Excited for spring? Me too! Spring will mean something different to you depending on where you are in the world.
For me, spring represents a fresh start. I always look forward to more sunshine, warmer days and pretty flowers.
During the month of April, I celebrate Easter. Images of decorated eggs, baskets, bunnies and nature come to mind. Today, I’ve included some of these elements in my prompts.
So here are 25 refreshing spring drawing ideas for your sketchbook, perfect for any skill level and that shouldn’t take too long depending on how elaborate you want to be.
Let’s go draw!
25 spring drawing ideas for your sketchbook
1. Monet Master Study
I hope we can all agree that Monet’s paintings are reminiscent of spring. Instead of trying to replicate an entire painting, which would be quite time-consuming, I suggest you focus on one or two elements that spark an interest. Treat this as a Master Study!
2. Cute bicycle
Sketch a vintage bicycle with a cute basket. Depending on the type of artist you are, drawing bicycles may not be something you’re familiar with. So find reference photos for inspiration and add a unique twist. Maybe draw the bicycle you wish you had as a child for some added nostalgia.
3. Favourite picnic food
A colourful checkered background with a few of your favourite picnic foods on top? That’s an idea for a cute art print! I personally really enjoy drawing and colouring pastries with intricate tableware.
4. Rainy landscape
Here in Canada, there are a lot of rainy days during the spring season. The sound of the rain makes me feel calm, how about you? Draw a rainy landscape of your choice, even better if the photo reference is yours.
5. Sunrise in nature
Sunrise colour palettes are so beautiful! It makes any natural landscape feel and look so cozy. Next time you get a chance to witness a sunrise, make sure to snap a picture. Keep composition in mind knowing you may want to use it as a drawing reference in the future.
6. A garden of wildflowers
There’s something whimsical about wildflowers. You can use your imagination to create your unique flower garden or take inspiration from a familiar place. You can either focus on one type of wildflower or showcase a mix.
7. Ducks in their natural habitat
If you enjoy showcasing cute ducks in your home, then this drawing idea is for you. You can choose to create cartoon ducks or use a reference photo for a more realistic approach. There are so many varieties, some more colourful than others, so it’s up to you to decide which one you’d like to draw.
8. Colourful row houses
Many cities in Canada have colourful row houses. Some of the most famous ones are in Saint John, Newfoundland, as well as cities like Montreal, Fredericton, Lunenburg. You can find them all around the world actually. It’s also an easy drawing exercise that you can do with family or friends.
9. Graphite butterfly
Realistic butterflies* are complex and detailed subjects; they make beautiful drawings. A graphite pencil drawing of a butterfly is a great exercise in value, one of the core drawing fundamentals. The range in value will depend on your reference. You can also increase the difficulty by starting from a coloured image and converting the different hues (colours) into a grayscale.
*Take a look at my featured image above of a butterfly resting on top of someone’s arm.
10. Cozy cottage
There’s something so cozy and comforting about a little fairytale cottage in the middle of a forest. I’m talking about the tiniest ones with a door and a few windows. The ones you generally find in England or Ireland… Draw from imagination or find a reference online.
11. Cartoon self-portrait
I recommend making at least one self-portrait every year for fun. If you haven’t made one yet for 2025, try simplifying your features into a cartoon character. There’s no one way to create a cartoon, so be creative and add lots of personality into your lines.
12. Root vegetables
Have you ever seen art prints of root vegetables? They’re becoming increasingly popular. They’re fun to display in a kitchen or dining room wall. Look at what root vegetables you already have in your fridge or cupboard and display them in front of you in a fun way. I really enjoy keeping my background empty for these sorts of drawings, but it’s up to you to decide.
13. Ukiyo-e style
If you’re unfamiliar with Ukiyo-e, well that’s totally understandable! Ukiyo-e refers to a very extensive Japanese art period that lasted nearly two centuries (from the 17th to the 19th century) where artists made woodblock prints or paintings representing everyday life. Chances are you’ve already seen woodblock prints before, like the Great Wave of Hokusai (the most famous one). For this exercise, try making a drawing of your everyday life in a similar stylized approach.
14. Tree study
Take a nature stroll and look at all the trees that surround you. Trees are beautiful and intricate subjects. They’re all different! They might look easy to draw, but in reality, they are heavily textured and quite detailed subjects. Some of my favourite kinds are cherry blossom trees.
15. The view out of your window
Are you one of the lucky ones with a spectacular view out of one of your windows? Whether it be a cityscape or a view of your garden, try to include your window frame. And you know what, if you’re not particularly in love with what’s directly outside your window, you might be surprised to find beauty in the mundane. So give it a try!
16. Japanese train station
Have you ever watched Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki? Well if you haven’t, please go watch it. The colors, the storyline, the character development, it’s wonderful. I really enjoy the train scene in that movie. Some of the prettiest train stations in Japan can be found in small towns outside the big city centers.
17. Sunshine animal
Do you have a domestic animal? Do they crave sunshine near windows or perhaps outside on a porch? Pets make for great subjects because of their unique features. Try to include the element of sunshine in your piece by adding necessary shadows. It’s harder than you think!
18. Reading figure
Practice your figure drawings with an impromptu session with a model of your choice. Asking family or friends to act as models is both free and fun for them as well. All they need is a good book and a comfy seat while you sketch their pose. Don’t spend too much time on each drawing; try to keep your lines loose and confident.
19. Hot cup of coffee (or tea)
Choose your favorite cup, make yourself a hot beverage and start sketching. If you prefer a nice cafe setting, you can also bring your sketchbook along with you and draw on location. This is a simple yet fun drawing exercise for any level.
20. Mountain scape
Bob Ross fan? Me too! You don’t have to be a painter to channel that Bob Ross energy. Listen to some instrumental music or a calming podcast and find a mountain photo reference of your choice. In Canada, we have the Rockies. Take a look at Lake Louise if you need inspiration. You can add colour or not, the choice is yours.
21. Coloured pencils portrait of a friend
I had to include this one! Coloured pencils are so fun to work with. Have any friends who don’t mind modeling for a couple of hours? If so, take the opportunity to study different poses and angles of their face before committing to one pose for a larger piece.
22. Expressive bird
Birds come in all different shapes and sizes. I know I mentioned ducks in one of my other prompts, but for me, hearing birds chirping outside my window signals that spring is upon us. Bird feathers are intricate and colourful, so make sure you can find a high quality photo reference for this one.
23. Nostalgic memory
Very personal sketchbook idea, but I thought I would still include it. Reflecting on a nostalgic memory and trying to recreate it, even just in essence, can be quite a powerful experience. Throughout the process, think about why this memory is meaningful to you.
24. Basket of Easter eggs
I remember decorating Easter eggs as a kid. You can basically create any patterns that you want, the more elaborate the better. For an added level of difficulty, you can represent the eggs as three-dimensional shapes, taking note of where your light source is coming from and how that will affect your patterns as well as your colours.
25. Abstracted music
Have you ever made a conceptual abstract drawing representing a specific song that you’ve been listening to recently or musical album? It’s a freeing process that doesn’t require any type of photo reference. Focus on rhythm and use your intuition to change colour or material.
Key Takeaways
Spring is just around the corner! If you’re looking for sketchbook drawing ideas for this upcoming spring season, I’ve written 25. Each one has a quick explanation to spark your creativity.
Refer to this list whenever you need to. You can adjust each ideas to your current skill level, so yes I would say that they are indeed beginner-friendly.
If you’re looking for painting ideas instead, please take a look at my 26 unique painting ideas for beginners.
