When I first picked up a pencil with the intention of drawing, I’ll admit I was intimidated. The blank page stared back at me, and I had no idea where to start. If you’re reading this, you might be feeling the same way. But here’s what I’ve learned through my drawing journey: you don’t need to be the next Picasso to enjoy creating art. Sometimes, the most rewarding drawings are the simplest ones.
I remember spending hours trying to draw complex portraits or detailed landscapes, only to end up frustrated and ready to give up. That’s when I discovered the magic of simple subjects. A basic flower, a playful dolphin, or even a humble matchstick can become the foundation for developing your artistic skills. These simple drawings taught me about shapes, proportions, and most importantly, gave me the confidence to keep going.
What I love most about these easy subjects is that they’re forgiving. If your shark looks more like a submarine or your snake resembles a garden hose, that’s perfectly fine! The goal isn’t perfection – it’s practice, fun, and gradually building your confidence with each stroke. In this article, I’ll share 14 of my favorite beginner-friendly subjects that helped me fall in love with drawing.
Table of Contents
- Shark – The Ocean’s Gentle Giant (On Paper)
- Whale – Majestic Marine Life Made Simple
- Dolphin – Playful Ocean Friend
- Ladybug – Tiny Spotted Wonder
- Flower – Nature’s Perfect Practice Subject
- Matchstick – The Ultimate Beginner’s Friend
- Radio – Retro Charm in Simple Lines
- Television – Bringing Entertainment to Paper
- Sea Shells – Ocean Treasures
- Snake – Slithery and Simple
- Fish – Basic Aquatic Life
- House – Home Sweet Drawing
- Tree – Nature’s Easiest Subject
- Cat – Feline Fun for Beginners
1. Shark – The Ocean’s Gentle Giant (On Paper)
When I first attempted to draw a shark, I was surprised by how simple it could be. Start with a torpedo-shaped oval for the body – think of a football that’s been stretched slightly. Add a triangular fin on top (the famous dorsal fin that makes everyone think “Jaws”), two side fins, and a tail that looks like a sideways “V.”
The key to a good shark drawing is in the mouth. Draw a curved line under the head and add some triangular teeth. Don’t worry about making them perfect – even wonky teeth look menacing on a shark! I always add a simple dot for the eye and maybe a few curved lines along the body to show the gills. The beauty of drawing sharks is that they’re naturally streamlined, so even if your proportions are off, it still looks like a shark.
2. Whale – Majestic Marine Life Made Simple
Whales became one of my favorite subjects because they’re essentially large, gentle curves. I start with a huge oval or rounded rectangle for the body. The head is slightly smaller and more rounded. What makes a whale instantly recognizable is that distinctive tail fluke – draw it like a horizontal heart or butterfly wings.
For the fins, simple ovals on the sides work perfectly. If you want to draw a spout whale, add a small curved line on top with some wavy lines coming out (that’s the water spout). I learned that whales are forgiving subjects because their bodies are naturally rounded and soft, so there’s no pressure to get sharp angles or perfect symmetry.
3. Dolphin – Playful Ocean Friend
Dolphins hold a special place in my drawing practice because they taught me about curves and movement. I always start with an elongated teardrop shape for the body – wider at the head, tapering toward the tail. The signature dolphin feature is that curved dorsal fin and the distinctive beak-like nose.
What I love about drawing dolphins is adding personality. A simple curved line for a mouth makes them appear to be smiling. Two small fins on the sides, a triangular tail fin, and you’ve got yourself a dolphin. I often draw them jumping out of water with a few splash lines – it adds movement and makes the whole drawing come alive.
4. Ladybug – Tiny Spotted Wonder
Ladybugs taught me that some of the best drawings come in small packages. I begin with a simple circle or oval for the body, then add a smaller circle for the head. The magic happens with the details: draw a line down the middle of the body to separate the wing cases, then add spots randomly across both sides.
Six tiny legs (three on each side), two small antennae, and you’re done! What I discovered is that ladybugs are perfect for practicing symmetry without being too rigid about it. Real ladybugs aren’t perfectly symmetrical, so your drawing doesn’t need to be either. I sometimes draw them on flower petals or leaves for a complete nature scene.
5. Flower – Nature’s Perfect Practice Subject
Flowers were my gateway into drawing nature, and they remain my go-to when I need a confidence boost. I start with simple five-petal flowers – draw a small circle in the center, then add five heart-shaped or oval petals around it. Each petal should overlap slightly with its neighbors.
For the stem, a simple straight or slightly curved line works perfectly. Add a few leaves by drawing basic oval shapes attached to the stem. What I’ve learned is that flowers are incredibly forgiving – there’s no “wrong” way to draw petals, and even if they’re uneven, it often looks more natural and charming.
6. Matchstick – The Ultimate Beginner’s Friend
I’ll be honest – the matchstick might seem too simple, but it was actually one of my most valuable learning tools. It’s just a thin rectangle for the stick and a small oval or circle for the head. But here’s what makes it brilliant for beginners: it teaches you about proportions, straight lines, and adding character to the simplest objects.
I like to draw matchsticks with little flame shapes on top, or broken in half, or in a matchbox. Sometimes I give them little faces – suddenly, a simple matchstick becomes a character with personality. It’s amazing how something so basic can be the foundation for learning about light, shadow, and even storytelling in art.
