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September Artist Prompts

September Artist Prompts graphic has text on an envelope pattern background

It's beyond time for my September Artist Prompts! Many of these state they're for drawing or sketching, but I like to use them for my artist trading cards. They also work great for writers, photographers, musicians…

September Artist Prompts

Scroll down for 11 daily challenge lists plus the monthly are you book enough and MoZiPro challenges.

If you have a list you would like to have included in future months, just let me know.


MoZiPro – Monthly Zine Challenge

Graphic for the Monthly Zine Project (MoZiPro) Semptember prompt which is Animals. The graphic is a historical illustration of Circe turning men into animals with the text "animals".

September's prompt is 🐵 Animals

How that Monthly Zine Project Works

  1. Interpret the prompt however you want
  2. Make a zine connected to your interpretation in that month
  3. The zine can take any form you want! Written, photos, collage, drawings, whatever & however: anything goes. Just have fun!
  4. No deadline, feel free to post your zine on the Facebook group and/or on Instagram – with the #mozipro tag when you're done (whenever in the month that may be!)
  5. If a certain month's theme isn't resonating with you, just skip it.

Seriously! If you tend to be over-ambitious about your zines, art, writing & creative work in general ... please be kind to yourself!


Are You Book Enough

Are you book enough 2024 themes has white type on a purple background.

September's challenge is Surrealism.

Here's how it works

  1. Repost the monthly theme on your Instagram account to let us know you are joining in.

  2. Plan out your artists' book using the theme for the month as your guide.

  3. Join our conversations about the books in the community forums.

  4. Share your process of the book if possible on Instagram using the hashtag #AreYouBookEnough

  5. Take great photos of your finished book and post it with the tag for that month's theme as well as the hashtag #AreYouBookEnough

  6. Pick out your favorite 9 from the finished books for the month and make a grid of them on your Instagram to share with the community. Use the hashtag #AreYouBookEnough


September Sketchbook Art Challenge from Tinkerlab

September art challenge prompts from TinkerSketch. List is in text below image.

  1. Wind
  2. Party
  3. Cartoon
  4. Wobbly
  5. Fire
  6. Rest
  7. Candy
  8. Whisper
  9. Bounce
  10. Mirage
  11. Rush
  12. Dirt
  13. Ornate
  14. Sprinkle
  15. Cream
  16. Morning
  17. Tumble
  18. Forest
  19. Soft
  20. Split
  21. Vine
  22. Horizontal
  23. Complicated
  24. Flight
  25. Harmonious
  26. Lace
  27. Atmosphere
  28. Mountains
  29. Coil
  30. Continuous

Natural Beach Living September Drawing Challenge

September Drawing Challenge from Natural Beach Living. All prompts are in text under the image.

  1. Leaves
  2. Birthday cake
  3. Ice cream
  4. Newspaper
  5. Cheese pizza
  6. Book
  7. Bubbles
  8. Orange
  9. Teddy bear
  10. Apple tree
  11. American flag
  12. Smile
  13. Hershey's kiss
  14. Uncle Sam
  15. Music notes
  16. Truck
  17. Cherry blossoms
  18. Timer
  19. Post office
  20. Kiwi
  21. Shovel
  22. Eyes
  23. City life
  24. Green beans
  25. Wings
  26. Scarecrow
  27. Country life
  28. Dinner
  29. Castle
  30. Colored pencils

Cute Little Paper's September Doodle Challenge

September doodle challenge from Cute Little Paper. All text is transcribed below this image.

  1. Number 9
  2. Letter S
  3. Apple
  4. School bus
  5. School building
  6. Lunchbox
  7. Timetable
  8. School bag
  9. Blackboard
  10. Chalks
  11. Sponge
  12. Desk & chair
  13. Pencil & eraser
  14. Pens & markers
  15. Stickers
  16. Notebook
  17. Books
  18. Geography class
  19. Biology class
  20. History class
  21. Language class
  22. Math class
  23. Science class
  24. Physical education
  25. Art class
  26. Music class
  27. Clock
  28. Exam
  29. Grades
  30. School bell

Scriptember – September Daily Hand Lettering Challenge from Kick in the Creatives

Scriptember graphic from Kick in the Creatives. Text is in body below image

For this September daily lettering challenge we invite you to use lettering or calligraphy to write and create an inspirational quote every day. You can write out an existing quote or create your own.

Tips to make the lettering challenge more manageable

  • You could prepare the quotes you are going to write in advance of the challenge

Hand lettering ideas

  • You could lay out your quote over unusual backgrounds, such as collage or handmade paper
  • You could add an image or drawing alongside your lettering
  • You could experiment with different tools to create your lettering. As well as dip pens and brush pens you could try lettering with twigs and ink or other home made tools.

Sketchathon September – Daily Sketch Challenge from Kick in the Creatives

General Art Prompts for September from Kick in the Creatives. All text is transcribed below this image.

  1. Still
  2. City lights
  3. Problem
  4. Antique
  5. Home
  6. Make believe
  7. Timeless
  8. Indulgence
  9. Pathway
  10. Neighbors
  11. Astrology
  12. While you are waiting
  13. Healthy
  14. Flexible
  15. Pick and mix
  16. Flight
  17. Opposites
  18. Tourist
  19. In the queue
  20. Mechanics
  21. Hypnotic
  22. Unpredictable
  23. Skyline
  24. Building
  25. Harbor
  26. Heated
  27. Fruit
  28. Blessing
  29. Power cut
  30. Therapeutic

Doodlewash 30 things to draw and/or paint in September

30 things to draw and paint in September. All text is transcribed under the image.

