Jump to a section
1. MerMay
Created by artist Tom Bancroft, MerMay is both a daily art challenge and a global contest. Artists of all skill levels are invited to share original mermaid-themed artwork throughout May—following the official prompt list or creating their own interpretations. Draw mermaids all month long, exploring everything from elegant sirens and ocean royalty to whimsical sea creatures and deep-sea fantasy worlds.
- Artistic Medium: Any (traditional, digital)
- Drawing prompt examples: Lei, Kaiju, Water Dragon, Coral, Tea
- Community: Share your creations using the dedicated hashtag on social media platforms (check the official rules for the exact hashtag this year) and tag the official community account.
2. Blooming Marvellous May Flower Art Challenge
Hosted by Kick in the Creatives, this challenge invites artists to create daily floral artworks throughout May. Participants can use any medium—paint, embroidery, clay, digital, or mixed media—to celebrate the beauty and diversity of flowers. It's an excellent opportunity to experiment with different styles and techniques inspired by botanical subjects.
- Artistic Medium: Any (traditional, digital, mixed media)
- Community: Share your work using hashtags #kickinthecreatives and #BloomingMarvellousMay, and tag the official account.
There’s no official prompt list, so artists are encouraged to find inspiration from real-life blooms, photos, garden catalogs, or botanical reference books.
You can start with familiar favorites like roses, tulips, daisies, and sunflowers—or explore more unique flowers such as passionflowers, proteas, bird of paradise, or bleeding hearts. Try focusing on different colors, shapes, or flower meanings throughout the month.
3. Miniature May Art Challenge
Also organized by Kick in the Creatives, Miniature May challenges artists to create a miniature piece of artwork each day in May. The only stipulation is that each piece should be no larger than 5” x 5”. This challenge is great for anyone who wants to focus on composition, detail, or simply try something a little different. Working small is oddly satisfying and can be a great way to overcome blank page anxiety.
- Artistic Medium: Traditional media only (no digital for this one)
- Drawing prompt examples: self-portrait, energy, pairm organic, fairy tale
- Community: Use hashtags #kickinthecreatives and #MiniatureMay to share your miniature artworks.
4. May Sketch A Day
A simple, open-ended challenge that does exactly what it says: sketch something every day in May. There’s no official prompt list or strict rules, which makes this one super flexible. Some artists post daily studies, others share doodles, character designs, or visual journal entries.
- Artistic Medium: Any (traditional, digital)
- Community: Share your daily sketches using the hashtag #MaySketchADay.
Need ideas for daily drawing prompts this May? Try this mix of 31 spring-inspired themes and creative curveballs from Drawing Idea Prompts:
- Morning dew
- Ladybug parade
- Lavender fields
- Bloom & blur
- Curiosity
- Mossy stones
- Rainy reflections
- Glass teacup
- Magnolia dreams
- Kite in the wind
- Picnic patterns
- Shy fox
- Wild strawberries
- Sun hat
- Wisteria tunnel
- Hidden path
- Floating lanterns
- Nesting birds
- Daisy chain
- Spiral shell
- Cloud shapes
- Lemon tree
- Tiny treasures
- Rooftop garden
- Stargazer lily
- Paper boat
- Patch of clovers
- Bluejay
- Forgotten mailbox
- Firefly
- Grow
No matter your style or experience level, May’s art challenges offer a fresh reason to create something every day—from dreamy mermaids to blooming florals and tiny masterpieces. Whether you join one challenge or mix a few together, it’s a great time to build creative momentum.
Looking for inspiration all year round? Check out our Monthly Art Challenges Guide to explore what each month has to offer.