7. Radio – Retro Charm in Simple Lines
Drawing a vintage radio brings back memories and is surprisingly straightforward. I start with a rectangular shape – it can be square or more horizontal, depending on the style you’re going for. Add a circle or semi-circle for the speaker, and a few smaller circles or rectangles for knobs and buttons.
The antenna is just a straight line extending upward, maybe with a small circle at the top. I sometimes add a few curved lines around the speaker to suggest sound waves. What I enjoy about drawing radios is that they have clean, geometric shapes that are perfect for practicing straight lines and circles while creating something nostalgic and recognizable.
8. Television – Bringing Entertainment to Paper
Old-style televisions are fantastic drawing subjects because they’re basically geometric shapes with character. I start with a large rectangle for the screen, then add a slightly larger rectangle around it for the TV frame. Four small lines at the bottom create simple legs.
The fun part is adding details: a few small rectangles or circles for buttons, maybe some lines to suggest the screen’s reflection, or even a simple drawing of what’s “playing” on the TV. I sometimes draw antennas on top – two lines in a “V” shape with small circles at the ends. It’s a great way to practice geometric shapes while creating something everyone recognizes.
9. Sea Shells – Ocean Treasures
Sea shells opened up a whole world of textures and patterns for me. I start with simple shapes: spirals for snail shells, fan shapes for scallop shells, or elongated ovals for mussel shells. The key is in the details – adding lines to show the shell’s ridges and growth patterns.
For a spiral shell, I begin with a small circle and draw a curved line that spirals outward, getting gradually larger. Scallop shells are like drawing fans – start with a curved line at the bottom and add radiating lines upward. I love adding small dots, lines, or crosshatching to give texture. Shells are perfect for practicing different line weights and patterns.
10. Snake – Slithery and Simple
Snakes might seem challenging, but they’re actually just a series of connected curves. I start by drawing a wavy line – this becomes the snake’s spine. Then I add width by drawing parallel curved lines on both sides of my original line, following the same wavy pattern.
The head is just a slightly wider oval at one end, and the tail tapers to a point at the other. Add a simple dot for the eye, maybe a small forked tongue, and some scale patterns if you’re feeling ambitious. What I love about drawing snakes is that there’s no “right” way for them to curve – every snake drawing can be completely unique.
11. Fish – Basic Aquatic Life
Fish are wonderfully simple and taught me about basic body proportions. I start with an oval for the body, add a triangle for the tail fin, and smaller triangular shapes for the other fins. A circle for the eye and a curved line for the mouth, and you’ve got a fish!
I like to add some curved lines along the body to suggest scales, or draw them swimming in groups. Sometimes I add bubbles (just small circles) rising from their mouths. Fish are great for practicing symmetry and learning how fins attach to the body at different angles.
12. House – Home Sweet Drawing
Drawing houses helped me understand basic architectural shapes and perspective. I start with a simple rectangle for the main structure, then add a triangle on top for the roof. A smaller rectangle becomes the door, and squares or rectangles make windows.
I add details like a chimney (another rectangle with a small opening), some smoke (wavy lines), or a simple path leading to the door. Trees nearby (just circles on sticks) complete the scene. Houses are excellent for practicing straight lines, geometric shapes, and basic composition.
13. Tree – Nature’s Easiest Subject
Trees were among my first successful nature drawings. I start with a simple trunk – just two parallel lines that might curve slightly and get wider at the bottom. For the foliage, I draw a large, fluffy cloud shape on top of the trunk.
I add branches by drawing smaller lines extending from the trunk into the foliage area. Sometimes I draw individual leaves as small ovals or just add texture to the cloud shape with small curved lines. Trees are forgiving because real trees are all different shapes and sizes – there’s no “perfect” tree to copy.
14. Cat – Feline Fun for Beginners
Cats concluded my beginner journey because they combine simple shapes with personality. I start with a circle for the head and an oval for the body. Two triangular ears on top of the head, and a long curved line for the tail.
Four simple lines become legs, and small ovals make paws. The face is where cats get their character: two dots for eyes, a small triangle for the nose, and curved lines for the mouth and whiskers. I learned that even if my cat doesn’t look realistic, a few key features (pointed ears, whiskers, long tail) make it unmistakably feline.
Conclusion
Looking back on my drawing journey, these 14 simple subjects taught me more than any complex tutorial ever could. They showed me that drawing isn’t about creating masterpieces – it’s about practice, patience, and finding joy in the process. Each sketch, no matter how simple, built my confidence and improved my hand-eye coordination.
What I want you to remember is that every artist started with simple subjects like these. The shark that looks more like a submarine today might inspire you to study marine life more seriously tomorrow. That wonky flower could be the beginning of a beautiful botanical illustration phase. Every line you draw is progress, every mistake is a learning opportunity, and every finished drawing is an achievement worth celebrating.
So grab your pencil, pick a subject from this list, and start drawing. Don’t worry about perfection – focus on the fun. Before you know it, you’ll be looking at the world around you with an artist’s eye, seeing potential drawings everywhere you look. The most important thing I learned is that the best drawing is the one you actually finish, not the one you’re afraid to start.
A Teacher with 5 years of experience. Our Expertise, is reliable to meet your full Academic development needs . Worked on many crafts and construction projects offering services from design to development to deployment over the years. You will find many of my works in my business portfolio on request.
