111 Winter Drawing Prompts for Creative Exploration

We often find that winter can be the most inspiring season. Make the most out of it with winter drawing prompts! Capture the unique charm of wintery surroundings, explore cozy textures, frosty scenery, and a sense of quiet wonder with our list of 111+ winter art prompts.

Our collection of prompts is perfect for cozy indoor sketching sessions, helping you to capture the magic of winter while developing your style and skills. We have made three sections - basic prompts suitable for everyone, winter drawing prompts for kids and complex prompts for advanced artists.

So let’s jump straight into it and start drawing!

40 simple winter drawing prompts

Looking for winter themes and symbols to quickly draw in your sketchbook? Here’s a collection of easy winter drawing prompts perfect for sparking creativity:

1. Pinecone on a branch
2. Your favorite hot drink
3. Candy cane
4. Single snowflake
5. Fuzzy winter socks
6. Holiday cookie
7. Small gift box
8. Snowball
9. Winter scarf
10. Pair of mittens
11. Ice skate
12. Warm fireplace
13. Winter bird
14. Holiday ornament
15. Snow shovel
16. String of holiday lights
17. Winter coat
18. Snow angel
19. Winter boot
20. Snowman
21. Sled
22. Snowflake catching mitt
23. Winter hat with pom-pom
24. Cup of tea
25. Holiday bell
26. Cozy blanket
27. Winter moon
28. Decorated cookie
29. Icicle
30. Pair of earmuffs
31. Gingerbread person
32. Winter window
33. Lantern
34. Marshmallow floating in a drink
35. Holiday stocking
36. Puffy jacket
37. Winter cloud
38. Snowy mailbox
39. Holiday bow
40. Winter door wreath

Winter is full of simple, beautiful things to capture! Try adding your own elements, like your favorite textures, patterns, or colors. These little touches make each drawing unique to you.

Download these simple winter art prompts as a printable PDF:

40 fun winter drawing prompts for kids

Drawing with kids brings its own charm, especially in winter. These kid-friendly prompts are ideal for young artists eager to capture the winter magic:

1. A funny snowman with a big hat
2. Santa and his reindeer flying through the sky
3. Mittens with fun patterns
4. Penguin family waddling on ice
5. A bear in a cozy winter sweater
6. Candy canes in a mug of hot chocolate
7. Snowy owls in a tree
8. A gingerbread house with candy decorations
9. Polar bear sliding on ice
10. Snowflakes with unique designs
11. Kids making snow angels
12. An elf peeking around a tree
13. Frosty windows with smiley faces
14. A mouse with a tiny scarf
15. Snowy day picnic with pretend food
16. Baby deer learning to walk on ice
17. An igloo with a campfire outside
18. Silly snowballs with faces
19. Hot cocoa with marshmallows piled high
20. A snowball fight between friends
21. Puppy paw prints in the snow
22. North Pole sign with twinkling lights
23. Warm winter socks with designs
24. Kids bundled up with big coats
25. Snowy hills with sleds ready to go
26. Snowy forest animals
27. A family of foxes snuggled together
28. Winter birds singing on a tree
29. A big stack of holiday presents
30. Snow fort building contest
31. Kids peeking out from scarves
32. A friendly polar bear with a hat
33. Igloo with fairy lights
34. Snowman family portrait
35. Santa’s sleigh loaded with gifts
36. A winter zoo with penguins, seals, and more
37. A holiday tree with handmade ornaments
38. Frosty breath on a chilly day
39. A sledding hill full of friends
40. A hot chocolate stand in the snow

These prompts are not just about fun drawings—they’re a way to encourage storytelling. Invite kids to add their own twists, like funny expressions on snowmen or extra treats in the gingerbread house.

Get a printable sheet of winter drawing prompts for kids here:

For even more ideas and printable handouts, check out our full list of drawing prompts for kids!

31 elaborate winter drawing prompts

For artists looking for a bit more depth, these complex prompts will challenge you to dive into textures, lighting, and composition.

1. Candlelight glow in a winter cabin
2. Reflections in icy puddles
3. Night sky over a snowy landscape
4. Inside a snow globe world
5. Woodland creatures gathering for winter
6. A frozen waterfall with icicles
7. Glass ornaments on a frosty tree
8. Reflections of holiday lights in water
9. Icicles catching sunlight
10. Close-up of frost on a leaf
11. A thick forest at dawn with fresh snow
12. Bird migration across the winter sky
13. Cityscape in winter’s first snowfall
14. Small village in a quiet snowfall
15. Frozen river winding through the woods
16. Moonlight casting shadows on snow
17. A winter feast set up outside
18. Snow-covered boulders by a lake
19. Detailed winter coat textures
20. Frost-covered berries on branches
21. Silhouetted trees against a snowy sky
22. A winter night scene with stars
23. Streetlights glowing in winter fog
24. A snowy forest path leading to mystery
25. Icy branches lit by a sunrise
26. Northern Lights over mountain peaks
27. Snowflakes caught on eyelashes
28. Forest animals huddled for warmth
29. A close-up of holiday lights in snow
30. The intricate details of frosted glass
31. A bird’s-eye view of a snow-blanketed town

Elaborate drawing prompts like these push you to think about the finer details, from shadows and reflections to textures and light sources. Take a moment to reflect on any new techniques you’d like to try with these prompts. Winter is a fantastic time to explore new mediums too, like watercolor or charcoal, which can help bring out the softer, more subtle aspects of winter landscapes.

Download and print these creative winter art prompts:

More art inspiration for the winter months

Feeling extra artsy this winter?

Check out all the other options you have for artistic inspiration during the winter:

• Christmas drawing prompts will have you feeling cozy and festive. Create your own artsy advent calendar or master your winter doodles!
• December drawing art prompts and challenges are even more fun as you're being part of a community. Finish the year strong with a full month of drawing!
• Get infinite ideas with a drawing prompt generator. Take the scene it suggests you and give it the festive spin!

To conclude

Snowmans, snowflakes, snow covered landscapes - winter drawing prompts will encourage you to explore the beauty of wintertime from all angles. Embrace these prompts as both challenges and opportunities to grow. Let each one be a gentle step forward on your creative journey, giving you room to discover new styles, techniques, and perspectives.

This winter, we encourage you to try something new! Your winter art will capture more than the chill in the air—it will hold your experiences, your imagination, and the quiet magic of the season. Happy drawing!