100 Surreal Drawing Ideas for every artist

Staring at a blank page, waiting for inspiration to strike, is the worst. You have the skill, the motivation (kind of), and the urge to create, but… what do you even draw? Whether you’re sketching for fun, practicing your craft, or just trying to break out of an art block, having a list of creative drawing ideas at your fingertips can make all the difference. Sometimes, all you need is a single spark—an unusual prompt, a fresh challenge, or a concept that takes your art in an unexpected direction.

Below is a carefully curated list of 100 creative drawing ideas designed to help you experiment, refine your style, and, most importantly, enjoy the process.

Flower Paintings

Camille Monet and a Child in the Artist’s Garden at Argenteuil, by Claude Monet

June Bullet Journal

Introduction

There’s no wrong way to use this list—pick one randomly, challenge yourself to a daily drawing spree, or combine ideas to create something truly unique. These prompts are broken into different categories to suit your mood and style: fantasy, portraiture, nature, surrealism, and more.

For example, if you’re drawn to character design, you might love the idea of sketching a cyberpunk warrior or a historical figure reimagined as a fantasy character. If you prefer atmospheric scenes, try creating a neon-lit city on a rainy night or an enchanted forest with glowing plants. Feeling conceptual? Play with gravity-defying landscapes or melting clocks dripping into dreamscapes. The goal is to let your creativity take the lead—these ideas are just the launchpad.

Having the right art supplies is essential for bringing your creative visions to life—whether you’re sketching quick ideas or crafting detailed masterpieces. Quality materials like smooth sketchbooks, vibrant pencils, and blendable markers not only make the process more enjoyable but also help your artwork look its best. Below are some of my favorite and cheap art supplies—click through my Amazon affiliate links to grab them and support my work at the same time!

• 100 Sheets Hardcover Sketchbook 
• Large White Pencil Erasers
• 24pcs Drawing Pencils Set
• Architectural Scale Ruler
• 13pcs Blending Stumps

If you’ve gone through the list, and are still artistically stumped, check out my portfolio or other artsy articles on ArtsyDrawings.com.

Fantasy & Floral Drawing Ideas

1. A wilted flower coming back to life with magical energy
2. A giant sunflower with an eye in the center
3. A fairy sitting inside a blooming rose
4. A cactus growing out of a teacup
5. A tree with glowing blossoms that only bloom at night
6. A tiny village hidden inside a hollow tree
7. A mushroom house with little windows and a smoking chimney
8. A snail with a succulent growing from its shell
9. A flower that changes shape with the seasons
10. A floating lily pad city in the middle of a peaceful lake

Mystic Nature Scenes Drawing Ideas

11. A twisting tree with roots reaching out like hands
12. A hidden waterfall behind a wall of vines
13. A forest path glowing under the light of fireflies
14. A deer with antlers covered in hanging moss and flowers
15. A secret garden only visible under the full moon
16. A butterfly with flower petal wings
17. A fox with fur that looks like swirling leaves
18. A bird made entirely of vines and blossoms
19. A mermaid whose tail turns into flower petals
20. A rabbit with dandelion fluff instead of fur

Surreal Landscapes Drawing Ideas

21. A tree growing upside down from the sky
22. A crystal geode splitting open to reveal a tiny garden inside
23. A flower field that turns into stars at night
24. A floating rock covered in grass and wildflowers
25. A mystical pond that reflects a different world than the one above it
26. A garden where every flower glows a different color
27. A river winding through the sky like a ribbon
28. A giant daisy acting as an umbrella for a tiny creature
29. A treehouse hidden among cherry blossoms in full bloom
30. A stormy sky where lightning forms the shape of blooming flowers

Celestial & Atmospheric Drawing Ideas

31. A moonflower opening under a glowing full moon
32. A rainbow forming from the mist of a magical waterfall
33. A sunset where the clouds are shaped like giant blooming roses
34. A path made of floating lotus flowers leading to an unknown place
35. A glacier with frozen flowers trapped inside the ice
36. A bird with crystal feathers that glow in the dark
37. A forest where every tree has a different colored bark
38. A giant lily pad floating through the sky like an airship
39. A desert where the cacti are made of glass and reflect the stars
40. A floating island with a single, massive cherry blossom tree

