Skip the intro · jump to the list ↓
By the end of this list you’ll have fifteen sketches worth trying this season, no art degree required! Some are quick warm-ups. Others are the kind you frame.
Scrolled through hundreds of pins to put this together. Most got skipped because they needed fancy supplies or three hours of shading, lol!
The ones that made the cut are simple enough for a Tuesday night but still look good taped to your fridge. Doable, low pressure, actually pretty!
You don’t need a full art kit for any of these. A pencil, some paper and maybe a few markers gets you through the whole list.
Grab a sketchbook, pour some coffee and pick whichever one matches your mood tonight. Some lean cozy, some lean playful. A couple even branch into other seasons entirely. Which vibe are you feeling right now?
Under each idea I’ve added the details you’ll actually want, plus a link to the full tutorial.
WINTER DRAWING IDEAS
Cozy Cabin In Snowfall
We’re starting off strong with a cozy cabin buried in snowfall. Smoke curling from the chimney gives the whole scene warmth even in gray and white tones.
Add a single lit window and suddenly the cabin feels lived in. Doesn’t it just make you want to curl up inside?
- Cabin core energy
- Pencil and blending stump only
- Works in black and white too
Snowman With Knitted Scarf
How cute is a snowman rocking a knitted scarf? The texture of the wool gives you something fun to practice instead of the usual flat white blob.
Cross hatching works great for the scarf pattern. This one turns a basic snowman into something with actual personality! A tiny button nose seals the deal.
- Scarf texture practice
- Great beginner shading drill
- Colored pencils or markers both work
Frozen Lake With Skaters
A frozen lake with skaters looks harder than it is. My trick is drawing the reflections first, then adding tiny figures on top.
They don’t need faces or detail to read as skaters. A few curved lines for motion do most of the work. Somehow that’s the whole secret!
- Motion lines do the magic
- No faces needed
- Reads well even loosely sketched
Hot Cocoa Mug Sketch
This hot cocoa mug sketch is basically a comfort drawing. Steam lines, a few marshmallows and a chunky mug handle and you’re done in ten minutes!
My coffee order gets judged every winter and I stand by it proudly! This sketch is basically the cocoa version of that energy, lol! Extra marshmallows, obviously.
- Ten minute comfort sketch
- Marker friendly
- Great warm up before a bigger piece
Snowy Mountain Landscape Sketch
Snowy mountains make a forgiving landscape since the shapes hide mistakes. I never bother fixing uneven peaks anymore, lol!
Layer three or four mountain shapes behind each other, with the lightest one furthest back. That alone creates depth without much extra effort. Who doesn’t love a shortcut that actually works?
- Depth without extra effort
- Just layered triangle shapes
- Watercolor or pencil both work
Polar Bear In Snowstorm
A polar bear in a snowstorm looks impressive but leans on a simple trick. Barely outline the bear and let the white space do the rest.
Smudged pencil marks around the edges suggest wind and snow instantly. This is the one point where doing less actually wins!
- Less outline, more white space
- Charcoal or soft pencil recommended
- No background detail needed
Icicles Hanging From Rooftop
Icicles sound tricky but they’re just tapered triangles with a shine line down one side. My icicles always come out slightly crooked so they look real instead of ruler straight.
Group them in uneven lengths along the roof edge. It reads as a frosty morning without any other snow details needed. Even three or four scattered ones do the trick.
- Tapered lines, instant frost
- Great for practicing light reflections
- Works on colored paper too
Winter Fox In Forest
A winter fox curled up in the snow might be the prettiest idea on this whole list, am I right? My orange pencil gets worn down every single time I draw one.
Keep the tail fluffy and oversized so the coziness gets exaggerated. Somehow that makes the whole scene feel warmer than a snow drawing has any right to!
- Orange against white, easy win
- Tail can be as fluffy as you want
Mittens And Snowflakes Sketch
Mittens and snowflakes make a great flat lay style sketch. Pair a striped mitten with a few oversized snowflakes floating around it.
No two snowflakes need to match! Six points is close enough in my book.
- Flat lay style practice
- Fine tip pen recommended
Penguin Family On Ice
A penguin family waddling across the ice is impossible not to smile at. Stack three sizes together, big, medium and small. The family read happens instantly.
Add a light blue shadow beneath each one for the icy ground. Simple, sweet and done before my coffee gets cold! Who could resist a whole waddling lineup?
- Instant family read
- Three sizes stacked together
- Blue shadow sells the ice
Heart Balloons Bouquet Sketch
This heart balloon bouquet is one of the sweeter valentines drawing ideas around. Uneven hearts tied with curly ribbon strings always look fuller than one giant heart could.
Vary the sizes so the bouquet feels natural instead of stiff. It works on a card just as well as a full page. That’s the whole appeal, lol!
- Fuller than one big heart
- Colored markers work best
Cupid With Bow Arrow
Cupid with a bow and arrow brings a little humor to the list. He always gets a slightly mischievous expression from me. The whole thing gets funnier than it should!
This one also works great as a comic style sketch. Motion lines behind the arrow are basically required at this point, haha!
- A little mischief on paper
- Motion lines add drama
Love Letter With Roses
A love letter surrounded by roses never gets old, does it? Fold the corner of the paper slightly and scatter loose petals around the edges for realism.
Sweet, simple and honestly kind of nostalgic! A wax seal sketch on top adds a nice extra touch.
- Nostalgic paper folds
- Loose petals add movement
- Ink pen recommended for the script
Two Hands Holding Hearts
Two hands holding tiny hearts is simple but somehow always touching on paper. Keep the hands loose and gestural instead of overly detailed.
The hearts can float slightly above the palms for a softer look. Not every line needs to be perfect. That’s exactly why it works! Same energy every single time.
- Loose hands, soft hearts
- Gestural sketching practice
Watercolor Sunset Over Ocean
Last but definitely not least, we have a watercolor sunset over the ocean. Wet a fresh sheet of paper, drop in orange and pink and let the colors bleed into each other naturally.
This is one of the more relaxing drawing ideas watercolor has to offer, honestly. The less you control the blending, the better it usually turns out! Who doesn’t love a happy accident?
- Let the colors bleed naturally
- Wet on wet technique
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Emily
✨ Wait! Your next favorite is right here
These are the posts readers open next. See why:
