Digital illustration has made art more accessible than ever. With just a tablet or a laptop, you can create vibrant, whimsical, or thought-provoking artwork right from your cozy corner of the world. But if you’re new to digital art, figuring out where to start can feel daunting. No worries—we’ve rounded up 10 easy digital illustration projects that will ignite your creativity and build your skills at the same time. Bonus? The only limit here is your imagination.
1. Create a Simple Character Design
Nothing sparks creativity quite like bringing a character to life. Whether it’s a quirky animal, a charming mythical creature, or a character from your imagination, this project is a great introduction to digital illustration.
Tips:
- Use a tool like Procreate or Clip Studio Paint. Start with a rough sketch, then outline and add color layers.
- Focus on defining your character’s personality through details like facial expressions, accessories, or movement.
- Keep shapes basic at first (think circles, rectangles, and triangles) to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Why It’s Great:
This project lets you practice sketching, coloring, and shading while giving your imagination free rein.
2. Design a Custom Wallpaper
Turn functionality into creativity by designing a wallpaper for your phone, tablet, or computer. You’ll have something personal and inspiring to look at every day.
Tips:
- Start by choosing a theme, such as nature, abstract patterns, or motivational quotes.
- Use Canva for pre-sized templates or Adobe Fresco for full creative freedom.
- Experiment with color gradients, textures, and patterns.
Why It’s Great:
You’ll learn how to play with composition and colors, and in the end, you’ll have a practical piece of art.
3. Illustrate Your Favorite Quote
Combining words with visuals is an excellent way to express emotions or tell a story. Take a quote you resonate with and turn it into a stunning digital illustration.
Tips:
- Choose a fitting typography style to match the mood of the quote (bold and modern, soft and handwritten, etc.).
- Use apps like Affinity Designer or Procreate to combine text and illustrations.
- Add elements around the text, like flowers, borders, or abstract shapes, to enhance its visual appeal.
Why It’s Great:
This project helps you practice typography integration and enhances your composition skills.
4. Draw a Seasonal Postcard or Greeting Card
Celebrate the seasons or holidays by designing a digital postcard. From cheerful summer vibes to cozy winter themes, the possibilities are endless.
Tips:
- Use Procreate stamps or brushes for quick details like snowflakes or leaves.
- Keep the design simple by focusing on one main element, like a festive tree or a sunny beach.
- Consider using an app like Canva if you want to include text and templates.
Why It’s Great:
It’s a fun way to practice themed illustrations while creating something you could send to friends or family.
5. Illustrate a Recipe or Food
If you’re a foodie, try illustrating a favorite recipe or just a dish that makes you happy. Drawing food is an excellent way to focus on texture, shapes, and colors.
Tips:
- Tools like Adobe Illustrator work well for flat, vector-style food art, while Fresco is great for painterly effects.
- Start with basic foods (like a bowl of fruit or a pizza) and focus on color layering to make them pop.
- You could even add handwritten recipe text for a warm, personal touch.
Why It’s Great:
This project offers a chance to practice detail work while creating art you may want to print and hang in your kitchen.
6. Create a Set of Emojis or Stickers
Design your own emoji or sticker set to upload into messaging apps or just show off to friends. Cute faces, quirky symbols, or mini characters, you decide!
Tips:
- Keep designs clean and simple, as stickers are usually small in size.
- Use Canva’s sticker-making features or export PNG files from Procreate with transparent backgrounds.
- Test different themes (e.g., animal faces or tiny coffee cups) for maximum fun.
Why It’s Great:
You’ll practice scaling artwork and creating minimalistic yet expressive illustrations.
7. Draw a Dreamscape
Unleash your imagination by illustrating a dreamlike scene. It could be a floating city, a magical forest, or an underwater world. The wilder, the better.
Tips:
- Use Procreate or Adobe Fresco for dreamy brushes that create clouds, mist, or water textures.
- Experiment with lighting effects to make parts of your dreamscape glow or shimmer.
- Don’t stress about "making sense"—dreamscapes are meant to be surreal.
Why It’s Great:
This project pushes your boundaries and allows you to think creatively about landscapes and magical elements.
8. Design a Digital Sticker Sheet
Digital sticker sheets are both functional and adorable. They can be used in digital planners, notebooks, or simply as decorative elements.
Tips:
- Use a tool like Procreate to isolate each sticker on a transparent layer.
- Keep the designs consistent by sticking to a single theme, like “cute animals” or “retro gadgets.”
- Export the designs as PNG files so they’re resizeable and ready for use.
Why It’s Great:
Creating stickers hones your ability to create cohesive designs while keeping things playful.
9. Reimagine a Book Cover
Choose a favorite book, but reimagine its cover in your own style. This project tests your creativity and storytelling in visual form.
Tips:
- Research existing covers to see how they highlight major themes.
- Use Affinity Designer or Adobe Fresco to experiment with typography and layout.
- Play around with symbols or characters from the book to make the cover pop.
Why It’s Great:
This teaches you about the relationship between design and storytelling while giving you a chance to showcase your artistic voice.
10. Create a Daily Doodle Journal
Dedicate a week or a month to creating one digital doodle per day on a theme that inspires you. This low-pressure project is perfect for building habits and exploring ideas.
Tips:
- Use apps like GoodNotes or Procreate to keep everything in one place.
- Pick a simple theme like animals, flowers, or mood-based doodles (e.g., what your day felt like).
- Don’t aim for perfection—focus on consistency and creativity.
Why It’s Great:
A daily doodle journal helps you build confidence in your skills and encourages creative thinking.
Tools to Get Started
Some excellent digital tools for beginners include:
- Procreate (iPad): Perfect for sketching, painting, and custom brush work.
- Adobe Fresco (iPad): Excellent for both raster and vector illustration.
- Canva (All devices): Great for templates, typography, and easy graphic design.
- Affinity Designer (All devices): Ideal for professional-level vector editing.
- Clip Studio Paint (Desktop & Mobile): A versatile tool for detailed work.
Digital illustration is a powerful way to channel your creativity, and the best part is that you don’t need complicated projects to see progress. These 10 beginner-friendly ideas will help you expand your skills while having fun.
