Art isn't one of my strongest points, it has to be said, but when I do feel like scribbling, scrawling or doodling it helps to have some good programs at my disposal. This is a handful of the ones I use most often, and the good news is that they're all free.
Inkscape
Vector imaging is such a devilishly simple concept that you can't help but wonder why no-one thought of it sooner. Instead of telling the computer where to put pixels, why not tell it where to put shapes? When you zoom in on JPGs or PNGs, the resolution decreases; but when you do the same with SVGs - a vector image format - the picture simply gets redrawn without any loss of quality.
Inkscape allows you to draw images in vector format, and comes with a dazzling array of tools to help with the task. You can draw rectangles, ellipses, stars and much more with a few mouse clicks, and then perform any one of an enormous array of operations on them with a few more. If you're not convinced yet, then taking a look at some of the works of art produced on Inkscape is sure to change your mind. A highly recommended piece of software.
Art of Illusion
Despite sounding like it ought to have something to do with magicians, Art of Illusion is in fact a program for producing 3D models and graphics. It allows you to draw basic shapes such as cuboids and ellipsoids, and more complex objects can also be drawn using the comprehensive selection of functions at your disposal, such as triangle meshes. You can also apply textures and materials to your shapes to add realism, and render your drawing to produce a 2D 'photograph' of it from any angle you choose and with whatever lighting effects you want. Art of Illusion files can also be converted for use in rapid prototyping machines such as the RepRap.
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