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10 Inspiring Summer Drawing Challenges to Complete Before Fall

If you want to make the most of your creative summer, why not tackle these 10 inspiring summer drawing challenges before fall?

You’ll explore urban landscapes and self-portraits and experiment with color palettes and mixed media.

Pick one or more of these drawing challenges (but don’t overwhelm yourself with all of them!).

Ready to challenge yourself? Let’s see which summer drawing challenge will ignite your passion first.

Daily Doodle Challenge

Kick off your summer creativity by committing to a Daily Doodle Challenge.

In this challenge, you’ll create a spontaneous, small drawing every day.

You can doodle little creatures, abstract patterns, or whole scenes! The goal is to keep your pencil, pen, or digital tool flowing without overthinking.

summer doodles and sketches pages

This challenge isn’t just about filling a page; it’s about tapping into daily inspiration and embracing the unexpected.

You might find yourself doodling something you never thought of before, giving you new ideas for your more art projects.

Don’t focus on perfection and instead try out new art styles while doodling!

You’ll be amazed how these tiny, quick sketches can lead to big discoveries. They serve as a playground for your mind, allowing you to experiment

Summer Sketchbook Challenge

Try the Summer Sketchbook Challenge and fill an entire sketchbook with vibrant summer-themed drawings!

You can draw sun-soaked beaches, delightful ice creams, and lively summer activities.

Summer sketchbook filled with summer related drawings

Imagine capturing the serene beauty of a beach sunset, where the sky transforms into a canvas of orange and pink hues. Sketch the waves gently kissing the shore and the silhouettes of distant sailboats.

You can also draw your picnics and stays at different places during your vacation!

Draw families and friends lounging on checkered blankets, surrounded by baskets of goodies. Illustrate outdoor dining and the playful moments of frisbee and kite flying.

Let’s not forget the delicious tropical fruits that define the season.

Draw juicy watermelons, ripe pineapples, and vibrant mangoes. Experiment with textures and colors to make these fruits look as delectable as they taste.

Color Palette Challenge

As you fill your sketchbook with vibrant summer scenes, why not challenge yourself by choosing a limited color palette to create a cohesive series of summer drawings?

This Color Palette Challenge pushes your creative boundaries, encouraging you to explore the power of color in new and exciting ways.

Color Palette Challenge using a photo of a beach

Start with monochromatic inspiration:

-> pick a single hue and explore its shades, tints, and tones.

This exercise helps you understand value and contrast within a single-color family.

-> Next, explore a limited palette by selecting just a few colors.

Limiting your palette forces you to creatively mix and match colors to achieve the desired effects.

Want more Color Palettes? Here are the 10 Best Summer Color Palettes!

It’s an excellent way to develop your color-mixing skills and discover unexpected combinations.

Finally, experiment with some color harmony exercises.

By working within a restricted palette, you’ll naturally begin to see how colors interact and harmonize.

Plus, a limited palette often results in a more unified and professional look.

Don’t be afraid to experiment!

And if you don’t want to create an entirely new palette from scratch, use one of these free Color Palette Generators.

Urban Sketching Challenge

More of a city person? Try out the Urban Sketching Challenge, where you’ll capture the dynamic essence of urban landscapes.

Go to a busy street corner, sketchbook in hand, and get ready to document the architectural details that make each building unique.

Urban Sketch example for a summer urban sketching challenge

You can draw designs of a historical landmark or instead draw some modern skyscrapers, for example!

Change locations and draw different neighborhoods, lively market scenes, tranquil parks and anything in between.

Experiment with creative compositions by combining elements like people, vehicles, and street art to bring your sketches to life.

As you sketch, focus on perspective practice to accurately depict the depth and scale of the urban environment.

This challenge hones your technical skills and encourages you to see the beauty in everyday urban scenes.

Self-Portrait Challenge

Challenge yourself to draw a self-portrait every week, experimenting with different styles and techniques.

This creative journey will not only hone your drawing skills but also offer deep insights into your self-expression.

Start by exploring various portrait compositions, playing with angles, lighting, and even abstract interpretations.

An artist creating a self portrait for a self portrait challenge

Each week, push your boundaries a little further: perhaps one week, you will go for a hyper-realistic style, and the next, you try an adorable cartoon version of yourself.

Seeing how your perception of yourself evolves throughout this drawing challenge can be fascinating.

This is where weekly progress tracking becomes invaluable.

Document each portrait and note what worked, what didn’t, and how you felt during the process.

This practice will help you identify patterns and areas for improvement.

Plus, looking back at your growth over the summer is incredibly rewarding.

By the end of the summer, you’ll have a compelling portfolio that showcases not just your artistic evolution, but also your personal journey.

Fan Art Challenge

After exploring self-expression through self-portraits, it’s time to channel your creativity into fan art by drawing your favorite characters from movies, TV shows, books, or games.

Participating in a Fan Art Challenge allows you to go deeper into character analysis, exploring what makes your chosen characters unique and beloved.

bulma and android 18 fan art by patricia caldeira at don corgi

By understanding their traits and stories, you can draw them better and more easily.

Whether you’re sketching Hermione Granger casting a spell or capturing the intensity of a video game hero such as Master Chief, your imagination is the only limit.

