Are you ready to take your artistic skills to the next level? Whether you’re a beginner looking to have fun with drawing or an experienced artist seeking new ways to challenge yourself, this 19-day drawing challenge is perfect for unleashing your creativity. These tasks are designed to push your imagination, improve your technique, and keep your artistic motivation high. Plus, if you’re searching for the perfect gift for a budding artist, these challenges pair well with some high-quality art supplies that will make the experience even more enjoyable. From portrait experiments to illusionary tricks, each challenge is a unique way to explore the world of drawing. So, grab your sketchbook, sharpen those pencils, and let’s dive into these exciting creative tasks!
1. Draw Your Self-Portrait with a Twist
source @artsymickt
Drawing a self-portrait is a classic art exercise, but let’s make it more interesting by adding a unique twist. Instead of a straightforward representation, try incorporating elements of fantasy, surrealism, or abstraction. Maybe you depict yourself as a hybrid creature, blending human features with animal traits, or imagine yourself in a futuristic setting. You could even turn yourself into a cartoon character or a superhero. This exercise challenges your ability to capture facial features while encouraging you to think outside the box. A good set of sketching pencils and an eraser from Amazon can help you bring this imaginative self-portrait to life with precision and detail.
2. One-Line Drawing Challenge
source @juhaszillustration
A one-line drawing requires you to create an entire image without lifting your pencil from the paper. This exercise may seem simple, but it challenges your ability to plan a composition and maintain control over your lines. The continuous movement of your hand forces you to focus on fluidity and shape rather than getting caught up in small details. You can start with something basic like a face or an animal and then move on to more complex subjects. A smooth gel ink pen or fine liner can help achieve clean, uninterrupted strokes, making your one-line drawings look bold and striking.
3. Blindfolded Drawing
source @bacancytechnology
Have you ever wondered what your art would look like if you couldn’t see while creating it? This challenge will give you a good laugh and a fresh perspective on drawing. Choose a simple subject, like a flower or a house, put on a blindfold, and let your memory and hand coordination do the work. The results will likely be hilarious, but this exercise also helps develop spatial awareness and challenges your reliance on visual guidance. It’s a fun group activity, too, perfect for an art-themed gathering.
4. Create a Drawing Using Only Circles
source @draw.like_a_sir
Limiting yourself to a single shape can be an excellent way to think creatively. For this challenge, try drawing an entire image using only circles. Whether you sketch a portrait, a cityscape, or an abstract design, every element should be formed by overlapping, intertwining, or stacking circles. This task improves your ability to use repetition and negative space effectively while encouraging you to develop shading techniques that add depth to simple shapes. If you want smooth, precise lines, using a circle stencil set from Amazon can be a great addition to your drawing tools.
5. Draw Your Favorite Meal in a Cartoon Style
source @artbyangie.jpg
Food illustrations are always fun, but let’s give them a playful twist. Instead of drawing a hyper-realistic version of your favorite dish, turn it into a cartoon masterpiece. Maybe your burger has a face and arms, or your sushi rolls are dancing in a parade. Exaggerate colors, add motion lines, and infuse character into your food items. This challenge enhances your ability to stylize objects and develop a personal artistic voice. A set of vibrant colored markers or watercolor pencils will bring out the lively appeal of your creation.
6. Turn a Random Scribble into Art
source @priyabureleart
Start by making a random, messy scribble on a piece of paper. It could be a simple swirl, a jagged line, or a chaotic shape. Then, examine the scribble from different angles and find a way to turn it into a recognizable image. This exercise is fantastic for problem-solving and thinking outside the box. It teaches you to work with what you have rather than over-planning. Many professional illustrators use this method as a warm-up exercise to loosen up their creativity before diving into larger projects.
7. Draw Your Dream House
source @j.a.d.o.k.a.r
Imagine your ideal home—whether it’s a cozy cottage in the woods, a modern mansion with glass walls, or a treehouse in the sky. Let your imagination guide your design and include every feature that makes it your dream residence. This challenge allows you to practice architectural drawing, perspective, and detailed structure work. Using rulers and perspective guides from Amazon can help you achieve clean, accurate lines for a professional finish.
8. Sketch a Scene from Your Favorite Movie or Book
source @nehapandey_art
Recreate a memorable scene from a story that has inspired you. Whether it’s a dramatic moment from a classic novel or a magical scene from a fantasy film, try to capture the essence of the story through your drawing. Focus on emotion, composition, and storytelling elements. You could choose a realistic approach or reinterpret the scene in a completely different style. To make your illustration pop, consider using a set of fine-line pens for detailed inking or colored pencils for shading effects.
