These bite-sized adventures in art-making are perfect for beginners and seasoned artists alike. Let's dive in, clear all creative blocks and expand our art portfolios with a huge list of monthly art challenges!

What are monthly art challenges?

Think of monthly art challenges as a creative gym membership for your artistic muscles. Each month, you're given a set of prompts or a theme to inspire your art-making. Some challenges focus on a specific medium, like watercolors or pencil drawing, others focus on specific objects or colors, some push you to explore new art techniques.

The best part? You're not alone. Thousands of artists worldwide participate in these challenges, share their work, offer encouragement, and inspire each other. You can post your work on social media and spread the word using dedicated tags, participate in art forums, get feedback, and improve together with a supportive community.

Why join the monthly art challenges?

Participating in a monthly art challenge isn't just about making more art (although that's a pretty sweet deal). Here are a few reasons to give it a go:

  • Boost your creativity: Nothing beats artist's block like a fresh prompt every day.
  • Improve your skills: Practice makes progress, and these challenges give you plenty of practice.
  • Connect with other artists: Share your work, get inspired, and make new art buddies.
  • Build a consistent art habit: A month-long challenge can help you establish a regular creative routine.
  • Explore new techniques: Many challenges encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and try new things.
  • Have fun: Because art should be enjoyable, right?

A year of art challenges

Ready to jump in? Here's a list of popular monthly art challenges to keep you creating all year round:

October

happening now11 challenges
Inktober Inktober kicked off back in 2009 when artist Jake Parker decided to boost his inking skills and consistency. Little did he know, he'd spark a global phenomenon that's still going strong today. Drawlloween Drawlloween takes the spirit of Halloween and stretches it across the entire month of October. This challenge, born from the spooky imaginations of artists worldwide, encourages participants to dive deep into the eerie, the creepy, and the downright bizarre. Witchtober Witchtober casts a spell on the art community every October, inviting artists to explore the magical world of witches. This challenge has grown from a niche theme to a beloved tradition, celebrating everything from classic Halloween witches to modern, diverse interpretations of magical practitioners. Goretober Goretober is not for the faint of heart. This challenge dives into the darker, bloodier side of art, perfect for horror enthusiasts and those who love to explore the macabre. It's a playground for artists to push boundaries and experiment with unsettling imagery. Pumpkinhead Challenge The Pumpkinhead Challenge adds a whimsical twist to October art. This fun and quirky challenge asks artists to reimagine characters - from pop culture icons to original creations - with pumpkins for heads. It's a delightful mix of Halloween spirit and creative character design. full list, prompts & how to join See all 11 October challenges →

November

up next14 challenges
DIPvember DIPvember is our own November challenge: one drawing prompt for every day of the month, from a fallen leaf on November 1 to the first snow on November 30. The prompts follow the season and a few special days, like a marigold for Day of the Dead, a spiral shell for Fibonacci Day and a pie for Thanksgiving. Huevember Huevember is a month-long walk around the color wheel. Every day of November gets its own hue from the Huevember wheel, and there's just one rule: that hue has to be the main color people see. What you draw is entirely up to you. Ghibli November Ghibli November is the coziest challenge on this list, celebrating the worlds and moods of Studio Ghibli. The 2026 edition is hosted by @sarafandrey_illustrations together with @martinab.illustrations, @laura_illustrator, @elisa_bochicchio, @lanalotthings, @_loris_art and @valoyumi. Fall Fur All Fall Fur All is a new festive challenge where pets take over November: harvest festivals, cozy evenings, football and Thanksgiving dinner. It's hosted by @shannon_day_studio and eight more illustrators, and it's the perfect excuse to draw your cat or dog all month (they'll pretend not to care, but they'll care). Kidlit Art Drawing Challenge The Kidlit Art Drawing Challenge is a monthly prompt list for anyone who loves picture-book characters. November's list is packed with funny little duos, like a confused platypus or a bewitched sausage, that come with a story already half-written. full list, prompts & how to join See all 14 November challenges →
no challenge fits? Make your own with a random prompt
Open the generator →

