Drawing is a creative activity that can provide hours of fun and relaxation. For those just starting or who want to spend their spare time engaged in a relaxing hobby, easy drawings are a great option. They allow you to flex your artistic muscles without stressing over technical skills. In this article, we will explore the top 20 easy drawings that anyone can do, even complete beginners, in the year 2024.
Whether you’re doodling during your work breaks, passing time on a road trip, or looking for a new hobby to enjoy in your free time, these simple drawings require minimal materials and expertise. All that’s needed is a pencil, some paper, and an open mind. You’ll be surprised at how therapeutic the creative process can be.
Table of Contents
Animal Faces
A fun and engaging drawing idea for people of all ages is animal faces. All you need to do is draw some circles of varying sizes on your page and then add facial features to create cute animal faces. You can draw cats, dogs, bears, bunnies, and more using just a few basic shapes. Try varying the expressions for added interest. Animal faces are also a great activity to do with kids to encourage their creativity.
Stars
Stars are one of the easiest shapes to draw yet they never cease to be beautiful. With just a few straight lines you can create a star. Experiment with drawing stars of different sizes scattered across the page or clustered together. You can also draw star shapes and add a glittery texture with sparkly gel pens or metallic markers for added visual interest. Stars are a simple yet very effective drawing for both children and adults to enjoy.
Flowers
Flowers are not only pleasing to look at in real life but also very beginner-friendly to draw. Start with a basic circle shape for the flower head and add layered petals using half-moon or teardrop shapes. You can draw roses, daisies, tulips, and more with just a few basic strokes of your pencil. For more realistic drawings, observe real flowers and practice capturing small details. Drawing flowers is also a calming activity that allows you to appreciate their natural beauty.
Trees
Trees are a ubiquitous sight in nature and very straightforward to draw. Start with a tall, thin triangle for the tree trunk. Add branches by drawing short, thin, diagonal lines extending out from the trunk. Finish with a fluffy cloud shape of leaves clustered at the top. For variety, you can draw different types of trees like evergreens, willows, and oaks. Drawing trees is a relaxing activity that can transport you to a serene natural landscape even while sitting indoors.
Suns and Clouds
Both the sun and clouds consist of basic shapes that any beginner can draw. For a Sun, start with a simple circle and radiate short lines outward from the edges. Add a warm, yellow colour to complete. Clouds are even easier – draw freeform, puffy shapes in the sky using soft strokes of your pencil. You can vary the sizes and shapes of clouds for visual interest. Drawing the sky is a calming, thoughtless activity perfect for switching off your busy mind.
Houses
Houses are comprised of basic geometric shapes anyone can draw with ease. Start with a rectangular foundation and draw a triangular roof on top. Add a door, some windows, and maybe a chimney for details. You can draw houses of different sizes and styles like ranch homes, Cape Cods, and Victorian homes. Drawing houses provides a sense of grounding while allowing your imagination to construct make-believe scenes and neighbourhoods.
Mountains
Like clouds, mountains are freeform, organic shapes that don’t require precision. Start with a triangular base and draw wavy, irregular lines tapering upward to create craggy mountain peaks. Add trees and shadows for depth. You can draw a single mountain or a whole mountain range stretching across the horizon. Mountains provide a sense of grandeur even in simple drawings and encourage relaxation through their natural aesthetic appeal.
People (Stick Figures)
Even the most basic stick figures allow you to bring human and animal characters to life. Start with three short, vertical lines for the body, two angled lines for arms and legs, and a small circle for the head, and add facial features using dots or short lines. You can draw people engaging in different activities like walking, dancing, playing sports and more. Stick figures are a fun, lighthearted way to flex creative storytelling muscles.
Boats and Ships
Boats and ships consist of basic geometric shapes anyone can draw. For a boat, draw a long rectangle for the hull, and a triangle for the sail, and add a smokestack, windows, and other details. Ships are similar but larger with multiple masts and decks. You can draw boats calmly sailing on a lake or ships voyaging on the open ocean. There’s something relaxing about drawing scenes of water transport that can transport your mind to peaceful places.
