How to Create Playful Minimal Drawings Using Midjourney
There’s something special about simple, hand-drawn illustrations that can make us smile. Those little doodles with just enough detail to be charming, but not so much that they lose their simple magic.
I’ve been playing with Midjourney to create these kinds of illustrations, and I want to share what I’ve learned.
Minimal drawings strip away complexity and focus on what matters most. They use simple lines and shapes to capture the essence of a subject. When you add a playful touch to these drawings, they become even more appealing.
What makes a drawing “playful”? It’s that sense of lightheartedness—the feeling that the artist had fun making it. These drawings often feature:
- Simple, clean lines
- Cute characters or objects
- Whimsical details
- A sense of joy or humor
- Limited color palette
- Plenty of white space
These illustrations work well for greeting cards, social media posts, blogs, children’s content, and anywhere you want to add a touch of simple joy.
Create Your Base Prompt for Midjourney
To create these types of drawings consistently in Midjourney, I’ve developed a base prompt that works really well. Here it is:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of [subject with action/details], whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic.
This prompt structure gives reliable results. Let’s break down why each part matters:
Breaking Down the Base Prompt
- “Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of…” This sets the overall style. By specifying “hand-drawn” and “minimal,” we tell Midjourney to create something that looks like it was sketched by hand rather than rendered with perfect digital precision.
- “[subject with action/details]” This is where you’ll insert your specific subject. Notice how I add an action or detail to bring the subject to life—like “a tiny cloud raining pastel hearts” instead of just “a cloud.”
- “whimsical doodles” This adds those small, fun decorative elements that enhance the playful quality.
- “soft pastel accents” This defines our color approach. Rather than bold or primary colors, we’re asking for soft pastels that complement the gentle, minimal style.
- “white background” A clean white background helps the minimal drawing stand out and maintains that sketchbook feel.
- “lighthearted and charming style” This reinforces the mood we want to create.
- “sketchbook aesthetic” This suggests the finished product should look like it came from an artist’s personal sketchbook.
15 Example Prompts to Try
Here are 15 examples I’ve created using this base prompt structure. Feel free to try these exact prompts or use them as inspiration for your own creations.
1. Raining Hearts Cloud
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a tiny cloud raining pastel hearts, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a sweet little cloud that’s raining hearts instead of water drops. The concept plays with the idea of “spreading love” in a simple, visual way.
2. Balloon-Holding Raccoon
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a raccoon holding a heart-shaped balloon, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
Raccoons are naturally cute with their “bandit mask” markings. Pairing one with a heart-shaped balloon creates a sweet contrast between the wild animal and the gentle symbol.
3. Snowman with Bird Friend
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a snowman with a tiny bird on its head, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
This prompt creates a winter scene with an unexpected friendship. The size contrast between the snowman and tiny bird adds to its charm.
4. Scholarly Baby Owl
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a baby owl wearing tiny round glasses, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
Owls are associated with wisdom, and adding tiny glasses plays into this idea while making the image more endearing. The “baby” aspect adds extra cuteness.
5. Mouse with Dandelion
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a tiny mouse holding a dandelion, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
The size contrast works well here—a small mouse holding something that seems large in comparison. Dandelions have that magical “make a wish” quality that adds whimsy.
6. Rainbow-Jumping Sheep
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a fluffy sheep jumping over a pastel rainbow, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
This plays on the “counting sheep” concept but adds color and joy with the rainbow. The action of jumping brings movement to the drawing.
7. Happy Cactus
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a tiny cactus with a happy face, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
Adding a face to a plant instantly gives it personality. The contrast of a prickly cactus looking happy creates a fun visual.
8. Sleepy Kitten
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a sleepy kitten wearing a nightcap, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
Cats are already cute, but a sleepy kitten with a nightcap takes it to another level. The nightcap is a simple detail that tells a story about bedtime.
9. Acorn-Holding Squirrel
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a squirrel holding an acorn, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
This prompt shows a natural behavior (squirrels gathering acorns) in a charming way. It’s simple but captures the essence of “squirrel-ness.”
10. Heart-Splashing Whale
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a little whale splashing water hearts, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
Like the cloud raining hearts, this puts a sweet twist on nature by having the whale splash heart shapes instead of regular water. It creates a visual metaphor for spreading joy.
11. Peeking Sun
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a smiling sun peeking from behind a fluffy cloud, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
This classic image of a sun peeking out suggests optimism and the idea that brightness is just around the corner. The action of “peeking” gives it personality.
12. Pillow-Hugging Bear
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a sleepy bear hugging a tiny pillow, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
Bears hibernating is a common concept, so a sleepy bear makes sense. The tiny pillow adds a touch of humanization that’s both funny and sweet.
13. Bunny with Daisies
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a bunny holding a bouquet of daisies, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
Bunnies and spring flowers go naturally together. The image of a rabbit holding flowers like a person would is a gentle anthropomorphization that works well.
14. Space Explorer
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a tiny astronaut floating among pastel stars, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
This prompt takes us to space but keeps the feel light and dreamy with pastel stars. The tiny astronaut creates a sense of wonder about the vastness of space.
15. Halloween Ghost
Prompt:
Playful hand-drawn minimal drawing of a smiling ghost holding a tiny pumpkin, whimsical doodles, soft pastel accents, white background, lighthearted and charming style, sketchbook aesthetic. –ar 3:4
This takes a typically “spooky” character (a ghost) and makes it friendly. The tiny pumpkin adds a seasonal touch without being scary, perfect for a gentle Halloween image.
These minimal, playful drawings have a universal appeal. They communicate emotions and ideas simply and directly. They make people smile.
What I like most about this style is how it captures joy in the simplest way possible. It reminds us that art doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful.
Try some of these prompts, or create your own following the same pattern. You might be surprised by how satisfying these simple illustrations can be to create and share.