December

16 challenges
Drawcember Drawcember is the simplest challenge on this list: one drawing a day, any medium, all month long. No themes to decode and no rules to memorize, just you and your sketchbook versus December. Decembird Decembird is a community-led bird challenge, and this year we're slowing it down. Instead of a new bird every day, you get two winter birds a week and time to really get to know each one, naturalist style. Advent of Art Advent of Art swaps the chocolate calendar for a sketchbook. Instead of a treat behind each door, you get a new piece of art every day of the advent season (sadly, still no chocolate). Christmas Creatures & Character Design Challenge Who says character design can't be festive? The Christmas Creatures challenge fills your winter wonderland with brand-new beings, from gingerbread warriors to candy cane dragons, one character a day. Digital December Digital December is for artists who'd rather hold a stylus than a paintbrush. It's a broad concept art challenge about using digital tools creatively, from pixel art and low poly animals to glitch effects and 3D renders. full list, prompts & how to join See all 16 December challenges →

January

9 challenges
The Female Character Challenge from DIP team Let’s start the year with a challenge crafted by our team to hone your character design skills. The goal of the challenge is to relax after the New Year holidays with the help of art therapy, enjoy the process and get into your own drawing pace. All while working on powerful female characters! Doodlewash January Art Challenge The Doodlewash January Art Challenge offers daily prompts that encourage watercolor and sketch enthusiasts to flex their creative muscles. Hosted by the vibrant Doodlewash community, this challenge is open to all skill levels and mediums, although watercolor and sketching take center stage. The January Challenge by 64 Million Artists This 31-day creativity challenge welcomes all art forms, from drawing to poetry. Organized by 64 Million Artists, it focuses on self-expression and exploration. Daily prompts are emailed or available online, whichever you prefer. Creatuanary Love fantastical creatures? Creatuanary is your chance to design and draw imaginative beings. Hosted by talented artists you can find on Instagram at @dibujantenocturno, @joshuacairos_art, and @rafater_official, this challenge builds on creativity and world-building. 30-Day Sketchbook Challenge by Susan Yeates Hosted by Susan Yeates, this beginner-friendly challenge encourages daily sketching to develop consistent habits. It’s perfect for artists looking to get back into sketching or start fresh. full list, prompts & how to join See all 9 January challenges →

February

6 challenges
February Faces February Faces is hosted byKick in the Creatives, designed to help artists practice drawing faces. It’s perfect for improving portrait skills, experimenting with expressions, and developing your unique style. Faebruary Court Faebruary, originally created by @laurarcenciel, is a challenge where artists draw a fairy each day based on assigned themes or keywords. Now hosted by various artists, you can find prompts and live sessions on platforms like Instagram. This year, albartlab gives this challenge a twist and,… Funguary Funguary is a celebration of mycology in art, focusing on mushrooms, fungi, and their whimsical forms. This drawing event invites artists to create a bunch of mushroom-based characters throughout the month of February. It's perfect for artists inspired by nature and organic shapes. FLUFF-uary FLUFF-uary is a creation celebration designed to showcase sweetness and light throughout February. There’s a prompt for each day, and participants are encouraged to create in any format: writing, drawing, photo editing, or videos. The focus is on fun and comfort, not competition. Febroary Febroary celebrates the majesty of big cats, focusing on lions, tigers, leopards, and more. This challenge is especially popular on Instagram. full list, prompts & how to join See all 6 February challenges →

March

5 challenges
Time to Bloom Time to Bloom is a March challenge hosted by tica_illustrations and fellow artists, inspired by the beauty of spring and personal growth. With just two prompts for the whole month, it's a low-pressure way to create and share your art. MixMunchMarch MixMunchMarch is a fun, food-themed art challenge hosted by nas.artspace and co-hosts, where artists mix and match ingredients to create their own delicious illustrated combos. You can join anytime and as often as you like. Fantasy Spring Garden Fantasy Spring Garden is a weekly drawing challenge hosted by mirelapilko and fellow artists, inviting creators to reimagine fantasy creatures and animals by merging them with the enchanting world of flora. Think mythical beings fused with flowers, mushrooms, and plants. Kidlit Art Drawing Challenge The Kidlit Art Drawing Challenge is a monthly drawing event by kidlitart_drawing_challenge, designed to spark imagination and joyful storytelling through whimsical, child-friendly prompts. You can join every day or just pick the prompts that speak to you. Lettering for Fun Challenge The Lettering for Fun Challenge is a march lettering event hosted by happyletteringtanya and crafty.lil.panda, built around themed prompts that celebrate special days throughout March. There's no pressure for perfection — just fun with letters. full list, prompts & how to join See all 5 March challenges →

