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A new fund has recently been established for artists and arts workers impacted by the destructive Los Angeles firestorms. Led by the J. Paul Getty Trust, the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund launched on January 15 with $12 million, and is rapidly growing in response to wildfire devastation.

Several other local art institutions are participating in the fundraising effort, including MOCA, LACMA, and the Hammer Museum. Partnering organizations span the Mellon Foundation, Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Ford Foundation, and Qatar Museums, among other national and international institutions.

Beginning on January 20, artists and arts workers across any discipline affected by the Los Angeles wildfires can apply for an emergency grant via the Center for Cultural Innovation website. According to a statement from the Getty, the application process will be designed with expediency at its core, emphasizing a swift redistribution of funds and, as the situation evolves, the potential for applying funds to longer-term needs.

Los Angeles is recognized internationally for its vibrant art scene, boasting a diverse array of arts institutions, studios, collectives, and archives. Having already destroyed as many as 12,000 homes, the firestorms have ravaged the thriving city and its creative economy, displacing thousands of residents and significantly disrupting their livelihoods.

“People around the world are watching in horror as vast areas of Los Angeles burn, but this regional tragedy has global cultural repercussions,” Katherine E. Fleming, president and CEO of the J. Paul Getty Trust, said in a statement. “Amid the losses suffered by the artists and arts workers who so strongly define LA, Getty is grateful to the many partners, local, national, and international, who have come together to meet the urgent needs of this community.”

The LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund is only one of many fundraising initiatives in response to the wildfires. Whether it be the Art World Fire Relief LA GoFundMe campaign, Craft Emergency Relief Fund, Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to Support Music Professionals, or the Entertainment Community Fund, each effort strives to offer mutual aid and support during a time of exceptional hardship.

My Modern Met is proud to have donated to the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund. If you’d like to help support artists and arts workers affected by these devastating fires, please consider donating on Getty’s website.

If you want to help those who have been affected by the fires in the LA area, check out this list of wildfire relief initiatives. For those affected by the fires, please refer to this updated list of resources for shelter, food, clothing, pet care, and more.

Led by the J. Paul Getty Foundation, the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund will offer critical aid to artists and arts workers impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires.

The outside of the Getty Museum in Los Angeles (Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri, via Wikimedia Commons, CC 3.0)

Beginning on January 20, people may apply for emergency funds via the Center for Cultural Innovation website, which the Getty and its partnering institutions aim to redistribute rapidly.

Source: Foundations and Arts Organizations Create $12M LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund

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Artists Are Paying Tribute to the Heroism of Los Angeles Firefighters

READ: Newly Established LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund Will Offer Critical Aid to Artists and Art Workers

 

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Conditions in California have been devastating lately due to the wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area. However, our faith in humanity has been restored thanks to the countless acts of kindness from across the United States and even beyond. In a video recently shared by Khalsa Aid, we're given yet another opportunity to witness selfless acts of compassion and warm-hearted hospitality. Members of Southern California’s Sikh community have been preparing hot meals for those affected by the firestorms. People are seen vigorously chopping vegetables while others stir massive pots filled with sauces, soups, and curries. The finished meals are then meticulously hand-packed and stored into cardboard boxes, which volunteers wheel away on a cart.

Since last week, Khalsa Aid, a global humanitarian organization built upon Sikh principles, has prepared hundreds of vegetarian meals for those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. Volunteers have also distributed essential non-perishable goods to thousands of families, all while partnering with local groups like Korea Town’s YMCA and Pasadena Job Center.

In Bakersville, a city just north of Los Angeles, Sikh residents are similarly mobilizing, collecting items such as new socks, blankets, and underwear, as well as food, water, and Gatorade to redistribute to community members impacted by the fires.

“In the Sikh community I have received a lot of requests of folks wanting to help, they really felt a call to do something and help our neighbors in the Los Angeles area,” Manpreet Kaur, vice mayor of Bakersfield, told local broadcasting network KERO-TV.

In 2022, Kuar became the first Sikh Punjabi woman elected to the Bakersfield City Council. Given her cultural background, Kuar immediately understood the importance of Sikh involvement in wildfire relief efforts.

“We’ve taken all of our Gudwara’s, which are Sikh places of worship, and we have made them collection sites so that we can collect the supplies that are most needed,” Kuar continued. “One of our Sikh principles is generosity and being of service to others.”

In addition to the Sikh community, several others have rallied behind Los Angeles through mutual aid and grassroots initiatives. Based in Inglewood, It’s Bigger Than Us is a Black-led non-profit that has been delivering water and resources to first responders while simultaneously running a distribution hub. The National Day Laborer Organizing Network is similarly raising money for immigrant workers, and Lagartijas Climbing Crú, a collective of BIPOC rock climbers, has organized a crowdsourced spreadsheet for mutual aid requests.

For many Angelenos, grassroots organizing has proven more effective and reliable than that of state and federal agencies. Many organizers have expressed frustration with how, just months before the fires erupted, the city of Los Angeles cut their fire department’s budget by $17.5 million while raising that of LAPD by $126 million.

“The city started off this chain of events,” Howie Galper, a lead organizer of the political group the People’s Struggle San Fernando Valley, told The Guardian. “The politics of LA is to ignore the people, and this is the end result.”

