To become better at something, you should practice it often. Ideally, everyday. This especially applies to drawing people. Sometimes, though, you just get to the point where you don't know who or what to draw. How do you decide?

Following is a list of 10 suggestions for things to do when you have no clue what you should draw. Read on to get some ideas to get that pencil moving!
<h3>1. Scribble</h3>
One of the simplest yet most effective things to do when trying to decide what to draw is to just start scribbling! Pick up a pencil, apply it to paper, and put it in motion. Do not even concern yourself with what you are making or how it looks. Let your hand have a mind of its own. Just scribble random, abstract lines and shapes. If these take on the familiar look of an inanimate object or living form, then that's okay too.

The important thing is to just get started. This is especially useful if it is your goal to practice drawing everyday. Scribbling will help you avoid procrastination by taking action. It will also help you brainstorm ideas for what you want to draw in better detail later.
<h3>2. Keep It Generic</h3>
Often times, I grab my sketchbook and just begin sketching a face. I have no reference photo and no particular person in mind to draw. I don't even have a vision for how the face will look at the end. The goal is to just draw a face, any generic face. You don't need to be overly concerned with having a perfect drawing. Just begin sketching rough guidelines and random facial features, letting the flow of the drawing take you where it wants to go until you have a completed face.
<h3>3. Timed Gesture Sketch</h3>
Like the two suggestions above, this can be a great warm-up activity. Use your reflection in a mirror, another willing participant who'll pose for you, or an image as your subject. Set a timer and challenge yourself to sketch as much as you can in only two minutes. You can try longer if you want, but I suggest no more than 5 minutes. For face sketches, try to capture a variety of moods and expressions. For figure sketches, worry less about details and more about the gestures and poses.
<h3>4. Draw from Real Life</h3>
Take your sketchbook to some public places for some real-life inspiration. Sit on a park bench and sketch people walking their dogs or tossing a ball. Get on a bus and sketch some of the random passengers. You can even sketch shoppers in a mall. The possibilities are endless. If you are uncomfortable about sketching people in public, go for a generic, inspired representation rather than a unique likeness. The level of detail is up to you. One word of caution: avoid "staring" directly at any one particular person for so long that you make that person uncomfortable!

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Look at Magazines

I sometimes keep a stack of old magazines and tabloids nearby to sketch random faces inside.

Build Upon What You Already Do Well

Try Something New

Friends, Family, Loved Ones

Walk Away

Random Topics

reading

Create a Story

Closing

writer's block

inspiration