60 things

Things to Draw That Start With A

One A-word to draw per press, with the shapes that make it.

Show all 60

Apple balanced on top of a stack of booksA round shape, a stalk and a leaf, sitting on book spines.

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All 60 things

Animals 12

Aardvark with big ears and a long snout A curved back, tall ears and a nose like a pig's.
Albatross soaring with stiff straight wings Very long, thin wings held straight out and a hooked beak.
Alligator sunbathing on a log A long bumpy body, a wide snout and eyes on top of the head.
Alpaca with a fluffy topknot A long neck, a woolly body and a pom-pom of hair on top.
Anglerfish with its glowing lantern A big mouth full of pointy teeth and a light on a stalk.
Ant carrying a crumb twice its size Three body parts, six legs and a crumb held up high.
Anteater poking its nose into an anthill A long tube of a nose, a bushy tail and a cone of earth.
Antelope leaping over grass Curved horns, thin legs and a body stretched mid-jump.
Ape swinging from one arm Long arms, a round head and one hand on a branch.
Arctic fox pouncing into deep snow Front paws down, tail up, only the back half showing.
Armadillo rolled into a ball A round shell of bands, with just the tail and head tucked in.
Axolotl smiling in a fish tank A wide head, frilly gills on each side and tiny legs.

Food 12

Acorn squash cut open A ridged green shape with an orange middle and seeds.
Almonds scattered on a plate Teardrop shapes with lines down them.
Alphabet soup spelling your name A bowl, a spoon and letters floating on top.
Animal crackers in a paper box A box with a string handle and little animal shapes.
Apple balanced on top of a stack of books A round shape, a stalk and a leaf, sitting on book spines.
Apple crumble with a scoop of ice cream A dish, a bumpy golden top and a round scoop melting.
Apple juice in a glass with a straw A tall glass, a line for the juice and a bendy straw.
Apple pie slice with a fork beside it A triangle of crust, the apple layer showing and a fork.
Apricot on a branch with two leaves A small round fruit with a crease down one side.
Artichoke standing on its stem Rows of pointed leaves like a pine cone.
Asparagus spears tied with string Long thin stalks with pointed, scaly tips.
Avocado on toast cut into triangles A slice of bread, green fans of avocado and two triangles.

Things 12

Abacus with coloured beads A frame, rows of wires and round beads to slide.
Accordion stretched open Two boxes with a folded zigzag in between.
Acorn cap used as a tiny hat A small cup with criss-cross lines, worn by a mouse or a doll.
Airplane leaving a trail in the sky A long body, two wings, a tail and a dashed line behind.
Alarm clock ringing on a bedside table A circle, two bells on top and wiggly lines for the ring.
Ambulance with its lights flashing A box van, a cross on the side and lights on the roof.
Anchor dropping to the sea floor A long bar, a curved bottom with two points, a chain and bubbles.
Anvil in a blacksmith's workshop A heavy block with a pointed horn at one end.
Apron hanging on a hook A rectangle with a pocket and two long ties.
Armchair with a cushion A wide seat, two arms and a round cushion.
Arrow hitting the middle of a target Rings of a target and one arrow with feathers at the end.
Awning in stripes over a shop window A slanted striped strip with a scalloped edge, the window below.

Places 12

Airport with a plane at the gate A long building, big windows and a plane parked outside.
Alley of cherry trees in blossom Two lines of pink puffs getting smaller down a path.
Amusement park with a big wheel A giant circle of seats on a stand and flags below.
Anthill in the grass A cone of earth with a hole on top and ants in a line.
Apartment block with lit windows A tall box with rows of windows, some yellow.
Apple tree full of fruit A trunk, a round top and red dots all over it.
Aquarium full of fish and weed A glass box, water line, pebbles and wavy plants.
Arch made of stones Stones in a curve, one keystone in the middle at the top.
Archipelago of tiny islands Small blobs of land dotted across the sea, each with a palm.
Attic with a round window A triangle roof shape, boxes and one round window.
Aurora glowing over snowy hills Wavy green bands in the sky over white hills.
Autumn park with a pile of leaves to jump in A heap of leaf shapes, a bench and bare-ish trees.

People 12

Acrobat balancing on a ball A person on one foot on top of a big striped ball.
Actor in a costume with a crown A person on a stage, curtains either side, a paper crown.
Adventurer with a map and a backpack Boots, a hat and a big map held open.
Alien waving from a flying saucer A round craft, a see-through dome and a green friend inside.
Angel with wide wings A long dress, a halo and two big feathered wings.
Archaeologist brushing sand off a bone A kneeling person, a small brush and a bone half out of the ground.
Archer pulling back a bow A curved bow, a string pulled back and an arrow ready.
Artist at an easel A person, a stand with a canvas and a paint palette.
Astronaut planting a flag on the moon A round helmet, a puffy suit and craters round the boots.
Athlete crossing the finish line A runner with arms up and a ribbon across their chest.
Aunt or uncle reading a story Two people on a sofa with an open book.
Author writing at a desk A person, a desk lamp and a stack of books.

How it works

An alligator, an avocado, an anchor, an astronaut: 60 things to draw that start with A, in five groups. Each hint gives the few shapes that make it, so younger artists can start straight away.

Read the full guide

An A page for an alphabet book

Pick one from each group and fill a page: an animal, a food, a thing, a place and a person. Write a big capital A in the middle and draw the five round it, one in each corner and one on top.

Start with the shapes

Each hint names the shapes first. Armadillo rolled into a ball is a circle of bands; Anchor dropping to the sea floor is a bar with a curve at the bottom. Draw those, then add the details.

Say the word out loud as you draw it. It helps the letter stick.
Make it a game: set a timer and draw as many A-things as you can.

Questions and answers

What is an easy animal to draw that starts with A?

Ant carrying a crumb twice its size: three body parts, six legs and a crumb. An alligator sunbathing on a log is a long bumpy body and a wide snout.

What food starts with A?

Apple, avocado, apricot, asparagus, almonds and artichoke are all in the Food group, along with alphabet soup spelling your name.

Is there a list for other letters?

Yes: things to draw that start with E and things that start with P have the same five groups. With no letter rule, try drawing prompts for kids.