Want to improve fast? Draw the things that scare you. This list of 40 hard things to draw covers the subjects artists struggle with most – from hands and faces to glass, water and crowds – with a practical tip for each so you know exactly how to approach them.
Make it even harder: pick an item from this list and add random rules from the drawing randomizer, or set the drawing prompt generator to Hard.
Anatomy challenges
- Hands – start with a mitten shape, then divide into fingers. Draw your own non-drawing hand from life.
- Feet – think of a wedge shape; the arch matters more than the toes.
- Faces in profile – use a circle for the skull and a line for the jaw.
- Ears – draw them as a question mark shape with inner curves.
- Eyes looking sideways – the iris moves, but the eyelid wraps around a sphere.
- Hair in the wind – draw big clumps first, then a few individual strands.
- Figures in motion – use a single “line of action” curve before adding the body.
- Foreshortened arms – overlap cylinders that get bigger towards the viewer.
- Laughing or crying expressions – the whole face changes, not just the mouth.
- Elderly faces – wrinkles follow the direction of facial muscles.
Animals
- Horses – study the leg joints; the “knee” bends the opposite way to ours.
- Birds in flight – draw the wing as an arm with feathers attached.
- Cats in motion – exaggerate the spine curve.
- Fur texture – suggest it at the edges and in the shadows, not everywhere.
- A dog running towards you – heavy foreshortening, so overlap shapes.
Objects and machines
- Bicycles – draw the two wheels first as ellipses, then the frame as triangles.
- Cars in perspective – start with a box in two-point perspective.
- Chairs – also a box; carve away what you don’t need.
- Musical instruments – guitars and violins demand accurate symmetry.
- Folded fabric – find the tension points where folds begin.
- A crumpled paper ball – focus on light and shadow planes, not lines.
- Chains and ropes – repeat simple links that alternate direction.
- Clocks and gears – use ellipse guides.
Light, reflections and transparency
- Glass of water – draw what you see through it, including the distortion.
- Reflections in a spoon – the image is curved and upside down on the inside.
- Metal objects – high contrast, sharp highlights, reflected surroundings.
- Puddles – reflections are vertical and slightly darker than the real thing.
- Candlelight on a face – strong warm light from below with deep shadows.
- Bubbles – mostly transparent; draw the rim and two highlights.
- Sunlight through leaves – dappled spots of light on the ground.
Nature and environments
- Water and waves – draw the shapes of light and dark, not every ripple.
- Trees – group leaves into big masses with light and shadow.
- Clouds – soft edges and a darker underside.
- Fire – flames are lighter at the base and flicker into points.
- Smoke – flowing S-curves that fade.
- Mountains – use overlapping shapes and lighter values in the distance.
Composition challenges
- Crowds – draw a few detailed people in front and simple shapes behind.
- A city street in perspective – set a horizon line and vanishing point first.
- Interiors with furniture – keep every object aligned to the same vanishing points.
- A scene with three light sources – plan each shadow before you draw.
How to practice difficult subjects
Break it down. Every hard subject is just simple shapes combined: spheres, boxes, cylinders and cones.
Use reference. Drawing from life or a photo is not cheating. It’s how every professional learns.
Draw it many times. Ten small, quick drawings teach more than one careful drawing.
Time-box it. Spend 15 minutes and stop. Come back tomorrow. Progress comes from repetition.
Compare honestly. Put your drawing next to the reference and note one thing to fix next time.
Keep challenging yourself
Follow our drawing challenges guide for structured ideas, and build fundamentals with these drawing practice exercises. When you need a fun break from the hard stuff, the what to draw generator has a “relaxed” mode.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest thing to draw?
Many artists say hands, because they have many joints and change shape in every pose. Faces, feet, horses, bicycles, crowds and transparent objects like glass are also famously difficult.
Should beginners try hard things to draw?
Yes – as practice, not as a test. Drawing difficult subjects badly at first is how you learn. Break them into simple shapes and repeat them often.
How long does it take to get good at drawing hands?
It varies, but most people see clear improvement after a few weeks of drawing hands for ten minutes a day from life or photo reference.