64 Pretty Things to Draw: Beautiful and Colorful Ideas

Some days you just want to make something lovely. This list has 64 pretty things to draw, picked because they look good even in a simple style: flowers, light on glass, graceful animals and scenes full of color.

If you like to color your drawings, the method near the end shows how to choose colors that work together every time.

Pretty things to draw: flowers

1. A peony in full bloom with petals packed like ruffles
2. A wild rose with five simple petals and a crown of stamens
3. A magnolia branch with one bud and one open flower
4. A hydrangea head built from dozens of four-petal florets
5. A water lily resting on its round notched pad
6. A foxglove spire with bells opening from the bottom up
7. A small wreath of forget-me-nots with a few buds
8. A single iris with its three drooping petals
9. A cascade of wisteria hanging over a gate
10. A poppy with crinkled, tissue-thin petals
11. A sprig of lilac with heart-shaped leaves
12. A teacup holding a miniature bouquet

Beautiful things to draw in nature

13. A hummingbird hovering at a trumpet flower
14. A peacock feather with its eye of rings
15. A koi with scales shading from orange to white
16. A butterfly wing pattern enlarged to fill the page
17. A frosted leaf edged in tiny crystals
18. A nautilus shell cut open to show its spiral chambers
19. A weeping willow trailing its branches in a pond
20. A mountain mirrored in a perfectly still lake
21. A meadow path lined with tall grass at golden hour
22. A snow-dusted branch with a single red cardinal
23. A waterfall veiling the mouth of a cave
24. An aurora in ribbons above a dark tree line

Sparkling objects

25. A cut gemstone with every facet outlined
26. A chandelier hung with strings of crystal drops
27. A tiara with one large center stone
28. A stained-glass window of a sunrise
29. A soap bubble with a window reflected in it
30. A lantern with star-shaped cutouts
31. A snowflake under a magnifying glass
32. A glass jar of sea glass in greens and blues
33. A dewdrop on a blade of grass holding the whole sky
34. An open ring box with a simple band inside

Colorful things to draw

35. A parrot with each wing feather a new color
36. A bowl of citrus halves: lime, lemon, orange and grapefruit
37. A rainy street of umbrellas seen from above
38. A hot-air balloon festival at dawn
39. A box of macarons in six pastel shades
40. A coral reef with three kinds of fish
41. A market stall of spices in open sacks
42. A stack of patchwork quilts, each folded to show a new pattern
43. A candy shop window full of striped jars
44. A flock of paper kites in a clear sky
45. A tropical drink with fruit on the rim and a paper parasol
46. A row of painted front doors, each a different bright color

Easy meaningful drawings

Small symbols that carry a message. Good for cards and journal pages.

47. Two pinky fingers linked in a promise
48. A paper crane, often folded as a wish for hope
49. An open birdcage with the bird flying free
50. A sprout pushing through a crack in the pavement
51. A compass with a heart where north should be
52. An anchor wrapped in a loop of rope
53. A tree with roots drawn as wide as its branches
54. One candle lighting a second candle
55. A mountain with a flag on top and the date you did something hard
56. The outline of your home state or country with a heart where you grew up

Graceful animals

57. A crane standing among reeds with one wing lifted
58. A deer looking back with its ears forward
59. A horse running with mane and tail streaming
60. A cat asleep in a patch of sun crossed by window-pane shadows
61. A pair of doves carrying one ribbon between them
62. A betta fish with fins like flowing fabric
63. A fox sitting upright with its tail wrapped around its feet
64. A luna moth with long trailing tails

A simple way to choose pretty colors

1. Pick one main color you love.
2. Add its two neighbors on the color wheel. Blue with blue-green and blue-violet, for example. Neighboring colors always sit comfortably together.
3. Add one small accent from the opposite side of the wheel. For a blue set, that's a touch of orange. Use it in one or two spots only.
4. Leave some white. Uncolored paper acts as light and keeps the drawing fresh.

Four colors plus white is enough for any idea on this page.

How to use this list

Draw one flower from the first section every day for a week on the same page, letting the stems cross. On day seven, color the whole page with the four-color method above. You end up with a bouquet you built slowly, and it makes a good card for someone.

Draw someone who belongs in the picture

A pretty scene often feels finished once a character steps into it: someone under the wisteria gate, someone holding the lantern. You can design that person in the Character Creator, then draw them into your scene. For help with outfits and color, see the character design tips.

More lists: aesthetic drawing ideas, cute things to draw and pencil drawing ideas.

FAQ

What are pretty things to draw for beginners?

Flowers with simple shapes, like a wild rose, a poppy or a tulip, plus butterflies, feathers and shells. They are symmetrical or nearly so, which makes them easier to get right.

What is the most beautiful thing to draw?

It depends on what you love looking at. Many people start with flowers, birds, water and light on glass, because their curves and repeating patterns look good even in a simple drawing.

How do I make a drawing more colorful without it looking messy?

Limit the palette. Choose one main color, its two neighbors on the color wheel and a small accent from the opposite side. Leave some paper white.

What are easy meaningful drawings?

Simple symbols such as a sprout in pavement, an open birdcage, linked pinky fingers or one candle lighting another. Each tells a small story in a few lines.