Whimsical Animals & Insects Drawing Ideas

41. A hummingbird with wings made of flower petals
42. A swan whose feathers turn into leaves when it spreads its wings
43. A moth with wings that resemble dried autumn leaves
44. A fox with a tail made of ivy and wildflowers
45. A butterfly with stained-glass wings that reflect flowers in the light
46. A river that glows in the dark, winding through a field of lavender
47. A forest where the trees have golden leaves that never fall
48. A moss-covered ruin overtaken by vines and blooming flowers
49. A lake with floating flowers that light up like lanterns at night
50. A meadow filled with oversized mushrooms and glowing spores

Dreamy Botanical Drawing Ideas

51. A teapot pouring a stream of water that turns into a waterfall
52. A giant sunflower bending down to whisper to a tiny creature
53. A floating flower shop with bouquets tied to balloons
54. A bridge made entirely out of intertwined vines and roses
55. A giant dandelion puff releasing wishes into the sky
56. A succulent terrarium with tiny people living inside
57. A flower-covered skull as a symbol of life and rebirth
58. A morning glory vine wrapping around an old, forgotten key
59. A rose bush growing in the shape of a heart
60. A water lily with a tiny fairy sleeping on its petals

Geometric & Abstract Conceptual Drawing Ideas

61. A single line forming the silhouette of a city skyline
62. Abstract shapes blending into each other to create a mysterious figure
63. Geometric forms representing the concept of chaos
64. A spiraling pattern that slowly morphs into a bird
65. A circular pattern that gets increasingly disorganized the closer you look
66. A series of interconnected dots forming a complex, surreal network
67. A series of mismatched patterns swirling together into one image
68. A minimalist sketch of a crowded subway, showing only the outlines of passengers
69. A futuristic city skyline where every building is a different distorted shape
70. A chaotic mix of black ink splatters and precise pencil details

Organic & Flowy Drawing Ideas

71. A plant growing through a cracked window, creeping upward
72. A half-drawn face with its features slowly dissolving into thin air
73. A hollowed-out human figure with intricate patterns spilling out from inside
74. A body with transparent parts that reveal a hidden world inside
75. A melting object dripping into a chaotic pool of shapes
76. A liquid that’s spilling from a cup, but instead of water, it’s made of words
77. A deconstructed object—like a chair—rearranged into an abstract form
78. A person holding a transparent sphere, and inside it, a completely different world
79. A tangled mess of strings, each representing different emotions or concepts
80. A floating object that shifts in shape the longer you look at it

Human & Emotional Drawing Ideas

81. A faceless person standing in a crowd of shadows
82. Two hands reaching toward each other, but never quite touching
83. A hollowed-out human figure with intricate patterns spilling out from inside
84. A body with transparent parts that reveal a hidden world inside
85. A person holding a transparent sphere, and inside it, a completely different world
86. A maze drawn inside a person’s silhouette, with no clear beginning or end
87. A floating object that shifts in shape the longer you look at it
88. A crumpled paper drawing, with creases creating a 3D effect
89. A human figure dissolving into an array of fine, intricate lines
90. An empty frame with only a shadow inside, suggesting what’s missing

Minimalism & Surrealism Drawing Ideas

91. A blank page slowly getting filled with random scribbles
92. A melting object dripping into a chaotic pool of shapes
93. An open hand with light streaming out between the fingers
94. A single brushstroke that seems to form a silhouette but fades into abstract swirls
95. A sketch of a tree with roots that are made of tangled thread
96. A bird with crystal feathers that glow in the dark
97. A liquid that’s spilling from a cup, but instead of water, it’s made of words
98. An abstract wave crashing into a geometric structure, like a solid wall
99. A figure partially submerged in water, with only certain parts of them visible
100. A cloud of dust swirling around an undefined object

“A desert where the cacti are made of glass and reflect the stars”

“A forest where the trees have golden leaves that never fall”

“Minimalist sketch of crowded subway only showing the outlines of passengers”

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the best drawing ideas are the ones that excite you. Don’t be afraid to put your own spin on these prompts—merge ideas, push boundaries, and experiment with styles you wouldn’t normally try. The more you create, the more your artistic voice develops, and that’s where the real magic happens.

So grab your sketchbook, pick an idea, and start drawing! Who knows? That one random prompt might just lead to your next masterpiece.