Even so, these local efforts offer an extraordinary glimpse into the strength of community solidarity and mobilization in the face of climate disaster. As of this writing, the Los Angeles firestorms have destroyed an estimated 12,000 homes, and have forced over 100,000 residents to evacuate. In the Pacific Palisades alone, wildfires have ravaged nearly 24,000 acres of land.

If you want to help those who have been affected by the fires in the LA area, check out our list of wildfire relief initiatives. For those affected by the fires, please refer to this updated list of resources for shelter, food, clothing, pet care, and more.

Sikh communities across Southern California are organizing relief efforts for those impacted by the Los Angeles firestorms.

 

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Khalsa Aid is one such organization, having prepared hundreds of hot meals for redistribution.

 

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Other marginalized communities have initiated grassroots efforts as well, such as It's Bigger Than Us and Lagartijas Climbing Crú.

 

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The Los Angeles firestorms are the most destructive in California's history, having destroyed nearly 24,000 acres of land in the Pacific Palisades alone.

The Palisades fire in Los Angeles. (Photo: CAL FIRE_Official via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

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READ: Sikh Communities in Southern California Are Organizing Relief Efforts for Victims of LA Firestorms

The Palisades fire in Los Angeles. (Photo: CAL FIRE_Official via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

On January 7, the most destructive firestorms in California history began ravaging Los Angeles. Over 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes, with fires tearing through nearly 24,000 acres of land in the Pacific Palisades alone. There are several ways to support those impacted by these devastating wildfires, and buying artwork is now one of them.

In the past week, the art community has led the charge in funding wildfire relief efforts, whether it be through artwork raffles or sales. These proceeds are then redistributed to impacted individuals, mutual aid initiatives, or national organizations.

The Wattis Institute at the California College of the Arts, for example, is currently selling a print by the renowned West Coast artist Ed Ruscha. All proceeds from the sale through the month of January will benefit the LA Art World Fire Relief, an organization dedicated to helping artists and art workers recover from the damage caused by current wildfires.

Brooklyn- and Tokyo-based artist Kei Meguro is similarly selling prints from his Ikebana series to fund relief efforts, with 100% of proceeds being donated to Pasadena Humane. The non-profit organization focuses on critical care, shelter, and support to pets and wildlife displaced by the Los Angeles fires.

Art galleries have been proponents of wildfire aid as well. Until further notice, Treat Gallery in New York will be donating 40% of all artwork sales directly to the California Community Foundation’s Wildfire Recovery Fund. Hashimoto Contemporary, a gallery based in San Francisco and New York, is also hosting a raffle with artworks donated by over 30 artists, including Devra Fox, Carlos Rodriguez, and Madeline Tonzi.

These are only a handful of the efforts currently being launched by artists, studios, and galleries across the country. Our resource list below includes additional initiatives to help those affected by the Los Angeles firestorms.

If you want to help those who have been affected by the fires in the LA area, check out this list of wildfire relief initiatives. For those affected by the fires, please refer to this updated list of resources for shelter, food, clothing, pet care, and more.

Artists and galleries are selling artworks to help raise funds for those impacted by the wildfires in California.

The Palisades Fire on January 8, 2025. (Photo: CAL FIRE_Official via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain)

Here are some of the many initiatives in the art community that are currently fundraising.

Women of Type

Women of Type is a premier global community that celebrates and uplifts women and nonbinary lettering and typography artists. The organization is currently partnering with Sticker Giant, with 100% of proceeds from its sticker sales going directly to the Pasadena Humane Society. A pack of two stickers is being sold for $10, with free U.S. shipping.

 

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Feia Raffle

Thomas Pilnik and his husband Jake Cavallo are the duo behind the Los Angeles-based design studio Feia. The couple is now hosting a raffle for three artworks by Pilnik, and proceeds will be redistributed to individual artists on GoFundMe and the Mutual Aid LA Network. Tickets are available for $15 until January 15 at 5 p.m. PT.

Shepard Fairey’s Limited-Edition Prints

Shepard Fairey is best known for creating Obama’s HOPE and Kamala Harris’ FORWARD posters. Now, the artist has designed a limited-edition print featuring a sparrow soaring above flames. 100% of proceeds from the Re-Build/Re-Think poster sales will be donated to the American Red Cross and other vetted organizations. The posters will be on sale until Thursday, January 16 at 12 p.m. PT.

 

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Anat Egbi Gallery Fundraiser for Alec Egan

Artist Alec Egan was preparing for a January exhibition at Anat Egbi Gallery when he lost his home, studio, and all artworks intended for the show in the fires. The gallery is now selling prints featuring Egan’s work, with all proceeds directly supporting Egan. The poster is available to purchase for $100 in the Anat Egbi Shop.

Brendan George Ko Butterfly Prints

Brendan George Ko is celebrated for his nature photography, which has been featured in The New Yorker and The New York Times. He’s now selling prints of two butterfly photographs for $220 each, with proceeds being donated to the Mutual Aid LA Network. To order a print, you can DM the photographer on Instagram.

