Hey Pandas, Draw Anything You What

If you’ve ever stared at a blank page like it personally offended you, welcome. This is your official permission slip to
stop overthinking and start drawingmessy, goofy, oddly specific, and proudly imperfect. “Hey Pandas” prompts on Bored Panda
have a special magic: they’re casual, community-driven, and built for participation. And the wonderfully chaotic vibe of
“Draw Anything You What” (yes, the grammar is doing jazz hands) is exactly the pointcreative freedom with zero pressure.

In this guide, we’ll break down why open-ended drawing prompts work, how to jump in even if you “can’t draw,” what tools
actually help (without doing the drawing for you), and a buffet of prompt ideas that’ll keep your sketchbook fed for weeks.
Expect practical tips, specific examples, and a few gentle jokesbecause art is serious, but you don’t have to be.

What “Hey Pandas” Means (and Why This Prompt Hits Different)

“Hey Pandas” is basically the internet’s friendliest group chatone where people answer questions, share photos, and, yes,
post drawings. Many “Hey Pandas” drawing threads set clear expectations: make it your own work, be kind in comments, and
skip anything that “helps you draw” instead of letting you draw (translation: tools are fine; shortcuts that replace your
effort aren’t the vibe). That structure matters because it keeps the space welcoming and fair.

“Draw Anything You What” works because it’s the opposite of a test. There’s no single correct outcome. It’s a playground
prompt: draw a toaster with feelings, a dragon doing taxes, your cat as a medieval knight, or a self-portrait that looks
like a potato (emotional accuracy counts). The community element makes it even betterpeople don’t just post art; they
trade ideas, encourage beginners, and celebrate the glow-up from “my first attempt” to “wait, I did that?”

Why “Draw Anything” Prompts Spark Creativity

1) Choice creates momentum (when you make it small)

Total freedom can feel like standing in front of a restaurant menu the size of a novel. The trick is to choose a tiny lane:
one subject, one time limit, one tool. Art educators often teach quick approacheslike scribbling or gesture drawingto
capture overall shapes before details, which makes starting easier than “draw perfectly from the first line.”

2) Humor lowers the stakes

Some of the most memorable “draw anything” results are funny because they’re honest. When people are told “anything goes,”
they’ll draw what they’re curious about, what they’re obsessed with, or what makes them laugh. That playfulness is a legit
creative strategy, not a distraction. (Yes, your “sad banana in therapy” comic counts as personal growth.)

3) Creativity can be a stress-reliever

Making art is often used as a way to relax, build coping skills, and feel a sense of controlespecially when life feels
loud. You don’t need to be “good” at it to benefit. The process (focusing, making choices, noticing details) is the point.
When you show up for 10 minutes, you’re practicing a habit that can support well-being, not auditioning for a museum wall.

How to Join the Fun Without Being “That Person”

Keep it human-made

Many community drawing threads explicitly discourage AI-generated images or tools that “do the drawing” for you. A good rule:
if the tool replaces your hand and decisions, it’s probably not in the spirit of the challenge. If the tool helps you
express your hand and decisions (like pencils, brushes, layers, undo, or a stabilizer), you’re good.

Be kind in comments

The best “Hey Pandas” art prompts feel safe for beginners because feedback stays supportive. If you critique, make it
specific and useful: “Your shading already shows the formmaybe push the darkest darks under the chin” beats “This is bad.”
Even better: ask what the artist wantedcute? creepy? funny? realistic? Then respond to that goal.

Credit references when it matters

Used a photo reference? Mention it. Did a fan-art sketch? Say so. Remade a pose from a tutorial? Credit it. Art communities
thrive when people feel respected.

Pick Your Medium: The Best Tools for “Draw Anything You Want”

Classic pencil (the “can’t go wrong” option)

Pencil is forgiving, portable, and perfect for quick studies. Start with light pressure, block in big shapes, then refine.
A simple exercise: keep your pencil on the page and “scribble” the overall shape before you try details. It sounds silly,
but it’s a real technique artists use to find forms fast.

Ink (bold lines, zero hesitation… or maximum panic)

Ink is great for committing to decisions. You can still sketch lightly in pencil first, then ink over it. If you want a
built-in habit challenge, daily ink prompts (like the style of Inktober) are popular because they encourage consistency and
skill-building over perfection.

