July Art Challenge

Two sets of 31 prompts, one for each day of July: heatwave, or away from home.

July Art Challenge

  1. A cat stretched as long as it will go on cool tilesDay 1. Every leg out straight, belly flat on the floor, eyes shut.
  2. A chocolate bar left on a car dashboardDay 2. Draw the wrapper sagging, the shape gone soft.
  3. A dog lying in the only shadow in the yardDay 3. The shadow of a post, the dog shaped to fit exactly inside it.
  4. A fan blowing a stack of papers off a deskDay 4. Pages mid-air, the fan head turned, someone lunging.
  5. A garden hose left in the sun, too hot to holdDay 5. Draw the hose coiled on paving, a heat shimmer above it.
  6. A heat haze over a long straight roadDay 6. The far end wobbling, a car floating in the shimmer.
  7. A melting ice cream losing a race to a tongueDay 7. Drips down the cone, a tongue catching one just in time.
  8. A paddling pool with a dog in it and no childDay 8. The dog sitting in the water, the child outside looking annoyed.
  9. A park bench too hot to sit onDay 9. Someone perched on a folded newspaper, face pained.
  10. A rain shower on a hot pavement, steamingDay 10. The first drops making dark spots, steam rising off the stones.
  11. A ruby-red slice of watermelonDay 11. The ruby is July's birthstone. Draw a slice with its colour and a scatter of black seeds.
  12. A shadow puppet on a sunny wallDay 12. Two hands making a rabbit, the shadow crisp on white paint.
  13. A sprinkler with children jumping through itDay 13. Draw the arc of water and three figures at different heights.
  14. A tortoise in a strawberry patchDay 14. Slow and pleased, one berry half eaten.
  15. A water lily open on a still pondDay 15. The water lily is one of July's birth flowers. Round pads, one white flower, a dragonfly.
  16. A window with a wet towel hung in it to keep the room coolDay 16. Light coming through the damp towel, a figure lying on a bed.
  17. Ants carrying away a dropped ice lolly stickDay 17. The stick huge, a line of ants lifting it like a log.
  18. Bees drinking at the edge of a bird bathDay 18. Small bodies lined along the rim, wings folded, heads down.
  19. Cows standing in a river to cool offDay 19. Legs in the water, tails swishing, reflections broken by ripples.
  20. Dry grass with one green patch under a leaking tapDay 20. A brown lawn and a bright circle where the drip lands.
  21. Feet in a bucket of cold waterDay 21. Draw only the bucket, the feet and a relieved expression above.
  22. Ice cubes melting in a glass, drawn as they shrinkDay 22. Three glasses in a row, the cubes getting smaller in each.
  23. The inside of a car that has been in the sunDay 23. Seat belts too hot to touch, a map curling, a toy melting.
  24. Larkspur taller than the fenceDay 24. Larkspur is one of July's birth flowers. Tall spikes of flowers poking over the top.
  25. The last shady table at a caféDay 25. Every table in sun but one, and two people racing for it.
  26. Lizards on a warm wallDay 26. Three small lizards flattened on stone, each facing a different way.
  27. Sunflowers all turned the same way except oneDay 27. A row of big faces and one looking the other way.
  28. Sunglasses on a dogDay 28. Draw the dog calm, the glasses slightly too big and slipping.
  29. Thunderclouds building on a hot afternoonDay 29. Tall towers of cloud over a bright field. Draw them bigger than the land.
  30. Tomatoes splitting on the plant in the heatDay 30. Red fruit with small cracks, the plant drooping in the sun.
  31. Your coolest spot in the house on the hottest dayDay 31. Find where you go to escape the heat and draw it.