 

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Kingsland Editions T-Shirts

Based in Brooklyn, Kingsland Editions specializes in screen printing. They’re currently selling a $50 t-shirt featuring the text “New York” and “Los Angeles” separated by a massive red heart. Proceeds will be donated to the Mutual Aid LA Network.

Spoke Art Gallery Print by George Townley

The fine art gallery has announced the launch of a charity print by George Townley. All proceeds from sales will be donated to World Central Kitchen. The gallery has yet to announce its release, but you can stay updated by following them on Instagram.

 

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Source: Buy an Artwork to Support Victims of LA Fires

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Updated Local Resources To Help Los Angelenos Affected by the Fires

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READ: You Can Buy Art To Help Support Those Impacted by the Devastating Los Angeles Wildfires

As its name suggests, The Public Domain Review (PDR) spotlights works that have fallen into the public domain, all through the lens of articles that distill the history of art, literature, and ideas. The journal has just launched a new initiative that expands upon this goal, bringing together more than 10,000 images currently in the public domain.

Meticulously curated by the PDR, The Public Domain Image Archive (PDIA) serves not only as a practical resource but as a tool for endless exploration. The database can be searched by categories such as century, artist, style, and theme, including “Animals & Beasts,” “Humor & Satire,” and “Science & Medicine.” A sorting mechanism further maximizes browsability, organizing entries by tags like “Date: Oldest to Newest” and “Added: Latest to Earliest.”

Similar to other databases, PDIA boasts an impressive assortment of materials, representing over 2,000 years of visual culture. Typographical posters, book illustrations, geometric diagrams, advertisements, and sculptures all coalesce to produce a captivating portrait of human history as it’s evolved across time. Entries are also accompanied by a short text and linked out to a relevant PDR article to provide additional context.

PDIA’s impressive range, however, is best visualized through its Infinite View feature. Upon entering Infinite View, visitors are able to scroll in any direction through a limitless, 360° maze of images, offering a more immersive experience of PDIA’s collection.

“The PDIA sets out to emphasize this visual nature of the PDR, freeing these images from their textual homes and placing them front and center for easier discovery, comparison, and appreciation,” PDR wrote in a statement. “Whether you’re a researcher, an artist, a designer, or simply a lover of old images, we hope you find the PDIA to be a source of inspiration and delight.”

Though free and accessible to anyone, PDIA is nevertheless a costly undertaking. To contribute to the initiative, visit the PDR’s Support page.

Created by The Public Domain Review, The Public Domain Image Archive compiles over 10,000 images currently in the public domain.

The images span over 2,000 years of visual history, and are free to explore and use by the public.

Images range from advertisements and illustrations to sculptures and photographs.

The Public Domain Image Archive can also be explored through “Infinite View,” allowing users to scroll an immersive 360° maze of images.

The Public Domain Review: Website | Instagram | Facebook
The Public Domain Image Archive: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by The Public Domain Review.

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READ: 10,000+ Historical Images Are Now Free To Explore and Use in New Public Domain Image Archive

 

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Less than a week after they began, the Great Los Angeles wildfires forced 100,000 people to leave their homes. With winds set to pick back up this week, and as the biggest blazes are still giving first responders trouble, there's a big possibility that this number will grow exponentially.

Right now, people are looking at how they can contribute to relief efforts, and the community has stepped up to assist anyone who may be in need—from those who lost their homes to exhausted firefighters.

My Modern Met was not only founded by California natives but has its home base in Orange County. So, as a way to contribute to our own community, we're pulling together a list of local resources to help anyone who may be in need of aid and essentials, whether it be clothing, shelter, food, or anything in between.

We'll be regularly updating this post as new information becomes available, so please be sure to check back for the most up to date information. In addition, locals will want to check in on the Mutual Aid LA January 2025 Fire & Wind Storm Resource Library. As a connector and hub for air, Mutual Aid LA's database contains nearly 400 local resources, from shelters and animal boarding to donation drives and free meals.

Los Angeles County has also activated an emergency page in response to the wildfires, where residents can sign up for notifications and see an updated list of resources available to them.

Our resource list mixes opportunities we've researched ourselves, as well as some of the larger mobilization efforts listed by Mutual Aid LA.

Here is an updated list of local resources for anyone affected by the Los Angeles wildfires.

SHELTER

• Airbnb: Airbnb has partnered with 211 LA to offer free temporary housing for residents displaced or forced to evacuate. To apply, please visit the 211 LA website, but note that wait times will be long due to the overwhelming demand.
• Hotel Association of Los Angeles: The organization has put together an up-to-date list of hotels offering shelter and supplies.
• 9ThirtyLA: This event venue in downtown Los Angeles now serves as a 24-hour evacuation center.

 

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CLOTHING 

• Union Rescue Mission: URM has operated for 130 years and is America's first homeless shelter. They are a Relief Hub accepting donations and will allow anyone impacted by the fire to shop in their network of thrift stores free of charge.
• Quirk: This vintage shop in LA has started a free boutique for anyone affected by the fires. Shoppers are allowed 10 free items and must show an ID.
• Bums & Roses: This kid's clothing brand is offering clothing to anyone impacted by the LA wildfires. Interested parties will be asked to fill out information in order to receive a one-use code to create a donation cart. The offer is available while supplies last.

