These step-by-step landscape drawing ideas make it easy to give your cartoon characters a home. So, what landscapes will your next art project include?
48 Easy Landscape Drawing Ideas
Farm
Old MacDonald had a farm, and now you can draw one too! This rural setting can be the center of the action or provide a down-home backstory.
Bridge
London Bridge may be falling down, but this one is quite safe for your characters to cross. Or is something lurking beneath it?
Cave
What mysteries do the depths of this cave hold? A sleeping bear, ancient cave paintings, or modern spelunkers?
Waterfall
Will your character be swept over the waterfall, hide behind its veil, or enjoy the cascading water?
Pumpkin Patch
Happy fall, y'all! Welcome to the pumpkin patch, it's time to pick your pumpkin. In many places, a visit to the pumpkin patch is an autumn tradition.
Cartoon Forest
From Sherwood Forest to the Hundred Acre Wood, forests like this one hold many stories.
Volcano
Earthquakes, ash and smoke, cascades of molten hot lava - volcanic eruptions are scary events. Will your characters find a safe haven beyond the reach of the volcano's wrath?
City
Every city block has a personality all its own. Has your cartoon character come to the city to follow their dreams? Or are they trying to escape an unsafe neighborhood? The story is in your hands.
Sunset
Pick up some tropical vibes with this island sunset, seagulls and a palm tree silhouetted before the orange sun. Later in this list, you'll learn how to draw a sunrise, too.
Winter Scenery
Just as in the final scene of The Giver, this warm cottage beckons you to enter. Pass through the pine forest and past the friendly snowman. Perhaps there is hot chocolate waiting by the fireplace inside.
Desert
This scene of the American West, complete with saguaro cacti and huge stone mesas, paints a perfect backdrop for cowboys of the Wild West.
Spooky Forest
The dry, leafless trees, fog rolling across the cemetery, and bats silhouetted against the full moon forebode danger in this spooky scene. Are your cartoon characters courageous enough to pass through it?
Lake
With mountains and a pine forest in the background, this lake makes a peaceful retreat for summer campers, vacationers, fishermen, or virtually anyone else who seeks a little time out in nature.
Mountain Pixel Art
Even old-school video game characters need a place in which to play! Try using graph paper to draw this pixelated mountain scene. What quests and adventures await in those mountains? Is this the realm of Zelda, Pokémon, or Mario and friends?
Park
City parks like this one are vital greenspaces. They give people, their pets, and even wildlife a place to exercise, play, and enjoy the beauty of nature. They're a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city visible in the background.
Sci-Fi Landscape
The astronaut in this science fiction landscape is destined to boldly go where no man has gone before. From the safety of his spaceship, he can see growing crystals, bubbling goo, and a ringed planet like Saturn.
Pond
Ponds are peaceful places, but there is also a lot of action! This pond is home to cattails, water lilies, frogs, fish, and dragonflies.
River
If a river runs through it, you can use this easy drawing guide to illustrate it. Here, a river runs along a riverbed, one likely carved through the surrounding mountains over millions of years.
Rocks
Boulders like these can serve many purposes. They can be impassable obstacles, rubble from a destroyed city, hiding places, or even weapons as they roll down a hill. Or, they can be an average, natural part of an earthly or otherworldly landscape.
Underwater Scene
Dive deep into the ocean depths with this underwater landscape. There, you'll find staghorn coral and sea anemones, starfish and sponges, seaweed and jellyfish, angelfish, and goldfish.
Island
If your favorite character was cast away on a deserted island, would it look like this one? This tiny island is home to coconut palm trees - just what you need to be a survivor!
Beach
Are you dreaming of summer? Sketch some summer vibes with this easy beach scene drawing tutorial. Waves crest toward a beach towel, beachball, and beach umbrella. But are the mountains in the distance calling to be explored?
Playground
How long has it been since you swung on a swing set, slid down a slide, or bounced with a buddy on a seesaw? Bring back good memories with this playground drawing tutorial.
Ocean
This ocean scene has all the classic elements of a beach landscape - a sandy shore, a leaning palm tree, gentle waves, distant islands, and a blue sky with clouds on the horizon.
Sunrise
A sunrise over these idyllic hills wakes the world, and a sunset puts it to bed once again. What will you sketch here as a new day dawns? If seeing this illustration makes you smile, it is likely because it hearkens back to the opening scenes of several animated children's shows.