Next step More summer subjects to draw

All 62 prompts

Set 1: heatwave 31

  • A cat stretched as long as it will go on cool tiles Day 1. Every leg out straight, belly flat on the floor, eyes shut.
  • A chocolate bar left on a car dashboard Day 2. Draw the wrapper sagging, the shape gone soft.
  • A dog lying in the only shadow in the yard Day 3. The shadow of a post, the dog shaped to fit exactly inside it.
  • A fan blowing a stack of papers off a desk Day 4. Pages mid-air, the fan head turned, someone lunging.
  • A garden hose left in the sun, too hot to hold Day 5. Draw the hose coiled on paving, a heat shimmer above it.
  • A heat haze over a long straight road Day 6. The far end wobbling, a car floating in the shimmer.
  • A melting ice cream losing a race to a tongue Day 7. Drips down the cone, a tongue catching one just in time.
  • A paddling pool with a dog in it and no child Day 8. The dog sitting in the water, the child outside looking annoyed.
  • A park bench too hot to sit on Day 9. Someone perched on a folded newspaper, face pained.
Show all 62 prompts (53 more)

Set 1: heatwave, continued

  • A rain shower on a hot pavement, steaming Day 10. The first drops making dark spots, steam rising off the stones.
  • A ruby-red slice of watermelon Day 11. The ruby is July's birthstone. Draw a slice with its colour and a scatter of black seeds.
  • A shadow puppet on a sunny wall Day 12. Two hands making a rabbit, the shadow crisp on white paint.
  • A sprinkler with children jumping through it Day 13. Draw the arc of water and three figures at different heights.
  • A tortoise in a strawberry patch Day 14. Slow and pleased, one berry half eaten.
  • A water lily open on a still pond Day 15. The water lily is one of July's birth flowers. Round pads, one white flower, a dragonfly.
  • A window with a wet towel hung in it to keep the room cool Day 16. Light coming through the damp towel, a figure lying on a bed.
  • Ants carrying away a dropped ice lolly stick Day 17. The stick huge, a line of ants lifting it like a log.
  • Bees drinking at the edge of a bird bath Day 18. Small bodies lined along the rim, wings folded, heads down.
  • Cows standing in a river to cool off Day 19. Legs in the water, tails swishing, reflections broken by ripples.
  • Dry grass with one green patch under a leaking tap Day 20. A brown lawn and a bright circle where the drip lands.
  • Feet in a bucket of cold water Day 21. Draw only the bucket, the feet and a relieved expression above.
  • Ice cubes melting in a glass, drawn as they shrink Day 22. Three glasses in a row, the cubes getting smaller in each.
  • The inside of a car that has been in the sun Day 23. Seat belts too hot to touch, a map curling, a toy melting.
  • Larkspur taller than the fence Day 24. Larkspur is one of July's birth flowers. Tall spikes of flowers poking over the top.
  • The last shady table at a café Day 25. Every table in sun but one, and two people racing for it.
  • Lizards on a warm wall Day 26. Three small lizards flattened on stone, each facing a different way.
  • Sunflowers all turned the same way except one Day 27. A row of big faces and one looking the other way.
  • Sunglasses on a dog Day 28. Draw the dog calm, the glasses slightly too big and slipping.
  • Thunderclouds building on a hot afternoon Day 29. Tall towers of cloud over a bright field. Draw them bigger than the land.
  • Tomatoes splitting on the plant in the heat Day 30. Red fruit with small cracks, the plant drooping in the sun.
  • Your coolest spot in the house on the hottest day Day 31. Find where you go to escape the heat and draw it.

