Easy Things to Draw When Bored

A woman sketches simple objects in an open notebook beside pencils and paper.

Easy things to draw when bored include a mug, a leaf, a little house, a folded cloth or an object already on your desk. Start with a large outline, add the most recognisable detail and stop when the drawing says enough. A pencil and scrap paper are sufficient.

The original diagrams below show three drawings in three stages. Work lightly for the first shapes so you can adjust them. A slightly uneven line is part of your drawing, not something you must erase.

A mug

1. Draw a wide oval for the opening.

2. Add two sides and a curved bottom.

3. Add a handle and a small decoration.

Look at a real mug if one is nearby. A view from above shows more of the opening; a lower view makes the oval flatter. Try a second mug with a taller body or a smaller handle. The construction stays simple while the proportions change.

A leaf

1. Draw two curves meeting at a pointed tip.

2. Add a stem continuing toward the tip.

3. Branch short veins off the central line.

The veins do not need to be symmetrical. For another version, use a leaf you can observe without picking it, or draw the same shape wider and rounder. Add a few small marks to suggest a textured edge.

A small house

1. Begin with a triangle for the roof.

2. Add a rectangle below and a doorway.

3. Add windows and a line for the ground.

Change one thing to make a new drawing

Give the house a round window, a tiny garden or a very tall chimney.
Draw three mugs with different handles and patterns.
Turn the leaf into a repeating border around a page.
Use only straight lines, then redraw the same subject using curves.
Choose one colour and repeat it in a few small details.

When a drawing does not look like you expected

Check the biggest relationship first: is the mug wider than it is tall, or is the roof much larger than the house? Redraw only that part on a fresh bit of paper. Adding detail will not necessarily fix a proportion you dislike, but a second attempt gives you something to compare.

Try the drawing prompts generator for another subject or constraint. Its optional sketchpad lets you draw with a mouse, finger or pen and save an image. For projects with paper and other materials, see creative activities at home.