New York Skyline
In fiction and reality, New York City is a metropolis that often takes the center stage. It's a setting for every genre, from rom-coms to end of the world disaster movies. What's happening in the Big Apple today?
Jungle
Tarzan of the Apes, The Jungle Book, and many other classic stories take place in the depths of tropical rainforests. What creatures lurk in the river, and who can brave the waterfall?
Mountains
Snow capped mountains in the distance, towering over a majestic pine forest, can set the scene for a mighty adventure or a dazzling romance. What rewards and challenges await those who try to cross this mountain range?
Coral Reef
Have you ever dreamed of scuba diving a coral reef, seeing colorful corals, sponges, seagrasses, starfish, jellyfish, and tropical fish up close and personal? If so, dive right into this peaceful ocean scene.
Sword in Stone
A sword that can only be removed by a person who is pure of heart is a staple of knightly legend. This sword and stone are set amid a stunning mountain vista.
Summer Vacation
What would your dream vacation look like? Many people dream of a tropical island getaway. Set the scene with palm trees, a cabana overlooking the water, a beach chair, and a fruity tropical drink.
Summer Scenery
What makes summer feel like summer? This drawing captures some of the classic elements - a beach, a picnic, a beach umbrella, a beach ball, even tropical palm trees, a sailboat, and a cruise ship.
Flood
Have you ever drawn a simple house and a leafy tree? This scene would greatly change if a flood came. Check out this picture and rescue the survivors!
Easy City for Kids
Life is busy in the city! You can draw these easy geometric buildings as well as a road, a car, a school bus, a traffic light, trees, and a helicopter flying overhead.
Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza are one of the wonders of the ancient world. Draw this desert scene featuring the three main pyramids and three smaller ones in various states of preservation.
Landslide
Look out! the irregular shape of a landslide with rounded boulders and branching trees is blocking your scenic mountain drive. Could the foggy scene below be a picture of the same area?
Fog
When fog rolls in, it can change the entire appearance of a landscape. This road leads off between pine trees and mountains, with swirling tendrils of fog limiting visibility.
Rainbow with a Pot of Gold
Legend has it that if you find the end of a rainbow, you will discover a leprechaun's pot of gold. You can draw this fortunate scene, complete with three- and four-leafed clovers.
Christmas House
This decorated house in a snowy setting looks just like a gingerbread house - good enough to eat!
Mount Everest
This isn't just any mountain. This simple line drawing captures the iconic shape of the tallest and most famous mountain in the world.
Cartoon Volcano
From prehistoric scenes from the days of the dinosaurs to natural disasters on modern-day tropical or frozen islands, this erupting volcano is sure to heat up your sketchbook.
Yellowstone
The Old Faithful geyser, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the Upper Falls of the Yellowstone River are bucket list landmarks of this iconic national park.
Cartoon Beach
Channel tropical vibes when you draw this sandy island with the sun high in the sky. Don't forget the shady palm tree, beach ball, and the large conch shell.
Tsunami
Giant waves like this one threaten real cities during natural disasters and fictional ones in seafaring monster movies. This skyline could be in Seattle, Canada, Asia, or Australia.
Easy Rainbow Scenery
Peaceful mountain scenery with an arching rainbow above it will offer you serenity as you draw. You can almost hear the trickling of the water and feel the warm summer breeze.
Landscape
Where in the world is this landscape? Evergreen forests like this one can be found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Set sail with this river-bound sailboat.
More About Drawing Easy Landscapes
Do you love finding new things to draw? You'll never be bored when you learn how to draw cute animals, fantastic people, and your favorite cartoon characters.
But how can you take your drawing to the next level? Well, all those people, animals, and characters need a place to live. Think about it - when you watch a cartoon or read a comic book, are the characters on a blank background? No! They have lots of scenery behind them.
Will you send your characters on an adventure in the jungle or scuba diving on a coral reef? Will they face their fears in a dark cave, a spooky forest, or the far reaches of outer space?
Or, maybe you simply want to create a slice of life. You can do that, too, with our drawing tutorials for farm, city, and park landscapes. If you need a vacation, we've got you covered! You can learn how to sketch a beautiful sunset over a tropical island.

What will you need to create these simple yet amazing landscapes? You'll only need the supplies you already use for making sketches - some paper, a pencil, and an eraser. You can also use pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, and paints.
This world is yours to design - be creative!

See a Google Web Story of this Easy Landscape Drawing Ideas Blog Post.