April

Sculpture April Try your hand at 3D art, creating daily sculptures using various materials.
CampNaNoDrawMo A month-long drawing challenge, encouraging daily artistic practice and skill development.
30 Days of Hands Practice drawing hands, improving skills in rendering this complex part of human anatomy.
Alphabetical April Create art inspired by each letter of the alphabet, exploring typography and letterforms.
Animal April Draw a different animal each day, working across species and environments.
make your own April challenge Get a random prompt →

May

4 challenges
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,… 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… 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… 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. full list, prompts & how to join See all 4 May challenges →

June

8 challenges
Kaijune Kaijune challenges you to draw a new kaiju (giant monster) every day throughout June. Born from artist Riley Phillips' imagination in 2017, this challenge has stomped its way into becoming one of the year's most beloved art events. Junicorn Junicorn invites artists to explore the magical realm of unicorns throughout June, and trust us - there's way more to these horned beauties than rainbow manes and sparkles (though sparkles are totally welcome). Since emerging around 2016, this challenge has gathered a devoted community of artists… Junebug Art Challenge Sophie McPike introduced the Junebug Art Challenge in 2017 to celebrate summer's tiniest creatures through daily insect-themed artwork. This challenge will open your eyes to the incredible patterns, jewel-like colors, and fascinating forms hiding in the insect world - you'll never look at a beetle the same way again. DoodleWash June Art Challenge The Doodlewash challenge opens its arms to everyone - whether you're wielding professional watercolors, sketching with colored pencils you found in a drawer, or drawing with whatever's within arm's reach. With 30 optional prompts designed to spark joy rather than stress, this challenge celebrates… ‘Tonal June’ Art Challenge Strip away the complexity of color and dive into the world of tone. Using just one color plus white, you'll learn how light and shadow can create depth and mood in ways that might completely surprise you. It's like learning to see your subject's skeleton before adding the flesh - and honestly, it's pretty mind-blowing. full list, prompts & how to join See all 8 June challenges →

July

World Watercolor Month A global celebration of watercolors, encouraging daily watercolor painting.
Landscape-a-Day Practice landscape art, improving skills in depicting various natural and urban scenes.
Character Design Challenge Create unique characters daily, exploring diverse personalities and visual styles.
Jazzed About July Create music-inspired art, translating auditory experiences into visual form.
Jurassic July Draw dinosaurs and prehistoric scenes, exploring paleontology through art.
make your own July challenge Get a random prompt →

August

9 challenges
Smaugust 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. Doggust 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. AuGhost 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. Doodlewash August Art Challenge 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. Quick Kick August Drawing Challenge 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. full list, prompts & how to join See all 9 August challenges →

September

4 challenges
Sketchtember Sketchtember is a low-pressure September art challenge focused on consistency. The idea is simple: create one sketch a day, whether digital or traditional. Unlike other challenges, the emphasis isn’t on polished pieces but on the habit of daily practice—loose, quick sketches are more than enough. Swordtember Launched by artist Faith Schaffer around 2019, Swordtember challenges artists to design a new fantastical sword each day of September. The official prompt list provides unique daily themes (such as moon, cursed relic, wings, forest spirit), sparking endless possibilities for weapon designs that… Cattember Hosted annually by @__garfi on Instagram, Cattember is the purrrrfect September challenge for feline fans. Each day, artists receive a simple, open-ended word as a prompt—and the twist is to interpret it through cats. Doodlewash September Art Challenge Run by the Doodlewash community, this challenge invites artists worldwide to create one traditional artwork every day in September. Digital art isn’t part of the event—participants are encouraged to use watercolor, ink, colored pencils, crayons, or a mix of traditional media. full list, prompts & how to join See all 4 September challenges →

How to participate in monthly art challenges?

Ready to dive into a monthly art challenge? Here's how to get started:

  1. Choose your challenge: Pick one that excites you and fits your schedule.
  2. Gather your supplies: Make sure you have what you need before the month begins.
  3. Set realistic goals: It's okay to start small. Even 15 minutes a day counts!
  4. Create a routine: Find a time that works for you and stick to it.
  5. Share your work: Use the challenge hashtags on social media to connect with others.
  6. Engage with the community: Comment on others' work and respond to feedback on yours.
  7. Don't stress about perfection: These challenges are about progress, not perfection.
  8. Have fun: Remember, the main goal is to enjoy the creative process!

Remember, there's no "failing" a monthly art challenge. Whether you create every day or just a few times a week, you're still making art and improving your skills. The real challenge is to enjoy the process and keep your creativity flowing.

So, are you ready to embark on your next artistic adventure? Pick a challenge, grab your art supplies, and let your creativity run wild. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself with what you create. Happy art-making!