9. Create a Doodle Pattern That Covers an Entire Page
source @artist.chetna
Fill an entire sketchbook page with intricate doodles, patterns, and abstract shapes. This challenge is a fantastic way to practice line work, shading, and creative pattern-making. You can create repetitive motifs, interlocking designs, or even an entire doodle city. Many people find this type of drawing meditative and relaxing. Using a set of gel pens or micron pens will give your doodles crisp, clean lines, while a sketchbook with thick paper will prevent ink bleeding.
10. Draw an Object from a New Perspective
source @robert_marzullo
Pick a common object like a chair, a cup, or a shoe and sketch it from an unusual angle. Maybe you draw it from a worm’s-eye view looking up or an extreme close-up. This exercise enhances your understanding of perspective, foreshortening, and composition. To perfect this skill, you might find a perspective ruler or a drawing grid useful in keeping proportions accurate.
11. Design Your Own Fantasy Creature
source @katy_lipscomb
Let your imagination run wild by designing a completely original creature. Mix features from different animals, add mythical elements, and create a backstory for your new character. Maybe your creature has wings like a dragon, the agility of a cheetah, and the wisdom of an owl. This task is perfect for practicing anatomy, texture, and imaginative thinking. A set of shading pencils or alcohol markers can help bring your creature to life with realistic details or vibrant colors.
12. Draw a Portrait in 60 Seconds
source @hassaneart
Set a timer for 60 seconds and attempt to draw a person’s face. This challenge forces you to focus on the most important features and develop speed in your sketching. It’s an excellent warm-up exercise to loosen your hand and improve observation skills. Since speed is the key, using soft graphite pencils or charcoal sticks will help you make quick, expressive strokes without worrying too much about fine details.
13. Illustrate a Word or Emotion Without Using Symbols
source @alessandrasorrentino_2d
How would you depict “joy” or “sadness” without using obvious facial expressions or text? Use colors, shapes, and movement to visually communicate emotions. Instead of drawing a smiling face to show happiness, you might use bright, flowing lines and dynamic shapes. This challenge will enhance your ability to convey emotions through abstract art. Watercolor paints or pastels can help create soft transitions and expressive effects that communicate emotions powerfully.
14. Create an Optical Illusion Drawing
source @sketch_dailydose
Experiment with perspective and shading to create an optical illusion. You can try making a 3D cube, a tunnel effect, or a mind-bending staircase. Optical illusions require careful attention to line work and contrast to trick the eye into seeing depth where none exists. If you’re serious about illusion art, using a fine-tip black pen and a ruler will help achieve clean, sharp lines.
15. Turn an Everyday Object into a Character
source @ben_eblen_design
Pick any household object and bring it to life by giving it arms, legs, and a personality. Maybe your coffee mug is grumpy in the morning, or your lamp loves to dance. You can exaggerate expressions and gestures to add humor and charm to your characters. A good set of colored markers or illustration pens will make your characters stand out with vibrant, playful details.
16. Design a Unique Tattoo Concept
source @kayabi_art
Whether it’s a delicate floral design, an abstract geometric piece, or a meaningful symbol, create a tattoo that has both artistic and personal significance. Tattoos often require clean line work and thoughtful compositions. Practicing this challenge will refine your ability to make bold yet detailed artwork. Fine-tip ink pens or a brush pen can help you create precise, tattoo-like designs.
17. Try a New Medium You’ve Never Used Before
source @markandmovement
If you usually work with pencils, try ink or pastels. If you love using markers, experiment with watercolor. Exploring new mediums can open up exciting possibilities and push you out of your artistic comfort zone. It also broadens your skill set, making you a more versatile artist. Investing in a beginner’s watercolor set or an ink pen set can help you discover new techniques you might fall in love with.
18. Draw Something Tiny and Something Giant
source @cristyzinn_illustration
Play with scale by drawing a mini elephant or a giant ant. Exaggerating proportions can lead to fun and unique compositions. Imagine a world where bees are the size of cars or where books are as small as a fingernail. This challenge encourages creativity and teaches you to think about size relationships. A fine-line pen can help add intricate details to tiny subjects, while bold markers or brushes can enhance large-scale drawings.
19. Illustrate Your Own Name in a Creative Typography Style
source @jetinder_writer
Turn your name into a work of art using calligraphy, graffiti, or decorative lettering. Experiment with fonts, patterns, and textures to create a name design that reflects your personality. You could incorporate floral elements, futuristic themes, or even wild, chaotic scribbles. Hand-lettering brush pens or metallic markers will make your typography pop with artistic flair.