FOOD

• World Central Kitchen: The non-profit has set up mobile stations offering free meals to the public. Please check their website and social media for updates on locations and service times.
• 9ThirtyLA: This event venue in downtown Los Angeles is offering free meals to first responders and fire evacuees. Until January 31, 2025, breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Local restaurants: The LA Times has compiled an updated list of LA-county restaurants offering food relief to evacuees and first responders.

 

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ANIMALS

• Los Angeles County Animal Care: There is a website dedicated to listing shelters willing to take in both large and small animals who have been affected by the fires.
• Pico Rivera Sports Arena: The city has opened up its sports arena to offer free boarding for horses and large livestock from owners in fire-affected areas.
• South Bay Rodent Rescue: The organization is offering free rat/mouse/hamster boarding for owners who have been displaced.

SERVICES

• YMCA: The YMCA has activated its community response for those located in Los Angeles. This includes free childcare for children (TK – 8th grade) of first responders, essential workers, and children of families who were displaced, evacuated or lost property. They are also offering water, food, showers, and essential items, as well as their mental health services.
• Los Angeles County Registrar: Los Angeles County residents directly impacted by fires can request property records and vital records (i.e., birth, death, marriage) at no cost to support their recovery efforts. Anyone in need of records should call 800-201-8999 and select Option 1, followed by Option 2, or email recorder@rrcc.lacounty.gov for assistance.
• People's Struggle San Fernando Valley: The organization is offering emergency evacuation transport for people, pets, and belongings. Please call (no text) 213-915-4487 to make arrangements.

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READ: Updated Local Resources To Help Los Angelenos Affected by the Fires

Photo: Iñaki del Olmo

The first and oldest lending library in continuous existence in the United States is located in Franklin, Massachusetts. The Franklin Public Library opened in 1790 with the purpose of loaning books, free of charge, to its constituents. Centuries later, this central mission has not changed. In fact, libraries have only expanded the communal resources they provide, with branches across the U.S. now offering free health and wellness courses to visitors.

These health programs vary in content and form, and, as with other library resources, are available to anyone regardless of age, insurance status, or language skills. Classes range from fitness and cooking to conversation sessions about mental and physical health. Some libraries even lend out blood pressure monitors and kits as they would books.

AP recently investigated this growing trend, reporting on the courses found at several library locations across the country. A public library in Smithville, Texas, for instance, provides boxes of surplus food from local farmers and has developed a peer support group for those experiencing isolation. Another library in Milwaukee focuses on arming children and teenagers with information about nutrients and healthy diets, which takes the form of a weekly after-school program run by a local chef.

Mobile health clinics also travel the country’s libraries, inviting visitors to ask questions and learn more about their wellbeing.

“What we do is a Band-Aid on a broken (health care) system,” says Carolyn McCarthy, a nurse practitioner at a mobile health clinic.

Libraries boast a plethora of other free resources as well. Whether it be digital access to magazines or vast catalogs of music, movies, and TV, our library system serves an indispensable role within our democracy by providing free and accessible information.

Despite this, libraries are still vulnerable to budget cuts. New York’s Public Library, to name one, faced up to $58.3 million in cuts this year. The decision was luckily reversed due to intense public protest, and the full funding will be restored in the 2025 fiscal year.

Find your local library via the official government website and support their free programs and initiatives through your attendance.

Libraries across the United States are offering free health and wellness classes to visitors, regardless of age, insurance status, or language skills.

 

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These wellness resources further cement libraries as essential beacons of free, public, and accessible information.

A panorama of a research room taken at the New York Public Library (Photo: Diliff via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5)

Photo: Olena Bohovyk

Sources: Libraries are offering free health and wellness classes across the US; You Did It, NYC! Library Budgets Have Been Saved

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READ: Libraries Across the U.S. Are Now Offering Free Health and Wellness Courses to Visitors

Photo: Severin Roesen via Public Work (Public Domain)

If you are among the many who struggle to find the right image without worrying about copyright restrictions, Public Work may be the perfect solution for you. Built by Cosmos, Public Work features over 100,000 public domain images compiled from online archives and institutions like the MET, Art Institute of Chicago, and the New York Public Library.

The website offers a user-friendly, straightforward design that emphasizes functionality and simplicity. It offers a powerful search function and an endless scroll feature that allows users to continuously find new pieces. As most of the images on the website are from museum archives, Public Work is composed chiefly of drawings and paintings, ranging from traditional Japanese woodblock prints to psychedelic diagrams.

Finding specific topics or themes in images is often challenging on the internet, but Public Work utilizes an AI organization function that makes this process easy. The system consists of an AI tagging feature that automatically labels every element within an image. Additionally, every time you click on a new image, the website automatically suggests similar ones based on image recognition.

Each image on Public Work includes a button that provides information from its original source, such as creation dates and the artist’s name. The site also conveniently features a bar at the bottom of the screen that displays images that you’ve previously clicked on, allowing you to continue scrolling without losing track of your favorite findings.

While the website is undoubtedly powerful, there are some flaws. Their sourcing and attribution information isn’t as comprehensive when compared to platforms like Flickr Commons, which provides detailed information about the origins of images, licenses, and their creators. Furthermore, many of the photos on Public Work have a vintage appearance due to their public domain status, which limits their use due to their aesthetic.

