Random Things to Draw
Press the button and get one random thing to draw, with a reference picture, from a list of 156 objects, animals, characters and scenes.More Fun, Party & Decision Generators
Random Things to Draw gives you one subject at a time, picked from a list of 156, and shows it with a reference picture so you are not staring at a word. Press the button, get "Umbrella" or "Hummingbird" or "Sand Castle" with an image of it, and start sketching. It is built for the moment when you have a pencil and paper and no idea, which is most of the time for most people.
How it works
There is a single button and no filters. Each press draws one subject from the full list with equal odds and displays its name over a 500-by-500 reference image. Press again for a new one; nothing stops you skipping until something appeals. Because the tool shows a picture, you can draw from reference straight away, or hide the picture and draw from memory as a harder exercise.
What kind of things are in the list
The 156 subjects lean toward simple, recognizable shapes, which makes them good for warm-ups and beginners, with enough animals and scenes to keep more experienced hands busy:
| Type | Examples from the list |
|---|---|
| Easy objects | Apple, Arrow, Umbrella, Scissors, Dice, Alarm Clock, Lamp, Fork, Coin, Ticket, Mailbox, Ladder |
| Food | Cupcake, Ice Cream, Popcorn, Cotton Candy, Pizza, Donut, Pineapple, Cherries, Grapes, Lemonade, Pie, Soda |
| Animals | Cat, Dog, Panda, Tiger, Giraffe, Zebra, Wolf, Ostrich, Flamingo, Hummingbird, Dolphin, Goldfish, Butterfly, Slug, Worm |
| Nature and weather | Sun, Moon, Clouds, Rain, Lightning, Rainbow, Snowflake, Mountains, Volcano, Ocean, Palm Tree, Sunflower, Rose, Tulip, Cherry Blossoms |
| Characters and pop culture | Among Us Character, Kirby, Peppa Pig, Pusheen the Cat, Deadpool Logo, Pacman Pixel Art, Anime Eyes, Elf, Fairy, Alien, Robot, Dragon, Monster |
| Scenes and harder subjects | Carousel, Bridge, Tunnel, Sand Castle, Record Player, Helicopter, Satellite, Skeleton, Lungs, DNA Helix, Atom / Molecule, Stick Figures Dancing |
| Seasonal | Christmas Tree, Christmas Lights, Christmas Ornaments, Holly, Mittens, Turkey, Fireworks, Balloons |
Ways to use a random drawing prompt
- Daily sketch habit. One press, ten minutes, done. The subjects are small enough to finish in a sitting, which is what keeps a habit going.
- Timed warm-ups. Draw three subjects at two minutes each before starting a longer piece. Simple shapes like Sphere, Eggs and Rocks are good for loosening up.
- Pictionary and drawing games. The drawer sees the picture, the guessers do not. Because the names are everyday nouns, rounds move quickly.
- Classroom art prompts. A teacher can put one on the projector and have the whole class draw the same thing, then compare. The reference image helps students who freeze at a blank page.
- Mash-ups. Press twice and combine the results (a Robot holding a Lollipop, a Wolf in Mittens). If you want a more open-ended brief with mood and style, the Random Art Prompt Generator does that, and the Random Color Palette Generator can decide the colours before you start.
For pure shape drills, the Random Shape Generator is simpler still, and the Random Aesthetic Generator is useful when the subject is settled but the style is not. More of these are under all fun, party & decision tools.
Frequently asked questions
- How many drawing ideas are there?
156, each with its own reference picture. They range from very easy (Apple, Arrow, Easy Heart) to subjects that take some planning (Carousel, Skeleton, DNA Helix).
- Can I choose easy things only?
There is no difficulty filter. Most of the list is simple objects and food, so easy subjects come up often; if you get something hard, press again.
- Are the reference images free to copy?
They are shown for practice and reference. Drawing from them for your own sketches is fine; do not reuse the image files themselves in your own projects.
- Can I get a list of several things at once?
The tool shows one at a time. Press the button repeatedly and note down the ones you want to keep for a session.