Finding subjects to draw

If you believe that a drawing has to be hard for your audience to identify and difficult for them to understand, finding subjects or ideas to draw will be tasking. 

Such orientation makes it complex to find a subject worth drawing as you will never be satisfied with the subjects you see, ideas you come across, or those that art brings your way. 

Hence, for this article to really be of help, you need to know that art is natural and can never, should never be forced. You can’t think art, you can only create art. 

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Nonetheless, finding subjects to draw is not supposed to be as complicated as it is for you. It should be one of the easiest parts of creating art. 

Although, it is also possible that you are in the search for subjects to draw on because you are tired of the subjects you are used to drawing. Or do not find the ones around you very interesting or worthy to be drawn. 

In this article, you are going to discover ideas on finding uncommon subjects and ideas to draw. 

Before we go into that, you need to note the following: 

• Don’t be afraid of drawing whatever comes to your mind no matter how simple or “not your style” it is. Never thrash the idea in your head no matter how unclear it is, take your drawing materials and start to draw. That usually is the starting point of processing a drawing idea: taking out a sketchpad and sketching that which is in your head. 

• Don’t be overwhelmed by what your competition is drawing; when you tend to look at what your competition is drawing that’s getting them a lot of buzz, it can distract you from seeing subjects or ideas you are supposed to draw. Ofcourse, you can study what your competition draws and see what subjects or drawing ideas you can get from there. But never let their drawing style or subject control what you draw. Be more focused on your art than on your counterpart. 

• Don’t pressurize yourself or overthink the process. Understudying your competition or classic drawings can cause you to develop pressure to create something perfect. Remember it should come natural not forced. When you start to feel stressed or migraines from getting/thinking of subjects to draw, it’s best to take a minute or two out of wondering what to draw. 

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Now, here are ways to find subjects or ideas to draw: 

Improve on other artists’ drawing subjects or ideas: 

You could look at the works of vincent van Gogh or Picasso and try to redraw from their traditional ideas. I once saw a drawing of Monalisa in Lagos by Christian Allison with Monalisa drawn on the background of The National Art Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos. I am sure that has immediately brought one or two drawing ideas to your head. You are welcome. 

You are probably struggling to find subjects to draw because you are totally obsessed with inventing your own drawing subjects or ideas. It is okay to want to draw something so fresh that no artist has ever created it before. 

But really, how much time do you have? Therefore, the next best thing is to look at different drawings from different exceptional artists and ask yourself: 

What can I do differently or how can I make this drawing better? 

You are still very much going to be inventing a unique drawing. Only that you will use the drawing of another artist as a template or case study. 

Documenting Time:

There are lots of events happening in the world every day. There are lots of interesting conversations going on globally that can serve as inspiration for your next drawing. You would discover a lot of them in news, and newspapers. Besides, Ikechukwu Ezeigwe once said that a successful artist is one who documents time in their artworks. 

Now personally, what are those events and conversations you would love to document with your drawings? There is recycling, green revolution, protests, political rivalry, amongst others. 

You could make a list and pick the best ones you would love your drawings to speak about. But ensure that the ones you decide to draw are those that are capable of catching attention. And the way your drawing can catch other people’s attention if it captivates you first of all. 

Artistically documenting time would require you to develop a creative perspective at seeing everyday normal situations in a totally imaginative manner. 

Draw what you’ve always wanted to draw:

Before your drawings started to be influenced by the art fanatics, galleries, and private collectors who could buy your drawings, what have you always wanted to draw? what have you always loved drawing?

A lot changes the moment you become a full-time artist. The mindset becomes drawing or painting what can pay the bills. 

However, at a point where you get tired of drawing the “pay the bills” kind of art, you need to go back to your source (childhood, teenage years, or stage as an emerging artist) when you have always just wanted to draw because it is something you were passionate about. 

what are the subjects you have always dedicated time drawing or fantasized drawing before your focus shifted to drawing what will sell: go and draw them. 

Re-Evaluate yourself: 

As earlier mentioned, it gets to a point when you are tired of drawing what people have always known you to draw. Hence that fueled your search to discover something different. 

However, the step most artists don’t take in this search is re-evaluating themselves. The step of reevaluating yourself to discover fresh drawing subjects is easy. 

First, list at least five subjects you are used to drawing; the ones you have gotten the most positive comments about. Second, list at least five new subjects that are similar to those which you can draw and not too complex for you. 

For example, if you are used to drawing images of human beings could it be possible that you can draw images of animals like they are human beings (anthropomorphic drawing)? 

Third, mention at least 10 (insane/mind-blowing) things about yourself. It could be things you (like)love to do or things you are good at. Don’t overthink it. Just write the first things that come to your mind. The list doesn’t have to make any meaning. 

If you like space, could that inspire your next drawing? 

If you are a foodie, maybe you could draw your favorite meal? 

If you enjoy playing virtual games, maybe you could draw an addicted virtual game lover? 

If you like to sleep, maybe you could draw you as Jonah in the belly of the whale? 

The idea is to create drawings from who you are and what you enjoy doing. And it is easier to draw from what you like, love, and are good at because it’s something easily relatable. 

Fourth, list subjects you can draw but won’t or haven’t because it is not something you are interested in or passionate about. For example, you might be interested in drawing female portraits not dislike drawing female nude images. After listing as much as you can, start to make attempts to draw them. 

Sometimes, you have to attempt to draw what you don’t find interesting. Sometimes, that is all it takes to discover something new and move out of your comfort zone. 

Draw up a survey: 

Sometimes, you need to ask your art fanatics what they would have you draw. This is beneficial in two ways: 

• You find subjects or ideas to draw 
• You draw what your audiences like or love which means that particular drawing will be easy to sell. Since they prompted you on what to draw. It is more like having cheat codes in a game: you always win.