33 Summer Drawing Ideas For 2024 - Artsy Cow (2024)

As the sun decides to put on its own glasses and dance in the sky, what better way to celebrate the season of warmth than with some art that even the sun would want to take a day off to admire? Whether you’re lounging by the pool or hiding from the sun’s overly enthusiastic rays, these 33 summer drawing ideas are your ticket to a creative paradise. So, grab your pencils and let’s turn the heat up on creativity, because who said you need water to make a splash?

Smiling Sun with Sunglasses

Start by drawing a round, beaming face with pointed rays to capture the sun’s radiant energy. Dot the cheeks with a touch of summer’s blush and carve a wide, welcoming smile. Crown your sun with a pair of cool, oversized sunglasses, ensuring the lenses reflect a breezy summer vibe. Finish off with a few freckles to bring this sunny character to life.

Simple Beach Scene

Imagine a circle for the cheerful character, with a small body, capturing the essence of joy. Sketch in the eyes and a bright smile, and place a tiny backpack over one shoulder. Draw the outline of a palm tree leaning over a simple sandy shore, with a few strokes for the sea and sky. Add a starfish and some sparkles to complete your blissful beach scene.

Picnic Basket

Create a rounded rectangle for the base of a woven picnic basket, giving it a friendly face. Add arched lines above for the handle, filled with simple shapes to represent a strawberry, a bottle, and a baguette peeking out. Rest it on a checkered blanket, ensuring to detail the classic red and white pattern, fringe at the edges to suggest a soft texture.

Flip-Flop with Flower Design

Craft the base of your flip-flop with a smooth, rounded edge and a narrower section at the bottom for the heel. Overlay it with a contrasting strap, adorned with a cheerful, multi-petaled flower and a couple of leaves at the junction. Give the flip-flop a cute face with large, sparkling eyes and a happy smile, infusing it with personality and summer vibes.

Cartoon Ice Cream Cone

Picture a cone with crisscross lines for texture, topped with layers of scooped ice cream. Each scoop has a unique texture, the top one detailed with a chocolate drizzle and finished with a shiny cherry. Give the bottom scoop a pair of cute eyes and a contented smile. The playful character of the ice cream should evoke the sweetness of summer.

Sailboat on Gentle Waves

Draw a curved hull for a sailboat, resting it on wavy lines to represent gentle waters. Above the hull, sketch a triangular sail with striped patterns. Add a cute face with large, sparkling eyes to the boat’s hull to give it personality. In the background, place a round, smiling sun with rays spreading warmth and light, completing a serene maritime scene.

Sandcastle with Flag

Construct your sandcastle by stacking rectangles and squares to form towers and battlements. Add texture with dots and lines to mimic the sandy surface. Nestle the castle on mounds of sand and plant a whimsical flag on top. Don’t forget to give your castle a friendly face with beaming eyes and a joyful smile, turning a simple structure into a character full of summer stories.

Cute Crab

To bring this cute crab to life, draw a rounded body with two large, expressive eyes that sparkle with curiosity. Sketch in its smiling mouth, and add the distinctive large claws and smaller leg appendages. Surround your crab with subtle sand textures and sea treasures like shells and a starfish, ensuring it looks right at home on a sunny beachscape.

Smiling Starfish

Draw a plump star with gently rounded arms to embody a cheerful starfish. Add a pair of large, inviting eyes and a warm, friendly smile to give it a happy persona. Detail the starfish with small spots and subtle shading for texture. Place it atop a sandy seabed with delicate pebbles and place two wavy lines behind it to suggest a calm, shallow shoreline.

Collection of Seashells

To create a collection of seashells, start with simple shapes like ovals and spirals for the various shells. Introduce diversity with different sizes and details such as stripes and dots. Add whimsical faces to some shells to infuse life and personality. Sprinkle around smaller elements like starfish and pebbles, ensuring each shell stands out yet contributes to a harmonious seaside ensemble.

Playful Dolphin

To capture this playful dolphin, start with a sleek, curved body and a round head. Include a grinning mouth, a cute dorsal fin, and flippers. For the eyes, draw large ovals with glistening spots to reflect a joyful spirit. Have the dolphin leaping over stylized waves, adding splashes to emphasize movement. Surround with sparkling stars and water droplets to enhance the sense of a joyful leap from the ocean.