Markers and colored pencils (color without chaos)

If you’re new to color, limit your palette: pick 3–5 colors and stick with them. It instantly makes your work look more
“intentional,” even if your subject is a frog wearing sneakers.

Digital drawing (yes, it counts)

Digital tools are fantastic for beginners because you can experiment without wasting paper. Common helpful features include
layers, undo, and symmetry tools (useful for decorative designs). Learning platforms from major creative software companies
often recommend building observation skills firstlooking carefully, then translating what you see into simple shapeswhether
you draw on paper or a screen.

A Starter Framework: How to Draw Literally Anything (Without Freaking Out)

Step 1: Choose one “anchor”

Your anchor is the main idea: “a bicycle,” “my lunch,” “a made-up creature,” or “a memory.” One anchor. Not eight.

Step 2: Set a timer

Try 5 minutes (doodle), 15 minutes (sketch), or 30 minutes (study). Timers make it a game, not a life sentence.

Step 3: Block big shapes first

Use circles, boxes, and simple lines. If you’re drawing a mug, it’s basically a cylinder with a handle. If you’re drawing a
dog, it’s basically a fluffy loaf with ambitions.

Step 4: Add details last

Details are dessert. You earn dessert by eating your vegetables (the big shapes) first.

Prompt Buffet: 45 Ideas for “Hey Pandas, Draw Anything You What”

Quick doodles (5 minutes)

• A slice of pizza with a dramatic backstory
• Your mood as a weather forecast
• A sock puppet running for mayor
• A cartoon of your morning routine (with honest facial expressions)
• A “before and after” of your desk (real or imagined)
• A spaceship designed by squirrels
• A houseplant as a superhero
• A tiny monster hiding in a teacup

Everyday object studies (10–20 minutes)

• Your keys (bonus: draw the scratches and shine)
• A spoon reflecting light
• Your favorite mug from two angles
• Sneakers with worn-in creases
• A crumpled snack wrapper (surprisingly fun to shade)
• A stack of books with different textures
• A fruit still life (apple + banana + something round)
• A chair (simple shape, big perspective practice)

Characters and creatures (15–45 minutes)

• A cat that works as a librarian
• A dragon that’s afraid of candles
• Your pet as a fantasy hero (or villain)
• A robot designed for making pancakes
• A fish with legs (please give it shoes)
• A self-portrait as an astronaut
• A “three-headed” animal where each head has a different personality
• Your favorite character in a new outfit you invent

Memory + storytelling prompts

• A place you used to love (from memory)
• Your “comfort meal” as a cozy illustration
• A scene from a dream (even if it makes no sense)
• A map of an imaginary town
• A childhood object you remember clearly
• The best day you can rememberone snapshot
• A comic of a tiny misunderstanding that became hilarious

Style experiments (great for skill growth)

• Draw the same subject in 3 styles: realistic, cartoon, minimalist
• One-line drawing (don’t lift your pen)
• Blind contour (look at the object, not your page)
• Only use triangles (yes, even for faces)
• Two-tone drawing (black + one color)
• Shadow-only drawing (no outlinesjust shapes of light/dark)
• “Bad on purpose” doodle (then redo it thoughtfully)

Community-friendly “comment bait” prompts (in a good way)

• Draw a snack and ask: “What should I name this character?”
• Draw a creature and ask others to add powers in the comments
• Post a “choose my next prompt” poll with 3 options
• Draw an object from your day and ask: “What did you draw today?”
• Share two versions and ask: “Which feels more alive?”

Mini-Challenges That Keep People Posting (Without Burnout)

The 7-day “Anything Goes” sprint

• Day 1: Something you can hold
• Day 2: Something that moves
• Day 3: Something that glows
• Day 4: Something from your childhood
• Day 5: Something imaginary
• Day 6: Something delicious
• Day 7: Your choiceredo your favorite from the week

The Inktober-inspired habit builder

Daily drawing challenges are popular because they build consistency. Official prompt lists can be used as inspiration, but
you don’t have to follow them exactlyprompts are there to spark ideas, not boss you around. If a prompt doesn’t fit your
life that day, swap it. “Draw anything you want” is still a prompt.

Posting Tips: Make Your Drawing Look Better Online (Without Cheating)

Lighting beats filters

If you’re photographing traditional art, use bright, indirect light. Avoid harsh shadows. A clean overhead photo can do more
for your drawing than ten “vintage” filters.

