What do you draw when you have no idea what to draw
Explore my other articles on the sketching process and visual storytelling in my illustrations.
I’ve built a consistent daily sketchbook habit by shifting my focus from obsessing over what to draw to simply enjoying the creative process.
The secret to a consistent sketchbook practice? Sketch first, ask later.
Stop asking what should I draw?
Ever stared at a blank page wondering what do I draw in my sketchbook? Same here. Some time back, I bought yet another sketchbook. Yes, yet another—despite already having a bunch. Some were still empty (too pretty to touch). Others were half-filled, abandoned because I didn’t like how one page turned out. There’s one, a little square pocket sketchbook, that I carried around on the metro thinking I’d be that cool person casually sketching strangers. I gave it a go, did a few pages, and absolutely hated them. Somehow, the whole sketchbook felt ruined.
The pressure to have a beautiful, Instagram-worthy sketchbook (thanks, Sketchbook Tour videos) is real. But if you’re stuck wondering how to come up with sketchbook ideas, you’re not alone.
How I built a consistent sketchbook habit
At one point, I asked myself: What’s actually stopping me from drawing? (Besides my annoying perfectionism, which I decided to drop on principle.)
The answer? I didn’t know what to draw. So I stopped asking that question. And instead, I focused on how. It happened when I got a new gouache set. I opened my sketchbook, jumped on Pinterest, picked the first image that caught my eye, and… painted. That was it. No deep concept, no perfect plan Something clicked. The subject didn’t matter. I was too busy mixing colors, testing textures, and playing with materials. Since then, that’s been my approach: play first, think later. It’s the best advice I can give to anyone stuck on what to draw in a sketchbook.
What’s in my sketchbook now
These days, my sketchbook is full of gouache experiments, Neocolor crayon swatches, colored pencil studies, and color theory play. Picking a subject takes minutes. No overthinking. Just doing. Maybe that’s obvious to seasoned sketchbookers. But for me? It took a long time to land on this.
And it’s the reason I’ve finally found a rhythm that doesn’t feel like a chore.
My favorite sketchbook pages (and easy ideas to try)
Here’s a peek inside, in case you need a few creative sketchbook ideas:
Testing rendering techniques and my everlasting obsession with using negative space. Also, I found an Ecoline marker that must be 10 years old and it’s still working!
When I’m not sure what to draw but need to warm up my hand, I draw faces. Don’t know why.
Finally bought some nice colored pencils! Mixed them with Neocolor II on the left and tested out layering on the right.
My absolute love: Caran d’Ache Neocolor II. They’re so deliciously thick and oily. Love them.
This was initially meant to be a contrast study (and a negative space study too), but I had just gotten my Caran d’Ache crayons and couldn’t help myself. I had to test their water solubility
I just watched Gattaca AGAIN and had to note the quote down. My Derwent Drawing pencil happened to be around.
Playing with red and blue gouache. By far my favorite limited color palette. Added some texture with my Derwent Drawing pencil.
Wondering what drawing with a ballpoint pen would be like… not sure I like it. Adding a little pencil texture helped, but still, not my thing.
Full-on gouache obsession. This page took forever but was so satisfying. I love mixing colors. Nothing can beat that feeling.
Gouache diluted with water. Have I mentioned how much I love gouache?
None of these started with the question “What should I draw?” They started with “What do I feel like playing with today?”
Want help filling your sketchbook?
If you’ve ever felt stuck when starting a page, I get it. I’ve been there. But you don’t have to figure it out alone. Want to join my art club to learn and draw together? You’ll get a monthly Procreate guide, sketchbook prompts, behind-the-scenes stories from my portfolio journey, and an invite to our drawing hangouts on Zoom.