Public Work is a product of Cosmos, a site that defines itself as an alternative Pinterest for artists. It offers users a digitally unique experience by emphasizing personal organization and social discovery without the typical effect of mindless consumption.

The site considers itself revolutionary compared to the socially detrimental aspects of the current digital landscape. As their website states, “But still, we scroll—with no intent or purpose as to where we’re going. The truth is, it’s not us. It’s the tools that disconnect us: scattered across platforms, polluted with noise, and competing for our attention.” Cosmos’ website has a distinctly modern and dystopian feel, which seemingly acts as a commentary on the increasing difficulty of digitally navigating spaces without distraction.

Artificial intelligence has become increasingly integrated with our lives through software and apps designed to enhance daily convenience, from personalized recommendations to virtual assistants. While the increased use of AI remains a highly controversial subject, Public Work aims to demonstrate AI’s potential benefits through its ability to organize digital content efficiently.

Public Work, created by Cosmos, offers a uniquely designed interface with over a hundred thousand public domain images from prestigious archives like the MET and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Photo: Harry Whittier Frees via Public Work (Public Domain)

The website mainly consists of drawings and paintings, from traditional Japanese woodblock prints to psychedelic diagrams.

Photo: Étienne Léopold Trouvelot via Public Work (Public Domain)

Photo: Seifu Shimizu via Public Work (Public Domain)

Public Work utilizes an AI tagging system to simplify image search, as well as an endless scroll function and automatic suggestions for similar images.

Photo: Eduard Gaertner via Public Work (Public Domain)

While the site provides useful features, some argue that it could improve its sourcing and attribution compared to other image archives.

Photo: Theresa Babb via Public Work (Public Domain)

Public Work: Website
COSMOS: Website | Instagram | X
h/t: [Open Culture]

All images via Public Work.

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Photo: Mint Owl
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Practice is a vital part of perfecting your drawing skills. Learning the basics and repeating them over and over again is the only way to improve. For proof, just check out what a few years of drawing practice can do. It’s truly incredible the progress that you can make by dedicating time to this pursuit. Those who do have gone from scrawling simple figure sketches to fully-rendered portraits in seemingly no time.

Photo: EndOfAllHope

Although the best way to improve your drawing is to just get started, figuring out what to sketch can be challenging. Like all creative endeavors, everyone goes through “blocks” where they can’t figure out what to put pencil to paper. Well, have no fear! We’ve got a list of 100+ easy drawing ideas for you to try and fill up your sketchbook with. Get your creative juices flowing with everything from everyday objects to fantastical cityscapes—we recommend trying a variety in order to flex every bit of your drawing muscle.

But First, Gather Your Supplies

Having the right tools at hand is essential. Here are some of our favorites that we highly recommend:

• Graphite Pencils – ($22.99 at Amazon)
• Drawing Pens – ($17.67 at Amazon)
• Charcoal Drawing Set – ($18.65 at Amazon)
• Sketch Pad – ($14.53 at Amazon)
• Colored Pencils Set ($74.99 at Amazon)

Graphite Pencils

Investing in great supplies will help ensure that you expand your sketching capabilities. So, check out our recommendations for the best drawing pencils, best sketchbooks, and best type of paper. Although pencils are the most popular tools when it comes to drawing, charcoal is also fairly popular for those who like to sketch and do it fast. While working on drawings that have deep shadows, charcoal will offer rich black tones that are perfect for shading. You can check out our selection of the best charcoal pencil sets for artists.

Best Graphite Pencil for Drawing

We highly recommend Derwent Graphic Pencils. Loved by both beginners and professionals, they are available in soft, medium, and hard sets. Easy to sharpen to a point or flat shape, they are versatile for detailed work and shading.

Drawing Pens

Does your artwork depict intricate details? Try using a drawing pen. Pens offer consistent linework and precision. There is a pen for almost every type of linework, including sketching, cartooning, drafting, calligraphy, and more. Check out our picks for the best drawing pens. And if you’re looking to add color to your work, we’ve identified some of the best colored pencils to use, too.

Best Drawing Pen

Anyone looking to draw with precision will want to stock up on Sakura Pigma Micron pens. Whether sketching comics or drawing architecture, these acid-free archival pens are a great option. They come in a variety of sizes, allowing you to draw thin or thick lines and have real staying power, so your sketches will last the test of time.

Photo: Pixabay

Drawing Ideas That Anyone Can Try

Still Life Drawing Ideas You Can Find at Home

You don't have to go far to find inspiration for what to draw. Just look around your house to see what to sketch. Every object is an opportunity for drawing. If you're feeling ambitious, try combining them into a still life.

