What to Draw Generator
Tap for a random drawing idea and start sketching.
A snowman wearing a striped scarf
249 ideas in this deck
Tip: press the space bar or the right arrow for the next one.
A what to draw generator for warm ups and sketchbooks
Staring at a blank page is the hardest part of drawing. The what to draw generator gives you a random idea in one tap, so you spend your time drawing instead of deciding. One card might say “An owl made of circles”, the next “A city built on the back of a whale”. The deck holds 249 prompts, from five minute doodles to small scenes, for kids, students and anyone who keeps a sketchbook.
How to get a drawing idea
- Choose the kinds of ideas you want under Show. All five are on at first.
- Press Next, the space bar or the right arrow key.
- Draw it. Press Next when you are ready for another.
- Use Previous to go back to an idea you skipped.
The counter shows how many ideas are left. Nothing repeats until the deck runs out, then it reshuffles. Your chip choices are saved in this browser.
The five idea types
- Easy (91). Simple objects built from basic shapes. See easy things to draw for this set alone.
- When bored (64). Odd, open ended scenes that can fill a whole page.
- On your hand (62). Tiny symbols that fit in a small space.
- Cute (81). Little animals, happy food and cozy moments.
- Christmas (51). Snowmen, gifts and winter scenes for the holidays.
An idea tagged both Easy and Cute shows up if either chip is on.
Ways to use random prompts
Warm up before a bigger piece
Set a timer for five minutes and draw three prompts in a row, one after another. Loose, quick drawings get your hand moving before you start a project that matters.
A daily sketch habit
One prompt a day for a month gives you 30 drawings and a clear record of how your line work changed. Write the prompt under each sketch.
Art class starters
Teachers can project one idea as students walk in. Everyone draws the same prompt, then compares how differently they solved it.
Drawing games
Each person draws the same card in two minutes, then the group votes for the funniest version. For guessing games, use the Pictionary word generator instead.
Quick tips for any prompt
Start with shapes
Block in the idea with circles, ovals and boxes before adding detail. A cat is a circle on top of a bean.
Change line weight
Press harder on the outside edge and on shadow sides, lighter on inside details. It makes a simple sketch look finished.
Do three small versions
Draw three thumbnails the size of a stamp, pick the best, then draw that one large.
A random pick you can trust
The deck is shuffled with your browser’s cryptographic random generator, so the prompts come in a different order every time. It is free, needs no account, and works on a phone propped next to your sketchbook.
Examples from this deck
A few of the 249 ideas you can get above:
- A snowman wearing a striped scarf
- A cat tangled in tinsel
- A toy train circling the tree
- A tiny sun with rays
- A little cherry pair
- A tiny whale
- A fox sleeping under a mushroom
- A kitten playing with yarn
- A rainbow between two clouds
- A ladybug on a leaf
- A monster made of three random shapes
- A sandwich stacked as tall as a building
Frequently asked questions
How many drawing ideas are in the what to draw generator?
There are 249 ideas. They are tagged Easy, When bored, On your hand, Cute and Christmas, and many ideas carry more than one tag.
How do the filter chips work?
An idea stays in the deck if any of its tags is switched on. Turn off Christmas outside the holidays, or keep only Easy for young kids.
Can I use the prompts for a daily sketch habit?
Yes. Draw one idea a day and keep the page open in a tab. No prompt repeats until you have seen every idea in your filter.
Do I need any special art supplies?
No. Every idea works with a pencil and plain paper. Most also work with a ballpoint pen, markers or a drawing app.
Can I go back to an idea I skipped?
Yes. Press Previous or the left arrow key, or scroll the Seen so far list, which keeps every idea from this session.