Write a caption that invites replies

• Share your prompt: “I tried the ‘sad banana’ concept. Should it have a therapist?”
• Share your struggle: “Hands are hard. Any tips for finger shapes?”
• Share your win: “First time shading a metal spoonkind of proud!”

Progress posts are community gold

Consider posting a “before and after” a month apart. A lot of Hey Pandas threads love seeing improvement because it reminds
everyone that skill is built, not magically granted at birth by the Art Gods.

Common Roadblocks (and Quick Fixes That Actually Work)

“I don’t know what to draw.”

Use the “nearest object rule”: draw the closest thing to your hand. If it’s a water bottle, congratulationsyou’re now
studying cylinders and reflections like a fancy art student.

“My drawing looks childish.”

Childish isn’t a crime. But if you want it to look more structured, focus on proportion and simple shading. Use light and
heavy pressure to build tone. Add one cast shadow beneath the object. Tiny changes create big upgrades.

“I ruin it when I add details.”

Try this: stop earlier on purpose. Post the sketch. Let the community respond. Then do a second version where you add
details only where they help the form (edges, highlights, shadows). You’ll learn faster than you think.

of Real-World “Hey Pandas” Drawing Experiences

One of the funniest things about a “draw anything you want” prompt is how quickly it reveals personality. In community art
threads, you’ll often see three categories emerge within minutes: the comedians, the storytellers, and the quietly
impressive “wait, you just did that casually?” artists. The comedians post doodles that look like they were drawn during a
phone calland that’s the charm. A grumpy teapot with eyebrows. A potato wearing sunglasses, labeled “me at 8 a.m.” A tiny
comic strip where a stick figure fights the existential dread of doing laundry. These posts get a ton of love because they
remind everyone that art can be playful, not precious.

The storytellers tend to use the prompt as a doorway into memory. They draw a childhood bedroom, a grandparent’s kitchen, a
familiar street corner, or the view from a bus ride that used to feel like freedom. Even when the lines are rough, the
feeling is clearand commenters often respond with “This made me remember…” stories of their own. That’s the underrated
magic of open prompts: you’re not just sharing an image, you’re sharing a small piece of life, and other people recognize
themselves in it.

Then there are the skill-buildersthe folks who use the prompt like a personal gym session. They’ll post a page of gesture
sketches, a shaded mug study, or the same face drawn three different ways. Sometimes they’ll include a note like, “I’m
practicing light and shadow,” or “Hands are my enemy, so I drew five today.” Those posts can spark super helpful mini-lessons
in the comments: someone suggests a reference trick, another person recommends breaking shapes into boxes, and suddenly the
thread turns into a friendly workshop.

Beginners often have the most satisfying arcs. You’ll see someone apologize“I’m not good, but here’s my try”and within a
few replies, people are cheering them on, pointing out what already works (“Your proportions are better than you think!”),
and encouraging them to post again. The next time they show up, their lines are a bit more confident. The shading is a bit
cleaner. The idea is a bit bolder. And that’s the real “experience” of these prompts: permission to be a work-in-progress in
public, without getting dunked on.

Over time, participants start developing recognizable “thread identities.” There’s the person who always draws animals with
dramatic eyelashes. The one who turns every prompt into a sci-fi scene. The one who can’t stop drawing food with tiny faces.
The one who posts calm, minimalist sketches that look like they belong in a designer notebook. The prompt is the same, but
the outcomes are wildly differentand that variety keeps people coming back. “Draw anything you want” is less about proving
talent and more about practicing presence: noticing the world, translating it into marks, and sharing the result with people
who get it.

Conclusion: Your Page Is Waiting (It’s Not Judging You, Promise)

“Hey Pandas, Draw Anything You What” is the kind of prompt that works for everyone because it meets you where you are. If
you want a low-stakes laugh, doodle something weird. If you want to learn, pick one object and study it. If you want a
creative reset, draw from memory. The only real rule is to show up honestlyand let the community do what it does best:
encourage, inspire, and occasionally scream-laugh at a perfectly drawn frog in a business suit.

So grab a pencil, a pen, or a tablet. Set a timer. Pick one idea. And post your drawing like you mean it. Because the best
part of “draw anything you want” is realizing you actually can.