• The interior of your living room
• A houseplant
• Kitchen utensils, like a whisk or slotted spoon
• A necklace, ring, or another piece of jewelry—try combining them in a still life
• House keys attached to a keychain
• An interesting knick-knack (or knick-knacks) off your shelf
• An interesting doorknob or door knocker
• Crumpled fabric or a pile of laundry
• An object in a glass dish
• Your dinner that night…
• … before you've prepared it (the ingredients)
• Collection of your favorite things
• A still life featuring old technology
• Your favorite condiment from your kitchen—be sure to draw the label
• Things that make you feel cozy
• Your most interesting pair of shoes
• The items on your coffee table
• The view from your window

Ocean Waves, Trees, and More: Creativity Inspired by Nature

Nature has long provided artists with inspiration for drawing. Trees and the sandy beach are both beautiful to look at and are also fun to draw. Plenty of cute animals are also out in the world, from a squirrel at the park to an octopus at the aquarium. As you improve your drawing, try revisiting these subjects to see how different they now look.

• Trees outside your window
• A fresh bouquet of flowers (try colored pencils with this one)
• A myriad of mushrooms
• A landscape scene from your favorite vacation
• Head to a park and draw what you see
• Your favorite tree
• A seashell or collection of seashells
• Visit an aquarium or look at a fish tank and draw what you see

Have a Lot of Fun Drawing People With These Ideas

People can be a daunting subject, but humans are exciting models to explore. From self-portraits to sketching the body, you'll never tire of these interesting and challenging ideas that revolve around people.

• Your self-portrait
• A famous person you admire
• Your feet (or someone else's feet)
• Your hands (or someone else's hands)
• A closeup of your eye
• Sketch someone on public transit
• A portrait of your significant other
• Someone who looks worried and is biting their lip
• What you're wearing today
• The back of someone's head
• Curly hair, from gentle waves to ringlets

Aren't feeling confident about drawing people? Check out these online drawing classes to sharpen your skills.

• Portrait Drawing for Beginners
• Realistic Portrait Drawing Made Easy

More Great Drawing Ideas

• A furry friend (working from a photograph is probably best)
• The exterior of your favorite building
• A cute baby animal
• Fresh fruit that's been cut in half (citrus fruit works well)
• A cup of coffee and pastry from a local cafe
• Your favorite wild animal
• A spider in a spiderweb
• Play with perspective by looking straight up at a skyscraper or at a bridge
• Make a copy of your favorite painting or statue (bonus points if it's in a museum)
• Recreate scientific renderings of bugs or birds (such as John James Audubon)
• What you see from your car's rearview mirror
• Frog on a lily pad
• The view from a bridge—either from or underneath it
• The inner workings of a mechanical object (like a watch)
• A ballerina on their toes
• Draw your to-do list
• Find a receipt and draw one item that is on it
• Sketch the same subject in at least five different ways
• Document your day, each hour, as a comic
• Aerial view of your favorite place

Photo: Syda_Productions/DepositPhotos

Creative Drawing Ideas Inspired by Holidays

Get into the spirit when you sketch. Holidays have their own imagery that you can source when trying to think of something to draw.

Halloween Drawing Ideas

• A bat flying in the sky
• Your idea of a haunted house
• A massive spider web (you decide how big)
• Pumpkins with scary faces
• A group of witches brewing a boiling cauldron
• A spooky ghost that could live in your town
• A glamorous vampire and their vampire hunter nemesis
• Zombies walking through the city
• An old graveyard that is coming alive

Thanksgiving Drawing Ideas

• A cornucopia of different fall foods (like pumpkins and corn)
• Your favorite Thanksgiving dinner dish
• Colorful fall leaves falling from the trees
• A portrait of a turkey
• Something that you're thankful for

Christmas Drawing Ideas

• A Christmas tree decorated by you
• A portrait of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus
• All of Santa's reindeer playing in the snow
• The biggest snowman that you can imagine
• Santa's sleigh with Christmas lights
• Your family as gingerbread people
• A snow globe containing a beautiful winter scene
• Your Christmas stocking (filled with goodies)
• A yard filled with candy canes

Photo: Javier Gonzalez

Drawing Ideas Inspired by the Imagination

Imagine Your World With a Dragon and a Rainbow

Draw the world that you want to see. If it's cloudy out, imagine a sunny day with a vibrant rainbow. Want a protective pet? Sketch what a friendly dragon would look like. With these ideas, the sky is the limit to what's possible on the page.

• Design the exterior of your dream house
• Now, the interior of your dream home
• Build your own castle
• What's at the end of the rainbow?
• Imagine life underwater
• Picture a home in outer space…
• … and the ship that will take you there…
• … and the creatures you'll meet
• A neighborhood of treehouses
• Superheroes in real life
• Your world in LEGOs
• M.C. Escher-style interior
• Imagine a city in outer space
• Imagine an album cover for a fictitious band (or real band)
• Make up your own flower—for an added challenge, make it a whole bouquet
• Make up a music band and draw their album cover
• Draw a new album cover for an existing musician
• Combine multiple animals into one creature

Cool Drawing Ideas Inspired by Fantasy

Fantasy is all about imagining things. We often think about it in terms of grand worlds like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, but at its core, fantasy is about picturing things that don't exist today.