Kite Flying High

Begin with a diamond shape for your kite, adding a cross pattern inside for structure. Choose vibrant colors for each section to make it pop against the sky. Draw a long, flowing ribbon tail with a loop at the end, creating a sense of movement. Place two large, adorable eyes and a happy mouth on the kite, giving it a cheerful personality as it dances among the fluffy clouds.

Bucket and Shovel

To depict this charming bucket and shovel, start with a cylindrical shape for the bucket and add a curved handle. For the shovel, draw a simple, stout handle with a rectangular spade at the end. Give both items a friendly face, complete with sparkling eyes and a content smile. Position them on a sandy surface, sprinkled with little stars to highlight their fun in the sun.

Lemonade Stand

Create a small, rectangular stand with a striped awning for shade. On top, draw three jars with different levels of lemonade, each with a straw poking out. Give the stand a cheery face, adding a round lemon and a half-slice next to it for a zesty touch. Position the stand on a patch of grass to ground it in a sunny, outdoor setting.

Watermelon Slice

Start with a tall triangle for the watermelon slice, rounding the corners for softness. Color the rind green with a lighter stripe just above it. Fill the main area with a vibrant red, adding black seeds and white highlights for a juicy texture. Place two large, endearing eyes and a happy smile to turn the slice into a delightful character of summer refreshment.

Pair of Sunglasses

Sketch a wide, elongated shape with a dip in the middle for a pair of sunglasses. Inside each lens, draw a small palm tree silhouette against a backdrop of sunset colors. Add a few sparkle marks around the glasses to suggest their glossy surface. Below, draw a simple, curved line for the mouth and two dots for the nose, giving your sunglasses a sunny disposition.

Hot Air Balloon

Draw an oval shape for the balloon, adding a vertical line down the center for symmetry. Color the top in a warm hue, fading to lighter tones as you move down. Sketch a small basket underneath with crisscross lines. Give the balloon a joyful face with sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. Dot the sky with clouds and stars to complete the whimsical, sky-high adventure scene.

Firework Explosion

To illustrate a firework explosion, start with a central fluffy circle for the core of the burst. Around it, draw elongated shapes with pointed ends to represent the fiery rays, varying in size for dynamism. Add smaller star shapes scattered around to capture the sparkling effect. Give the central firework a delightful face with a simple smile and rosy cheeks for a touch of whimsy.

Camping Tent

To create this camping tent scene, draw a simple triangular tent with a flap opening in the center. Color it warmly and add texture to indicate the fabric. Draw two large, expressive eyes peeking out from the tent flap, adding a sense of life and adventure. Frame the tent with silhouetted pine trees and place it under a night sky dotted with stars and a crescent moon for a cozy, outdoor feel.

Cheerful Sunflower

Begin with a happy, round center for the sunflower and add a ring of long, pointed petals. Color the center in a deep yellow and the petals a lighter shade of the same hue. Sketch a cute bee with striped body hovering beside it. Give the sunflower a cheerful face with sparkly eyes and a warm smile, then draw a leaf and stem to complete the sunny disposition of this blooming character.

Ladybug on a Leaf

Begin with a large, rounded shell for the ladybug’s body, and add a smaller semicircle below for the head. Paint the shell red with black spots, and give the head two little antennae. Draw six simple legs underneath, positioning the ladybug on a large, green leaf with veins running through it. Add a pair of large, sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks to complete the ladybug’s charming expression.

Butterfly with Colorful Wings

To depict this vibrant butterfly, draw a small body with a sweet face and long antennae. Create two large upper wings and two smaller lower wings, ensuring they are symmetrical. Decorate the wings with intricate patterns of circles, stripes, and spots using a kaleidoscope of colors. Accentuate the patterns with subtle shading and add a few sparkles around to convey the butterfly’s delicate fluttering movement.

Hummingbird Sipping Nectar

Draw an oval body for the hummingbird with a small head and a long, thin beak reaching toward a flower. Sketch the bird’s wings mid-flap and its tail feathers outstretched for balance. Add simple flowers with rounded petals that the bird is visiting. Give the hummingbird large, expressive eyes and a content expression to show its enjoyment of the sweet nectar.

