31 Drawing Prompts to Improve Your Line Work

Linework is one of the fastest ways to level up your art — even before shading or colour.

When your lines feel confident, clean, and intentional, everything you draw instantly looks more polished.

Tip: I personally recommend practicing linework in pen — it forces you to commit and helps you improve faster without worrying about erasing.

I’ve tried so many pens, but my absolute favorite for this is the Zebra Sarasa Clip 0.5 Black Pen. The ink flows beautifully and the feel of the pen just clicks with linework practice.

Another great option, which I try to save mostly for finished artwork, is the Sakura Pigma Micron Fineliner Pens. They’re excellent for line control practice too, just keep in mind that they’re more expensive. I like to save them for actual art pieces, but still good to practice with.

Here are 31 simple prompts that actually help you improve your linework.

Line Confidence Prompts

These build control, smoothness, and steadiness.

1. Draw 20 straight lines without a ruler
2. Draw 20 smooth curved lines
3. Fill a page with parallel lines (even spacing)
4. Practice long, continuous strokes (no lifting!)
5. Draw overlapping “S” curves
6. Make a page of straight-to-curved line transitions

Pressure Control Prompts

Light vs. heavy pressure is a game changer.

1. Draw 10 objects using only light pressure
2. Draw the same objects using bold, heavy lines
3. Make a gradient from super-light to super-dark lines
4. Draw a leaf using only thin lines
5. Draw the same leaf using thicker, expressive lines
6. Outline a shape with lines that go from thin → thick

Line Flow Prompts

These help your lines feel smooth and beautiful.

1. Draw long flowing hair strands
2. Draw wind or smoke-like curves
3. Draw fabric folds with continuous lines
4. Draw waves or looping lines
5. Draw simple clouds using one continuous stroke
6. Redraw a simple object using only long, fluid lines

Line Weight Prompts (Super Important for Stylization)

Line weight = depth + style.

1. Draw a simple character using varied line weight
2. Outline a fruit with heavy outer lines, light inner ones
3. Draw overlapping shapes using thicker lines in front
4. Draw a plant with thin outlines + thicker shadows
5. Draw a still life with heavier bottom edges (to “ground” it)
6. Trace over your own drawing, adding line weight intentionally

Applied Linework Prompts (Fun + Skill Building)

A mix of drawing ideas that force you to introduce confident lines.

1. Draw a flower using only 30 lines
2. Draw a shoe with clean, purposeful strokes
3. Draw a hand silhouette in one continuous line
4. Draw 5 simple faces with minimal linework
5. Draw a leaf using only contour lines (no shading)
6. Draw a building using straight lines only
7. Redraw an old drawing but with clean, deliberate lines

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Linework is a skill that grows quickly with consistent, bite-sized practice. Even doing 1–2 of these prompts a night will sharpen your control, confidence, and style.

It’s one of the easiest art habits to fit into a busy life — no mess, no cleanup, just a pen and a few minutes of focus.