• Imagine a wolf made of branches
• Combine two subjects that don't go together into one scene
• Draw a new fish tank for a fish
• Draw a still life in the Cubist style
• Everything in the world is topsy-turvey (up is down, down is up)
• Animal dressed like a human
• Give an object a face
• Mashup of two characters in pop culture
• A mad tea party
• A forklift lifting spaghetti and meatballs
• It's raining… (not water)
• Randomly select three words and draw what they mean together
• An animal holding a balloon
• A llama that's about to tap dance
• A mythical creature inspired by a unicorn
• Your favorite fairy-tale character

Patterns and Other Easy Things to Draw

You don't have to draw dragons to exercise your imagination. If you like design, try creating your own patterns or filling a sheet of paper with stylized flowers. These ideas will get you started.

• Cover a sheet of paper with an array of flowers
• Fill a silhouette portrait with geometric designs
• Make your own pattern
• Many mandalas in different shapes and patterns
• Reimagine a famous pattern like paisley
• Illustrate a vivid dream you or someone else has had
• Render your favorite memory
• An unlikely pair of friends
• A drawing of a drawing
• Swap the scale of two subjects
• Illustrate the phrase “it's a small world”
• Illustrate the phrase “your head in the clouds”
• Illustrate part of your favorite song
• Illustrate the title of your favorite book
• Illustrate an idiom in a literal way
• Your favorite video game character
• A cityscape in the lenses of sunglasses

For even more drawing prompts, pick up your copy of 642 Things to Draw!

Learn How to Execute Your Drawing Ideas Step by Step

Photo: rawpixel

While there are seemingly endless cool drawing ideas floating around, some of the most popular subjects tend to be nature-themed or revolve around the human figure. Get acquainted with how to draw them with some of the step-by-step guides below. You never know—learning to draw them might spark even more drawing ideas!

Drawing Animals

Photo: Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

How to draw a cat in two different ways — Whether you want to sketch countless tiny fur hairs or are looking to design the next Garfield, this guide will introduce you to basic cat anatomy and how to draw them in a realistic or stylized way.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Draw a tiger step by step — Ready to draw a big cat? Learn how to draw a tiger in 10 steps.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Learn how to draw a panda — Pandas are some of the most beloved animals on the planet, and it's easy to understand why. This tutorial will teach you how to draw a panda sitting while holding a shoot of bamboo.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Master drawing a cow lying down in a field — No depiction of a bucolic landscape is complete without a content cow, grazing away on some grass. Learn how to draw a cow with these step-by-step instructions.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Sketch a polar bear step by step — In this tutorial, we will go through the steps of sketching a polar bear walking through the arctic under a full moon.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Draw a sleeping arctic fox in nine steps — With their plush coats and charming personalities, it's no wonder foxes are among the most beloved animals on the internet. Now you can learn to draw one!

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Make your own drawing of a sea turtle — Follow this illustrated guide to learn how to draw a sea turtle in pencil and then go over it in ink.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Learn a bat step by step — Bats are often regarded as a symbol of Halloween and all things spooky. Learn how to draw a bat with these step-by-step instructions and illustrations.

Drawing Human Anatomy 

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

A “handy” guide to drawing hands — Drawing human anatomy is tricky, and the hands might be the most challenging body part of all. In this guide, we break down the internal structure of the hand and how you can articulate the bones and muscles under the skin. Follow these steps to bring your drawing to life.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Know your nose with this tutorial — Of all the facial features, the nose is one you might not give a lot of thought to. But don't ignore it—this feature helps define the face. We'll go over the anatomy of the nose and how you can draw it in a realistic way.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Set your sights on realism — Learning how to draw a realistic eye is all about understanding that it’s not just the pupil that makes it appear lifelike. The shape of the eye, the creases in the lid, and the eyelashes are also important in achieving likeness—and we'll go over all of it.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Perfect your portraiture in this tutorial — Portrait drawing has long had an important place in art history and remains a popular subject for contemporary artists. If you too are a creative who wants to carry on this tradition, it’s important that you know how to draw a face.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Learn to draw a skull — It’s a necessary and helpful exercise to learn how to draw a skull—even if you’ve rendered a portrait before. In this tutorial, we’ll look at the proportions of the head as well as an easy step-by-step process to sketching the bones.

Nature-Inspired Subjects

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Embrace the fall spirit and draw a pumpkin — Whether they're orange, green, smooth, or bumpy, pumpkins are synonymous with autumn. We've put together this step-by-step drawing tutorial that will help you draw a pumpkin in just a few steps.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Sketch a sunflower in nine steps — Channel Van Gogh's painting when you follow this step-by-step guide.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Learn how to draw a rose — The rose is an enduring symbol of love. Just as writers have spoken of its beauty, artists draw its delicate petals. But just because the rose is popular doesn't mean it's easy to sketch. Loaded with layers of petals, it can be a challenge. But have no fear—we break a rose drawing down so that it's both approachable and fun.

Interested in other blooms? Here's how to draw a variety of flowers —There are so many types of botanicals in the world that it’s impossible to learn how to draw each one. But once you understand the basic structure of a flower, you can use that knowledge to sketch any botanical you like.

Photo: Rawpixel

If you're itching to sketch all the things, check out the top drawing tutorials on YouTube. These artists will help you learn to draw for free. And if you're looking to empower your creative journey even further, check out our illustration courses on My Modern Met Academy.

Photo: Art: Melissa De Nobrega | My Modern Met Academy

Portrait Drawing for Beginners: Learn How to Draw Anyone You'd Like — Learn to draw facial features, characters, and people. Melissa De Nobrega breaks down one of the most complex subjects into bite-sized lessons where drawing the human face becomes simple and approachable.