Simple Lighthouse

To draw this simple lighthouse, start with a tall, cylindrical shape, tapering slightly at the top. Add horizontal bands for color, and a small dome for the light room. Detail the beacon with light rays shining out. Draw a door at the base, and place the lighthouse on a shore with rocks around it. Give the lighthouse a pair of windows with a friendly expression to personify this coastal guardian.

Paddleboard on Calm Water

To illustrate the paddleboard scene, sketch two oval shapes for the paddleboards on a wavy water surface. Draw a young figure standing on one and another sitting on the second board, both holding paddles. Add simple lines for the body and limbs, and expressive faces with a touch of blush for warmth. Include details like the sun and a small heart to convey a serene and joyful summer activity.

Small Frog on a Lily Pad

To draw this small frog on a lily pad, start with a circular shape for the lily pad, adding notches around the edge to indicate leaves. Sketch a chubby, rounded frog sitting on top with prominent, circular eyes and a friendly smile. Color the frog in shades of green and add rosy cheeks for a cute touch. Surround with water ripples and plant details to complete this peaceful pond scene.

Rainbow Over Flowers

To capture this joyful scene, draw a large, arching rainbow with six colored stripes against a sky blue background. Below the rainbow, sketch fluffy clouds to rest its ends upon. Add a field of simple, colorful flowers with rounded petals and green stems at the bottom. Place two big, cute eyes and a happy smile on the rainbow to personify this natural wonder, creating a playful and vibrant atmosphere.

Fish Swimming in a Fishbowl

Draw a rounded fishbowl, adding a waterline and a flat base. Sketch a playful fish inside with a round body, patterned fins, and a tail. Include details like bubbles and pebbles at the bottom of the bowl. Place a few aquatic plants for a natural touch. Give the fish big, expressive eyes and a happy smile, suggesting a content life in its watery home.

Beach Ball by the Water’s Edge

To draw this beach ball by the water’s edge, start with a perfect circle. Segment the circle into alternating colored stripes, leaving a space for a cute face with large, inviting eyes and a simple, happy mouth. Behind the ball, sketch the edge of the water meeting the sandy beach, and add a small sun setting or rising in the distance to complete the tranquil beach scene.

Simple Treasure Map

Begin with a rectangular map, drawing a simple grid and marking landmarks like an ‘X’, paths, and water bodies. Curl the edges to give it a worn look. Place a small chest with bands and a lock atop the map. Add a whimsical face with large eyes and a playful smile on the map’s surface. Include symbols like hearts and question marks around to suggest the thrill of the hunt.

Smiling Snake

Draw a long, wavy line to form the snake’s body, looping it over a cylindrical log to show the snake wrapped around. Color the snake in a cheerful pattern with polka dots. Sketch a rounded head with big, friendly eyes and a wide smile to personify the snake. Add a few leaves on the log and heart shapes around to emphasize the snake’s harmless, loving nature in its cozy woodland home.

Garden Gnome Beside Mushroom

To draw the garden gnome beside a mushroom, start with a large, curved cap for the mushroom, adding white spots and a sturdy stem. Sketch a small, bearded gnome with a pointed hat, round nose, and rosy cheeks. Place the gnome beside the mushroom, adding smaller mushrooms around for scale. Include grass at the base to ground them in a lush garden setting.

Happy Cactus

Start with a rounded, vertical shape for the cactus, adding two raised arms. Decorate with small dots for spines and place in a simple pot. Sketch on sunglasses and a joyful smile to give the cactus character. Add a few lines for the arms’ creases and color the pot a contrasting shade. Finish with a small sun and sparkles to show the cactus enjoying the bright, warm day.

Conclusion

And there you have it, a treasure trove of summer drawing ideas that are sure to keep your creativity burning brighter than a midday sun in July. Remember, the only thing hotter than the summer sun is your drawing skills waiting to be unleashed. So, don’t let your pencils go on vacation this season. Who knows, by the end of the summer, you might just have a gallery that makes the sun wear sunglasses out of sheer admiration. Keep drawing, and let every stroke be a cool breeze in this sizzling season!