Hearts
Hearts are one of the most universally recognized symbols of love. Start with a basic Valentine shape and add dimensional shading using curved lines within the borders. You can colour hearts in bright, cheerful hues or keep them simple black outlines. Hearts are an uplifting subject matter that spreads more love. Drawing hearts is a feel-good activity for any age and skill level.
Footwear (Shoes, Boots, etc.)
Shoes and boots consist of basic geometric and curved shapes making them very beginner-friendly subjects. Draw the sole as a rectangle or oval, the heel and toe as triangles, and add laces, buckles or other details. You can draw different styles of shoes like sneakers, high heels, cowboy boots and more. Drawing shoes flexes observation skills and brings familiar everyday objects to new light.
Faces
Even simple faces drawn with basic shapes can take on personality. Start with an oval or circle for the head, draw the eyes as two almonds or circles near the top, and add a curved line for the mouth below. Add hair, glasses or other accessories for variety. Faces are engaging subjects that activate creativity through expression and storytelling potential.
Hands
Hands consist of basic mitten shapes anyone can draw. Start with a thumb as a short line protruding from the hand-mitten shape. Draw the fingers as four short, curved lines extending outward. Add details like fingernails, rings, or creases in the palms. Hands are a calming subject that exercises observation skills in a lighthearted way.
Birds
Even beginning artists can capture the simple beauty of birds through basic shapes. Start with an almond or oval body and add a triangle tail. Draw wings as feathery half-circles extending to the sides. Add a simple head and beak to complete. Birds are inspiring subjects that encourage stillness through their natural grace and beauty.
Butterflies
Butterflies are comprised of basic geometric shapes making them very easy for beginners. Draw an oval body, add triangular wings tapering outward, and dots or lines for details. You can draw butterflies perched on flowers or soaring across the page. Their vibrant colours and free spirit uplift the soul and promote relaxation.
Bugs and Insects
Insects like ladybugs, grasshoppers, and beetles are very straightforward to draw with basic shapes. For a ladybug, draw a circular body and six legs extending outwards, and add spots and antennae. Grasshoppers and beetles are similar using oval and triangular shapes. Insects encourage stillness through their intricate yet simple designs in nature.
Cats and Dogs
Even basic pet portraits bring joy. For cats, draw an almond-shaped body, add a triangular head, and oval eyes, and don’t forget the tail curling upwards. Dogs are similar using longer oval bodies, triangles for ears, and circular faces with dot eyes. Pets are comforting subjects that activate creativity through their expressive personalities.
Vehicles (Cars, Trucks, Planes)
Vehicles are comprised of basic geometric shapes making them very beginner-friendly. For a car, draw a rectangle for the body, add circles for wheels and a triangular roof. Trucks are similar with added flatbeds. Aeroplanes use triangles for wings attached to oval fuselages. Vehicles flex their imagination through transportation and movement.
Food (Fruits, Vegetables, Meals)
Food is very simple to draw and brings a sense of warmth and comfort. Apples, oranges, bananas and other fruits are basic ovals and circles. Vegetables like carrots, broccoli, and potatoes use basic shapes as well. Meals like sandwiches, pizza, and burgers combine simple components. Food is a feel-good subject that stimulates creativity through flavour and memory.
Landscapes (Mountains, Trees, Rivers)
Even basic landscapes can transport the viewer. Draw jagged triangular mountains, fluffy cloud-like trees, and curvy S-shapes for winding rivers. Add a sky with puffy clouds or a sunset with colours. Simple landscapes relax the mind through their natural appeal and expansiveness.
Read More: Creating Depth and Dimension: Illusion Drawing Fundamentals
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many drawing ideas suitable for complete beginners that don’t require advanced artistic skills. The subjects explored here are comprised of basic shapes anyone can recreate. More importantly, easy drawings provide hours of stress-free, mindful enjoyment. They exercise creativity through composition and storytelling without pressure.