  1. Light bulb
  2. Bottle
  3. Circus
  4. Barn
  5. Dog
  6. Shoes
  7. Trees
  8. Gourds
  9. Chocolate
  10. Goldfish
  11. Sky
  12. Tea
  13. Drink
  14. Half moon
  15. Bridge
  16. Pyramid
  17. Mouse
  18. Yo-yo
  19. Historic
  20. Pelican
  21. Spoon
  22. Grapes
  23. Boater
  24. Candle
  25. Hot air balloon
  26. Milkshake
  27. Origami
  28. Boots
  29. Poppy
  30. Bubbles

September Doodle Challenge by The Petite Planner

September Doodle Challenge from The Petite Planner. Text is transcribed under this image.

  1. September
  2. Falling leaves
  3. Pumpkin patch
  4. Sweater weather
  5. Acorns & pine cones
  6. Autumn landscape
  7. Corn maze
  8. Apple cider
  9. Crisp morning
  10. Around the campfire
  11. Falling apples
  12. Squirrel gathering nuts
  13. Golden field
  14. Autumn birds
  15. Mushroom hunt
  16. Crisp leaves crunching
  17. Fall fashion
  18. Pine tree forest
  19. Harvest basket
  20. Autumn picnic
  21. Hayride
  22. Vintage truck
  23. Winding path
  24. Rustic barn
  25. Leaf pile jumping
  26. Cozy fireplace
  27. Harvest vegetables
  28. Autumn sunset
  29. Scarecrow
  30. Woodland animals

September's Theme: Career Fair from Making Art Everyday

Not sure what's up with their numbering. There ARE 30 prompts and I have just numbered them in order.

September's Theme: Career Fair from Making Art Everyday. All text is transcribed under the image.

  1. Self-portrait of you in your dream career
  2. Paintbrush
  3. Apple pencil/iPad
  4. Markers
  5. Paints/palette
  6. Ink bottle/dip pen
  7. Scissors/glue
  8. Pens/pencils
  9. Young hero
  10. Animal character
  11. Treasure map
  12. Robot
  13. Space exploration
  14. Friendly giant
  15. Fantastical vehicle
  16. Delicate florals
  17. Western revival
  18. Sardine can
  19. Bows/ribbons
  20. Y2K
  21. Botanical science
  22. Retro/psychedelic
  23. Repeat pattern
  24. Greeting card
  25. Mug design
  26. Calendar art
  27. Wrapping paper
  28. Sticker sheet
  29. Wall art
  30. Pins & patches

Sketchbook Skool September Drawing a Day

Sketchbook Skool September prompt list. All text is transcribed below image.

  1. Island
  2. Boat
  3. Wave
  4. Trickle
  5. Spring
  6. Ocean
  7. Coastline
  8. Kayak
  9. Canoe
  10. Fish
  11. Jellyfish
  12. Hot tub
  13. Water nymph
  14. Mermaid
  15. Sea serpent
  16. Froth
  17. Life jacket
  18. Beach
  19. Shark
  20. Dolphin
  21. Atlantis
  22. Typhoon
  23. Sunfish
  24. Coral
  25. Splash
  26. Submarine
  27. Kelp
  28. Seal
  29. Sea otter
  30. Duck

Doodle a Day: September by Studio Ann

Doodle a Day: September from Studio Ann. All text is transcribed below the image.

  1. Mouse
  2. Pineapple
  3. Your name
  4. Lightening
  5. Curls
  6. Pirate
  7. Vehicle
  8. Favorite food
  9. Butterfly
  10. Symmetry
  11. Branch
  12. Building
  13. 7
  14. Giraffe
  15. Ribbons
  16. Planet
  17. Unicorn
  18. Heart
  19. Avatar
  20. Landscape
  21. Cupcake
  22. Dragon
  23. Hobby
  24. Lizard
  25. Cactus
  26. Outfit
  27. Happy
  28. Train
  29. Cookies
  30. Bottle

September Journaling Prompts from Cute Little Paper

September Journaling prompts from Cute Little Paper. Transcription is in the body under this image.

  1. Write about the memory of my first school day.
  2. What do I like about school (or what did I like)?
  3. What I don’t like about school (or didn’t like)?
  4. What feels easier to me – natural or social sciences? What might be the reasons for this?
  5. How valuable school is/was to me?
  6. What I’m expecting to get out of my education and why is that important to me?
  7. Knowing what I know now, education vise, would I change anything?
  8. Write about my favorite school subject.
  9. What are the topics that interest me the most?
  10. Where else can I learn (find resources) about the topics of my interest?
  11. Who is/was my favorite teacher and why?
  12. If I could create and be in charge of my own school, what would that school look like?
  13. How important college is to me? Explain why.
  14. Write about the memory of the best school event that happened to me.
  15. What was my most embarrassing moment at school?
  16. Write down a few fun moments and/or anecdotes that happened to me at school.
  17. My favorite quote about school.
  18. What (academic) skills do I need to sharpen or improve?
  19. Name 5 ways how I can improve them.
  20. Explore and write down methods that can help me study better and/or be more efficient.
  21. What learning style fits me the most? (audio, visual, kinesthetic…)
  22. How can I add more of that style into my learning process?
  23. Learning vs practice – name both their pros and cons.
  24. My favorite quote about learning.
  25. Write down my ideal study routine and take steps to make it a habit.
  26. How is education perceived and treated in my family?
  27. When it comes to my education, what I believe is the biggest hurdle that stops me from reaching my full potential?
  28. Think of at least 3 ways how I can overcome it.
  29. Write about my current 3 favorite office supplies.
  30. What’s the greatest life lesson I’ve learned so far?