
Our tips: Use bold colors and consider experimenting with light and reflections for the fireworks!
Valentine’s Day
February’s holiday of love offers plenty of prompts to explore romance and affection:
- Hearts and roses: classic symbols like hearts, roses, or chocolates are ideal for this holiday.
- Cupid and arrows: draw Cupid with a bow, or illustrate arrows for a playful vibe.
- Love letters: sketch open letters with heartfelt messages spilling out.
- Couples: experiment with drawing people together, capturing gestures of love.
Our tips: Shades of pink and red set a romantic tone. Try different heart styles or floral arrangements.
With that, the winter has come to an end! For a full collection of prompts, challenges, and printable PDFs, check out our full winter drawing prompts guide.
Spring Holiday Drawing Prompts
Easter
Welcome spring with Easter-themed drawing prompts to play with pastels and cheerful characters:
- Easter eggs: design intricate or simple patterns on eggs.
- Bunny characters: draw bunnies with unique outfits or expressions.
- Baskets and flowers: illustrate Easter baskets filled with treats and spring flowers.
- Baby chicks: draw cute chicks to celebrate new beginnings.
Our tips: Light colors like pastel pinks, yellows, and greens suit the Easter vibe. Consider experimenting with shading to give eggs depth.
Mother’s Day
Celebrate mothers or caregivers with prompts inspired by love and appreciation:
- Floral bouquets: create detailed flower arrangements.
- Mother-child portraits: capture moments of connection and warmth.
- Handwritten notes: draw cards or notes expressing love.
- Personal gifts: sketch symbolic items like jewelry or favorite books.
Our tips: If you wish to turn your sketch into a proper Mother’s day present, find a nice photo with your mom and turn it into a drawing. Add a creative background using a random landscape generator and you’ll have yourself a unique and memorable gift!
Summer Holiday Drawing Prompts
Independence Day (U.S.)
July 4th offers festive prompts to capture patriotic themes:
- Flags and fireworks: experiment with patterns and designs for an American flag or a firework display.
- BBQs and food: draw popular BBQ foods like hot dogs, corn, or burgers.
- Bald eagles: try drawing the national bird for a creative challenge.
- Parades and festivals: illustrate scenes with music, floats, and people enjoying the holiday.
Our tips: Embrace red, white, and blue! You could also try creating dynamic scenes that convey movement.
Father’s Day
Show appreciation with prompts for Father’s Day that reflect their hobbies and activities, a few examples being:
- Tool kits: draw classic tools like hammers, nails, and screwdrivers.
- Fishing scenes: illustrate fishing poles, boats, or fish for a peaceful vibe.
- Sports themes: sketch equipment or scenes for popular sports.
- Dad and child moments: capture memorable interactions or shared hobbies.
Our tips: Earthy and strong colors fit this theme well. Think about using shading to give objects a more realistic feel.
Autumn Holiday Drawing Prompts
Halloween
Halloween is a great time to experiment with spooky, whimsical, or eerie themes:
- Pumpkins and Jack-o’-lanterns: draw various pumpkin expressions from scary to silly.
- Ghost characters: create ghostly figures with personality.
- Witches and wizards: design classic witch hats, cauldrons, or potions.
- Haunted houses: illustrate a spooky house on a hill with bats and eerie trees.
Our tips: Play with shadows and dramatic lighting. Halloween drawing prompts let you explore a fun and spooky color palette.
Thanksgiving
Capture the coziness and gratitude of Thanksgiving with these ideas:
- Turkeys: create playful or realistic turkey characters.
- Family Feast: draw a table filled with classic Thanksgiving dishes.
- Cornucopia: illustrate an overflowing cornucopia with fruits and vegetables.
- Fall Leaves: try detailed, colorful autumn leaves for a seasonal vibe.
Our tips: Warm oranges, browns, and reds will bring a cozy feel. Experiment with textures to make food look realistic!
Tips for Creating Your Own Holiday Drawing Prompts
Personalized prompts add a unique touch to your holiday drawings. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Mix themes: combine different holidays or seasons for fun, unique drawings.
- Explore cultural holidays: look into holidays like Diwali, Lunar New Year, or Día de los Muertos for diverse inspiration.
- Use random prompt generators: add unexpected elements to your holiday drawings with the help of themed and general prompt generators.
- Make it personal: draw from family traditions, favorite foods, or seasonal activities.
- Mix up art media: try masking pen plus watercolors or white pen plus ink for more alternative holiday drawings. Thinking outside the box can bring unexpected fun to your holiday drawing prompts.
Are you ready to start drawing?
Holiday drawing prompts make it easy to stay inspired. As we always say–don’t overthink it! Embrace each season’s themes, join art challenges or even start your own and let your creativity shine through every holiday.
