What to Draw When You’re Bored: Easy, Cute & Creative Ideas for All Ages

Drawing Is a Skill, Not a Talent

Ever catch yourself staring at a blank page and wondering “What should I draw when I’m bored?” You might think you’re not an artist, but drawing isn’t a magical gift – it’s a learnable skill. As artist Danny Gregory reminds us, “Drawing is a skill, and like any skill, you can learn it”.

In other words, with a little practice and the right mindset, anyone can doodle and create.

Even a quick doodle can be surprisingly beneficial. In fact, researchers have found that doodling while listening to a lecture can help you focus and even remember more—doodlers retain about 30% more information than people who only take notes.

Drawing can also calm a busy mind: creative sketching is known to reduce stress by calming the brain’s fight-or-flight response. So next time you’re bored and thinking “what to draw,” remember that picking up a pencil is a great tool for creativity, focus, and fun.

In the sections that follow, we’ll share easy and cute drawing ideas (from doodles to step-by-step tutorials), practical tips (including what to draw with just a pencil), and even fun challenges to beat boredom. Ready? Let’s start with 5 super-quick sketches you can whip out in under 5 minutes.

Quick Start: 5 Super-Easy Drawings (Under 5 Minutes)

Here are five easy things to draw that any beginner can sketch in just a few minutes. Each idea comes with an estimated time and difficulty level. Grab a pencil and give them a try:

• Smiling Sun (3 min, very easy): Draw a big circle for the sun’s face, add triangular rays all around, and give it a happy face with eyes and a smile.
  
  
• Simple Flower (4 min, easy): Sketch a circle for the flower’s center, then add 5–6 round petals around it. Finish with a curved stem and a leaf or two.
  
  
• Fluffy Cloud (2 min, very easy): Draw a series of connected curves to make a puffy cloud shape. You can add rain, a rainbow, or a smiley face for a fun touch.
  
  
• Ice Cream Cone (4 min, easy): Draw an inverted triangle for the cone and a round scoop of ice cream on top. Decorate with sprinkles or a cherry if you like.
  
  
• Cheerful Balloon (3 min, very easy): Sketch a round or oval balloon and a wavy line for its string. Add a highlight and a cute face or pattern to personalize it.
  
  
• Spirals & Swirls: Draw continuous spiral lines or swirling shapes.
  
  
• Geometric Patterns: Fill the page with repeating shapes (squares, triangles, circles).
  
  
• Zigzags & Stripes: Create zigzag or wavy lines across the page.
  
  
• Polka Dots: Sprinkle the page with dots of different sizes for a fun dotted pattern.
  
  
• Checkerboard: Draw a grid and shade alternating squares.
  
  
• Waves & Clouds: Sketch flowing wave lines or fluffy cloud shapes in a pattern.
  
  
• Floral Designs: Repeat simple flower doodles or petals in a decorative pattern.
  
  
• Maze or Labyrinth: Draw a simple maze or interlocking paths across the page.
  
  
• Mandala Circles: Draw a circle and fill it with repeating petals, dots, and rings.
  
  
• Freeform Abstract: Scribble random shapes, lines, and textures—anything goes!
  
  
• Kitten or Puppy: Draw an adorable cat or dog face with big eyes and a sweet smile.
  
  
• Bunny or Bear: Sketch a cute bunny with floppy ears or a chubby teddy bear.
  
  
• Happy Food: Give a cupcake, ice cream, or slice of pizza a smiling face and little arms.
  
  
• Fruit with a Face: Draw a cheerful fruit like a strawberry or apple with kawaii eyes.
  
  
• Cartoon Monster: Create a friendly, round monster with horns and lots of eyes (make it cute!).
  
  
• Penguin or Panda: Illustrate a baby animal like a penguin or panda with rosy cheeks.
  
  
• Magical Creature: Draw a mini unicorn or baby dragon with cute proportions.
  
  
• Cloud Emoji: Sketch a fluffy cloud or raindrop character with an emoji expression.
  
  
• Kawaii Object: Turn an everyday thing (like a teacup or notebook) into a cute character by adding eyes and a smile.
  
  
• Happy Bee or Butterfly: Draw a smiling cartoon bee or butterfly with cute wings.
  
  
• Coffee Cup or Mug: Draw your favorite mug with steam rising or a fun design.
  
  
• Open Book: Sketch an open book or notebook, maybe with a little doodle on the page.
  
  
• Pencil and Paper: Draw a pencil or pen next to a blank sheet.
  
  
• Sunglasses: Sketch a pair of cool sunglasses with reflective lenses.
  
  
• Backpack: Illustrate a simple school bag or backpack.
  
  
• Bicycle: Draw a basic bike outline (frame and wheels).
  
  
• House or Home: Sketch a simple house with a door, windows, and a chimney.
  
  
• Smartphone: Draw a phone with app icons on the screen.
  
  
• Headphones: Sketch some headphones or earbuds.
  
  
• Alarm Clock: Draw a classic alarm clock face with bells on top.
  
  
• Friendly Dragon: Draw a cute, non-scary dragon with wings.
  
  
• Unicorn: Sketch a unicorn with a rainbow mane or horn.
  
  
• Spaceship: Draw a rocket ship blasting off or an alien UFO.
  
  
• Fairy or Wizard: Illustrate a fairy with a wand or a wizard’s hat.
  
  
• Castle: Draw a fairy-tale castle with towers and flags.
  
  
• Mermaid: Sketch a mermaid or other sea creature in the ocean.
  
  
• Mountain Scene: Draw mountains with a sun or moon behind them.
  
  
• Big Tree: Sketch a tall tree with branches, or a simple forest.
  
