A lovely graduation song

Illustration ideas to brighten the graduation yearbook: a collection of memorable designs

Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Have you ever found yourself unsure about what kind of illustration to draw on the cover when making a graduation anthology? Not only the writing inside, but the cover illustration is also an important element of a graduation book.

There are plenty of motifs you might want to draw—classroom scenes, memories with friends, and more—but when it’s time to actually draw, many people end up wondering how to go about it.

In this article, we’ll introduce illustration ideas that are perfect for graduation anthologies.

We’ve gathered ideas that work well not only for the cover but also for interior spot illustrations.

Whether you’re confident in your drawing skills or not, you’re sure to find helpful tips.

Let’s decorate your graduation anthology—something you’ll treasure for a lifetime—with wonderful illustrations!

Illustration ideas to brighten up your graduation yearbook: a collection of memorable designs (11–20)

white dove

In a passage from the Old Testament, “Noah’s Ark,” a dove returns to the ark with an olive leaf in its beak as a sign that the flood is over.

From this, the dove came to be seen as a symbol of peace.

An illustration of a white dove also feels auspicious and would be perfect for graduates stepping into a new stage of life.

If you emphasize features like the dove’s prominent breast and large tail feathers, it will look more realistic.

Please feel free to use this as a reference for your cover illustration.

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Diploma

When it comes to what remains after graduation, there are memories of student life, the yearbook, the graduation anthology, and—let’s not forget—the diploma! If you want to include graduation-themed illustrations, drawing a diploma is a great idea.

You could depict it opened up, or show it in a tube, or rolled up with a ribbon tied around it.

The diploma motif has a clean, sophisticated look to begin with, so it should make for a cool cover even in black and white printing.

If you draw it while looking at the actual diploma you’ll be receiving, it’ll likely result in a cover that feels even more heartfelt.

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dream

One approach is to intentionally avoid drawing the school scenery and instead depict everyone’s dreams for the future.

Are they careers, journeys, or moments of achieving or obtaining something? Use every kind of touch to illustrate a variety of bright futures.

It’s also recommended to draw with friends and vary the art style for each person to add richer variety.

As preparation for this artwork, the piece has already begun from the stage where you interview everyone about their future dreams.

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crying face

When drawing a crying face, it’s fine to sketch directly from a photographed face, but you can also keep going while referencing crying faces from anime and manga.

It takes time to craft that delicate expression that can look both sad and happy, but that’s exactly what makes it compelling.

As you redraw it over and over, various emotions will well up inside the artist, too.

Try ideas like wiping away tears with a hand, having a friend wipe the tears, or deliberately hiding the eyes with bangs or a hat.

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portrait (caricature)

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to create illustrations for the graduation album that will let you look back and remember your school days? One recommendation is to draw portraits of everyone in the class.

If you draw a scene with the entire class gathered together, including the teacher, happy memories will come flooding back when you look at it later.

Try to capture each person’s distinctive features as you draw.

If you want a cute vibe, it’s also a good idea to stylize it in an anime-like way.

Deciding on everyone’s placement first will help you create a well-balanced piece.

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a student shedding tears

I drew an illustration with the theme of graduation. #TraditionalArt #IllustrationMaking #OriginalIllustration

a student shedding tears

It’s a beautiful idea—the unique atmosphere that only hand-drawing can convey, and the process of letting the paint bleed softly, both come through in the finished piece.

In the video, you first sketch on the colored paper, then outline the person with a pen, and paint the background in soft, gentle colors with paints.

The person’s presence really stands out, and from the mood and facial expression you can tell they had a fulfilling school life.

It would be great to try incorporating this while customizing elements like the hairstyle, uniform, and background!

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Illustration ideas to brighten up your graduation yearbook: A memorable design collection (21–30)

White-eye and cherry blossomsNEW!

Let’s try drawing an illustration featuring the Japanese white-eye, known as a bird that heralds spring, and cherry blossoms, the quintessential spring flower.

The Japanese white-eye and cherry blossoms are often depicted together, likely because the birds are fond of cherry nectar.

Try expressing the feeling of spring and new beginnings by drawing white-eyes flitting among cherry blossom branches or perched on them.

The Japanese white-eye is characterized by its rounded body and the white eye-ring around its eyes, so be sure to keep those points in mind when illustrating.

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