This challenge isn’t just about drawing; it’s about connecting with the fan community that shares your passion. Pop culture offers a huge amount of icons waiting for your personal touch.

Still Life Challenge

Why not set up a still life arrangement and explore how different angles and perspectives can transform your drawing?

This drawing challenge can be tough but also quite transforming!

Begin by assembling a fruit bowl, experimenting with various lighting techniques to see how shadows and highlights play across the surface.

What Is A Still Life Drawing And Painting - Work on your compositions and drawing skills!

You’ll be amazed at how shifting light can dramatically change the mood and depth of your artwork.

Next, experiment with a texture study.

Whether you’re capturing the smooth skin of an apple or the rough rind of an orange, paying attention to these details can improve your drawing from ordinary to extraordinary.

Here are three key steps to get you started:

  1. Select Your Subjects: Choose items with diverse textures and shapes, like a fruit bowl, a vase, or a fabric.
  2. Lighting Techniques: Use different light sources to see how they affect shadow play and depth.
  3. Composition Tips: Arrange your items thoughtfully, considering balance and focal points.

Lastly, practice perspective.

Try drawing your still life from different angles to see how perspective shifts can add dynamism to your work.

Daily Prompt Challenge

Daily drawing prompts can keep your creativity flowing and encourage you to explore new themes and techniques.

By using daily prompts from websites or social media, you’ll find endless sources of inspiration, pushing the boundaries of your artistic expression.

366 drawing prompts cover by don corgi

Start your day with a quick sketch of a delicate leaf or a vibrant sunset.

Nature-inspired drawings can be very fun to draw during summer.

These prompts can range from the simplicity of a single flower to the complexity of an entire landscape, each offering a fresh perspective.

Don’t shy away from abstract art either.

Daily prompts often challenge you to think outside the box, blending shapes and colors in unconventional ways.

This can be an exciting exercise in creativity!

And if you’re pressed for time, quick sketches are a fantastic way to maintain a consistent drawing habit.

These short, spontaneous sessions can be incredibly fun, encouraging you to trust your instincts and develop a more fluid drawing style.

Our Generators:

🦄 Random Creature Prompt Generator!

🎲 Random Art Prompt Generator

🧚 Character Art Prompt Generator

More drawing ideas:

😮 7 Hard Things To Draw Right Now!

🥳 23 Easy Drawing Ideas For Beginners

💃 9 Amazing Pose Ideas To Draw!

🥰 20 Cute Drawing Ideas

Mixed Media Challenge

Frequently, combining different art mediums like watercolor, ink, and colored pencils can improve your drawings with increased depth and texture.

This summer, why not try a Mixed Media Challenge? It’s the perfect way to experiment and have fun with new materials.

Painter using mixed media art for a summer drawing challenge

Here are three exciting mixed media ideas to get you started:

  1. Abstract Collage: Experiment with layering watercolor washes and ink doodles, then add colored pencil accents. Cut out shapes from old magazines or your own nature photography to create an abstract collage that’s bursting with personality and creativity.
  2. Nature Photography Integration: Take your love for the outdoors into your artwork. Print your favorite nature photos and incorporate them into your drawings. Use watercolor for background washes, enhance details with ink, and highlight elements with colored pencils.
  3. Surreal Sculpture Sketches: Turn your drawings into 3D forms. Sketch surreal sculptures using a mix of media. Start with a watercolor base, add ink outlines, and finish with colored pencil shading. These sketches can serve as blueprints for actual sculptures or stand alone as intriguing art pieces.

Comic Strip Challenge

Interested in storytelling? Try creating a short comic strip every week, where you can develop engaging storylines and unforgettable characters.

Focus on drawing one panel at a time. Each week, you’ll embark on a new adventure in character development, giving your creations distinct personalities and unique traits.

Begin with storyline brainstorming.

Jot down all your wild ideas and start weaving them into interesting narratives.

Example of different comic style bubbles and effects for a comic strip drawing challenge

It can be a superhero saving the day or a quirky slice-of-life vignette, the sky’s the limit. Don’t be afraid to mix genres or experiment with unexpected twists; have fun with the process!

Don’t forget to explore art styles!

The beauty of comic strips lies in their visual diversity.

Try different styles—minimalist, detailed, cartoonish, or realistic. Each style can bring a unique flavor to your story, making it visually interesting in their own way.

This comic strip challenge is a great way to improve at storytelling and character consistency week after week.

Conclusion

You’ve got an exciting summer of creativity ahead! Enjoy these summer drawing challenges and see how your art skills evolve step by step.

Whether you’re doodling daily, sketching vibrant scenes, or experimenting with mixed media, each challenge offers a unique way to express yourself.

Ready for more? Get an iPad (here’s my recommendation) and complete these drawing challenges on the go.

Or pick up a Popular Drawing Course for step-by-step guided lessons.

And as always: Keep on drawing!

Stock images by Depositphotos

DonCorgi

Patricia Caldeira is the main writer here at Don Corgi. She's an art teacher with over 20.000 happy students across many platforms and courses!

Enjoy your stay and as always:
Keep on drawing!