Top Art Challenges You Shouldn’t Miss

Looking to reignite your creative spark? Art challenges are revolutionizing how artists worldwide push their boundaries and grasp new techniques.

Issues like creative burnout or a desire for fresh artistic territory can be dealt with easily with these structured exercises.

From quick sketches to month-long projects, these challenges reshape your art practice, stretch your skills, introduce new mediums, and connect you with a vibrant community of creators.

Ready to break through your creative barriers? Let’s explore the top art challenge ideas that will upskill and inspire your next masterpiece.

Why Art Challenges Matter for Artists?

Art challenges offer benefits that extend far beyond simple drawing practice. Joining these creative communities and shows can revolutionize your artistic development.

They eliminate decision fatigue by providing daily prompts, removing the dreaded “what should I draw?” dilemma. This structured approach fosters sustainable drawing habits that persist long after the challenge concludes.

Challenges push you to experiment with new techniques, subjects, and styles you might otherwise avoid.

Additionally, sharing your work using challenge hashtags introduces you to supportive communities where feedback flows freely.

These relationships often develop into lasting friendships and professional networks that improve your artistic career.

Popular Art Challenges to Join and Get Inspired

Here are some popular US television art competitions and online community challenges that offer structured prompts and creative inspiration for artists of all skill levels.

1. Inktober

• Platform: Instagram, Twitter, official website (inktober.com)
• When: Every October
• Details: Created by Jake Parker, features 31 daily ink drawing prompts. Use official prompts or create your own interpretation. Tag your # Inktober posts to join millions of participants.

2. Draw This in Your Style

• Platform: Instagram, Twitter, TikTok
• When: Year-round
• Details: Artists post original artwork with the hashtag, inviting others to redraw it in their unique style. Great for studying different approaches and building community connections.

3. Colour Collective

• Platform: Twitter, Instagram (@Colour_Collective)
• When: Weekly prompts every Monday
• Details: Each week features a specific color palette with historical color names. Artists create artwork using only those colors, making it perfect for practicing color theory.

4. Work of Art: The Next Great Artist

• Platform: Originally aired on Bravo, available on streaming platforms and YouTube clips
• Format: Reality competition show
• What to Expect: Professional artists compete in weekly challenges judged by art world experts. Although the show ended in 2011, the episodes offer insight into the professional challenges and critiques of the art world.

5. Thirty Six Days of Type

• Platform: Instagram, official website (36daysoftype.com)
• When: March-April annually
• Details: Design or illustrate letters A-Z and numbers 0-9 over 36 days. Focuses on typography and lettering skills, allowing for creative freedom in execution.

6. Huevember

• Platform: Instagram, Twitter, DeviantArt
• When: Every November
• Details: Create 30 artworks using different hues for each day. Excellent for understanding color relationships and expanding your palette knowledge.

7. Character Design Challenge

• Platform: Facebook group, Instagram (#CharacterDesignChallenge)
• When: Monthly themes
• Details: Monthly prompts for character creation with specific themes like “Steampunk Animals” or “Fantasy Warriors.” Professional artists often participate, providing inspiration.

8. The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist

• Platform: Originally aired on MTV, clips available on various streaming services
• Format: Reality competition focused on street art and contemporary styles
• What to Expect: Young artists compete in urban art challenges. Although no longer producing new episodes, the existing content still offers inspiration for contemporary art techniques.

9. Sketch Dailies

• Platform: Twitter (@SketchDailies), Instagram
• When: Daily prompts year-round
• Details: Quick sketch prompts posted daily, encouraging fast ideation and regular practice. Prompts range from character types to specific objects or themes.

10. Friday Night Sketching

• Platform: Instagram, various art communities
• When: Weekly Friday prompts
• Details: Casual sketching sessions with relaxed prompts. Focus on fun rather than perfection, perfect for weekend creativity and stress relief.

Tips to Succeed in Art Challenges

Success in art challenges begins with realistic expectations.

• Choose challenges that match your current schedule and skill level. It’s better to complete a weekly challenge consistently than abandon a daily one halfway through.
• Setting up a workspace in advance and organizing materials is another smart step. Digital artists can create template files with proper dimensions and color palettes ready to go.
• Remember that challenges focus on consistent practice and growth, not creating masterpieces. Don’t aim for perfection during these exercises.
• Community connection amplifies your experience. Engage with other participants. Comment genuinely on others’ work to build meaningful artistic relationships that extend beyond the challenge period.
• Document your progress by taking photos or screenshots of your daily work. This visual journal becomes incredibly motivating when you feel stuck, showing clear improvement over time.

Most importantly, have fun and embrace the creative freedom these challenges provide.

Art Learning Resources

Watching professionals is a powerful way to grow and develop. This table highlights top channels, shows, and platforms with concise details on what they offer and who benefits most.

Pair them with challenges for faster artistic growth.

Ready to Excel?

Art challenges offer more than just daily prompts; they create lasting artistic habits that extend far beyond challenge periods.

Through consistent practice, community connection, and experimental freedom, you’ll develop skills that would take months to achieve through traditional study alone.

Every sketch matters, every shared piece builds connections, and every completed challenge strengthens your artistic voice.

Your creative breakthrough is waiting in the next challenge you choose to accept. Whether it’s a simple daily sketch or an ambitious month-long commitment, take that first step today.