Photo: Art: Demi Lang | My Modern Met Academy

Architectural Illustration for Everyone: Draw Buildings in Ink and Colored Pencil — Draw architecture like a pro with this course by Demi Lang. She'll take you step by step through the process of drawing buildings using ink and colored pencil.

Looking for more drawing tips? Subscribe to our Drawing Club newsletter.

This article has been edited and updated.

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READ: 100+ Drawing Ideas That Will Get You Sketching Right Now

 

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The world-renowned Pablo Picasso is one of the most influential artists of all time and a co-founder of the Cubist movement. He was incredibly prolific during his 79-year-long career. Now, thanks to the Musée Picasso Paris and its archivists, a treasure trove of his art, writings, and memorabilia can easily be accessed through a digital archive. The museum has already uploaded almost 60,000 items to the database including 19,000 photos. They also plan to digitize at least another 200,000 documents. Many of these pieces have never been available to the public before, including items that were donated by Picasso's estate directly to the museum.

The archive was launched along with the opening of a new exhibition at the museum. Iconophage or Consuming Images explores the plethora of diverse reference material that influenced Picasso. He even collected plenty of media himself. From African masks to American comic strips, Picasso's expanded reservoir of references that broke away from academic art informed revolutionary modernist art.

As noted in the exhibition's program, “A frequent visitor to the Louvre, Picasso accumulated a lifetime’s worth of photographs, postcards, reproductions, posters, magazines, and illustrated books in addition to the works in his personal collection. This wealth of material, which provided the artist with a rich iconographic repertoire, reflects his new way of thinking about the image, liberated from the domain of art and from historical time.”

Coming later this year, the Picasso Studies Center will also open up at the museum, and the digitization was spurred by the same mission to encourage research by scholars and artists. Whether you're heading to Paris or staying home, you will be able to learn more about Picasso than ever before.

The Musée Picasso Paris' Iconophage runs now until September 15, 2024.

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso has undoubtedly shaped art history.

 

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Now, thanks to the Musée Picasso Paris and its archivists, nearly 60,000 of his works of art and memorabilia are viewable anywhere you have internet access.

 

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There are still plans to upload at least another 200,000 documents.

 

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A post shared by Musée national Picasso-Paris (@museepicassoparis)

Musée Picasso Paris: Website | Instagram
h/t: [Smithsonian Magazine]

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10 Surprising Facts About Pablo Picasso

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Surreal Sculptures Reimagine Neoclassical Art With an Unexpected Modern Twist Full of Humor

Ancient Library in Tibet Creating Digital Archive of Its 84,000 Scriptures

READ: Thousands of Pablo Picasso’s Pieces Are Now Available To View in New Digital Archive

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

Tibet's Sakya Monastery is home to many wonders. Founded in 1073, its collection includes some of the oldest Tibetan artwork, as well as 84,000 ancient manuscripts and books. Given its remote location, the contents of this library may seem out of reach for international scholars. Luckily, in an attempt to preserve these ancient documents, the Sakya Monastery Library began digitizing its assets in 2011 and is well underway in its mission.

Most of the library's collection is made up of Buddhist scriptures. This relates back to the monastery being the most important seat of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism. However, the library also contains pieces of literature, as well as works on history, philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, agriculture, and art. Among its most compelling assets are volumes of palm-leaf manuscripts, which have survived the passage of time thanks to the arid climate of the region, and the heaviest scripture in the world, which weighs 1,100 pounds.

“Following the advice of His Holiness, the 41st Sakya Trizin, the Ven. Khenchen Appey Rinpoche (1927-2010) stressed the importance of collecting, digitizing and publishing important texts to ensure an authentic and complete transmission of the Dharma to future generations,” writes the team. “Recovering and publishing many volumes of important scriptures from the Sakya tradition, Rinpoche has made an immeasurable contribution to the Dharma in general and to the Sakya tradition in particular.”

Given the sheer size of the endeavor, it wasn't until 2022 that all books were indexed. So far, only 20% have been fully digitized and are available in the original Tibetan. Following the mission to preserve these texts for future generations, the works are available under a Creative Commons license for educational and scholarly purposes.

These priceless resources can be browsed on the Sakya Digital Library website.

Tibet's Sakya Monastery Library is home to 84,000 ancient manuscripts and books.

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

In an attempt to preserve these ancient documents, the Sakya Monastery Library began to digitize its assets in 2011, making the work accessible to international scholars.

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

Given the sheer size of the endeavor, it wasn't until 2022 that all books were indexed. So far, only 20% have been fully digitized and are available in the original Tibetan.

(Photo: Richard Mortel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0)

Related Articles:

Explore 870,000 Items in the New York Public Library Online Archives

The World’s Largest Collection of Buddhist Texts Is Now Available Online

Rare Book Collector Reveals Tibetan Book Printed Before the Gutenberg Bible

Beautiful Tibetan Musical Notations Visualize the Rise and Falls of Buddhist Chants

READ: Ancient Library in Tibet Creating Digital Archive of Its 84,000 Scriptures