Set 2: away from home 31

  • A campsite at breakfast time Day 1. Steam from a pan, tents with doors open, a sleepy face.
  • A car boot that will not close Day 2. Bags pressing on the lid, someone sitting on it to shut it.
  • A caravan on a cliff at sunset Day 3. Small and white, a deckchair beside it, the sea below.
  • A deckchair with a newspaper over someone's face Day 4. Only the feet and the paper show. Someone is asleep.
  • A ferry leaving a harbour, gulls following Day 5. The wake spreading out behind, birds swooping over it.
  • A guidebook with a coffee ring on the map Day 6. Draw the open page close, the ring right over the town.
  • A hotel pool at seven in the morning Day 7. Loungers lined up, one towel already claiming a spot.
  • A lighthouse from the window of a train Day 8. A white tower far away, the train window frame round it.
  • A lost sunhat on a railing Day 9. Someone has hung it up for its owner. The sea behind.
  • A market stall of fruit you have never seen Day 10. Draw the shapes carefully and invent their colours.
  • A packed suitcase that will not zip Day 11. Clothes bulging out, someone kneeling on it.
  • A picnic on the grass by a motorway Day 12. Traffic blurring behind, the family eating calmly.
  • A postcard being written on a café table Day 13. Draw the hand, the pen and a little of the postcard's picture.
  • A rock pool with a crab hiding in it Day 14. Seaweed and pebbles, two claws showing from a crack.
  • A roof rack piled with bikes Day 15. Wheels and handlebars everywhere, a strap holding it all.
  • A row of beach huts, each painted differently Day 16. Draw them flat on, each door a different colour.
  • A sandy towel shaken in the wind Day 17. Grains flying, a person squinting, the towel billowing.
  • A tent pitched badly in the rain Day 18. Sagging roof, a puddle on top, a face peering out.
  • A train station clock just after the train left Day 19. The clock showing one minute past, a figure on the empty platform.
  • A view from a plane window over clouds Day 20. The wing, a white sea below and the sun catching the edge.
  • An airport departures board with every flight delayed Day 21. Rows of times and one word repeated all the way down.
  • An ice cream van parked by a lake Day 22. A queue on the grass, ducks watching from the water.
  • Bicycles leaning outside a country pub Day 23. Five bikes against a wall, helmets hung on handlebars.
  • The first view of the sea on a long drive Day 24. A gap in the hills and a strip of blue. Faces pressed to the window.
  • Flip-flop tan lines on a pair of feet Day 25. Draw bare feet with a pale Y shape across each one.
  • Julius Caesar on a summer holiday Day 26. July is named after Julius Caesar. Draw him in a laurel wreath with a bucket and spade.
  • Rain on a holiday cottage window Day 27. Board games on the table inside, grey hills outside.
  • Shells collected in a bucket, sorted by size Day 28. Draw the bucket and a line of shells on the sand beside it.
  • Suncream handprints on someone's back Day 29. White handprints on a sunburnt back. Draw the shapes clearly.
  • Walking boots drying outside a tent Day 30. Laces loose, mud on the soles, socks stuffed inside.
  • Your favourite place you have ever been, from memory Day 31. Do not look it up. Draw what you remember, even if it is wrong.

How this list was compiled: Original prompts written for Draw This Next on 2026-09-23: two sets of 31, one prompt for each day of July. Every prompt and hint is our own work. Day numbers follow A to Z order inside each set, so the full list reads day 1 to day 31. The few facts in the hints (July has 31 days; the Roman Senate named it after Julius Caesar and was earlier called Quintilis, the fifth month; its birthstone is the ruby and the larkspur and the water lily are its birth flowers) were checked on 2026-09-23 against Wikipedia: July (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July). No prompt is taken from any published July challenge list. Licence: own work

How it works

July has 31 days, and each set here holds 31 prompts, one per date. Set 1 is the heatwave at home: melting, shade and sprinklers. Set 2 is away from home: suitcases, campsites and train windows.

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A July drawing challenge that travels

Set 2 is written for a month away: every prompt is something you might pass on a trip, and the rest can be drawn from memory. Set 1 stays home. Each hint opens with its day number, and the list runs day 1 to day 31 in A to Z order that carries no meaning. Day 31 always starts with Your.

Drawing heat

Heat is drawn by what it does: things sag, drip, shimmer and hide in shade. Set 1 is full of that. Keep shadows hard-edged and dark, and leave plenty of bare white paper for glare.

  • On a trip, draw on the back of postcards and send them. The challenge ends up in other people's kitchens.
  • South of the equator July is winter, so Set 2 fits better than Set 1.

Questions and answers

Can I use the prompts without the whole month?

Yes. Draw any row on its own, in any order; the menu changes set. The summer list holds plain summer subjects with no twist.

Why is July called July?

The Roman Senate named it after Julius Caesar, who was born in that month. Before that it was Quintilis, the fifth month of the old Roman year. One prompt in Set 2 sends him on holiday.

Is this an official challenge?

No. The 62 prompts are our own and belong to no organised challenge, so any material works.

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