  
• Sun and Clouds: Draw a big smiling sun, clouds, or a rainbow.
  
  
• Ocean Wave: Sketch a rolling wave with splashes (maybe add a dolphin or fish).
  
  
• Caticorn: Combine a cat and a unicorn (a cat with a unicorn horn and mane).
  
  
• Flying Fish: Draw a fish with bird wings, like a flying fish.
  
  
• Flower Face: Sketch a flower with a cute smiling face in the center.
  
  
• Treehouse: Draw a house built on top of a tree (include a ladder or swing).
  
  
• Pencil Rocket: Turn a pencil into a rocket ship blasting off.
  
  
• Shoe Boat: Combine a shoe (or boot) and a small boat.
  
  
• Cupcake Castle: Make a cupcake that looks like a castle (with towers and frosting).
  
  
• Robot Plant: Draw a plant (or flower) that has robot parts or eyes.
  
  
• Winged Dog: Sketch a dog or puppy with bird-like wings.
  
  
• Planet Tea: Imagine a teacup or coffee cup as a tiny planet (with rings or craters).

1. Draw a small circle for the flower’s center.
2. Around the circle, draw five or six rounded petals.
3. Add a long, curved stem extending down from the circle.
4. Draw one or two leaves on the stem by sketching simple almond shapes.
5. Go over your lines with a darker pencil or pen and erase any extra marks. (Optional: Color the flower.)

1. Draw a large circle for the cat’s head.
2. On top of the circle, add two triangle ears.
3. Inside the face, draw two almond-shaped eyes, a small triangle nose, and a curved line for a smiling mouth.
4. Add whiskers (three lines on each cheek).
5. Optionally, draw the cat’s body by sketching a simple U-shape under the head. Erase stray lines and outline the cat to finish.

1. Draw an upside-down triangle for the cone.
2. On top of the cone, draw a wavy line to form the first scoop of ice cream.
3. Add a second wavy scoop on top of the first (optional).
4. Decorate the ice cream: draw sprinkles, a cherry, or even a smiling face on the scoop.
5. Draw diagonal lines on the cone for texture, then outline the final drawing and erase extra lines. (Optional: Color your ice cream.)

1. Draw a tall rectangle or two parallel lines for the tree trunk.
2. At the top of the trunk, sketch a bumpy oval or cloud shape for the tree’s foliage.
3. Add details: draw lines on the trunk for bark and maybe a few apples or flowers in the foliage.
4. Draw grass or a ground line at the base of the trunk.
5. Outline your tree with darker lines and erase any extra pencil marks.

1. Draw a tall rounded rectangle (capsule shape) for the rocket body.
2. Add a triangular cone on top (pointing up) for the rocket’s tip.
3. Draw two fins at the base by sketching small triangles on each side.
4. Draw a circle or window in the middle of the rocket body.
5. Add flames at the bottom with curved lines, then outline the rocket and erase extra lines.

1. Draw a large oval or rounded shape for the monster’s body.
2. Add eyes: one big circle (for a cyclops) or two circles, and draw a mouth with teeth (smiling or open).
3. Sketch arms and legs using simple lines or cylinders.
4. Add details: draw horns, antennae, spots or stripes on the body.
5. Outline your monster, erase mistakes, and have fun giving it a goofy expression!


- Mistakes Are OK: If your drawing doesn’t look perfect, that’s fine. Each sketch is practice, and you learn with each line you draw. Many famous artists started with scribbles, so don’t be afraid to try.

- Have Fun, Not Fear: Focus on enjoying the process. Play with shapes, textures, and ideas without judging your work too harshly.

- Progress Over Perfection: Look back at your earlier drawings and you’ll likely see improvement over time. Every page in your sketchbook is a step forward.

- Stay Curious: Try new subjects or techniques. If one drawing doesn’t work out, try again or turn it into something else.

- Subject Sketches: Draw something related to the lesson. For example, sketch a plant or animal from science class, a simple map for geography, or shapes for a math problem. This keeps your mind engaged.

- Margin Doodles: Fill your notebook margins with simple patterns (stars, waves, or abstract shapes). It’s a subtle way to keep your creativity flowing without being disruptive.

- Story Illustrations: If your teacher is reading a story or explaining history, illustrate a scene or character from the story in your notebook.

- Copy Art: Quietly copy a small diagram or picture from the board or textbook for practice (just make sure it’s allowed).

- Group Doodling: Play a silent drawing game like exquisite corpse. Fold a paper into sections and have each person draw a part (head, body, legs) without seeing the others’ parts. The surprise monster or creature you reveal at the end is always fun!

- 60-Second Doodle: Set a 1-minute timer and draw anything until the buzzer. You might be surprised at how much you can sketch in just a minute! This rapid exercise warms up your hand.

- Draw with Your Other Hand: Switch to your non-dominant hand (or even try using both hands) to sketch a simple object or your own name. It may look silly, but it’s great for loosening up and getting creative.

- Blind Contour: Pick an object (a cup, a shoe, your hand) and draw it without looking at your paper. Only look at the object, not your drawing, until you’re done. The end result will be a fun, wiggly surprise – a classic art exercise to build observation skills.

- Exquisite Corpse: Fold a sheet of paper into thirds (like book pages). Draw a head in the top section, then fold it so only the next section is visible and pass to a friend to draw the body (without seeing the head). Fold again for legs. Unfold to reveal a crazy collaborative creature!

- Random Word Prompt: Ask someone for a random word (like “pirate,” “giraffe,” or “spaceship”). Then draw it in a creative way – perhaps a giraffe wearing a hat or a pirate rocket ship. This turns a boring moment into a silly drawing adventure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Keep Drawing and Have Fun!