Illustration ideas to brighten the graduation yearbook: a collection of memorable designs
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!
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Illustration ideas to brighten up the graduation yearbook: A memorable design collection (51–60)
tree
Trees that evoke growth and big leaps forward are great for graduation yearbook illustrations.
But when you actually try to draw one, you might find it surprisingly difficult.
So here’s an easy, striking way to draw a tree that anyone can recreate.
First, sketch the foliage loosely by layering circles like a bunch of grapes.
Then, starting from the bottoms of the circles, layer greens from darkest to lightest, and finally add yellow to express light.
For the trunk, start with ocher and layer a darker brown on top.
Draw a few branches here and there, add a slightly jagged edge to the circles, and you’re done.
cat
Just looking at cute photos and videos of cats can be soothing… Many of you might feel that way, right? So why not incorporate cats into the illustrations for your graduation anthology? You could ask a student who’s good at drawing to create a realistic cat, or draw a popular, character-style cat.
Choose a cat that matches the mood of your collection.
A cat rolling a ball of yarn or holding a diploma could be fun, too.
Let your imagination grow and create a wonderful anthology.
bouquet
When you think of student life, there are so many memorable scenes—uniforms, the school cafeteria, classrooms, and more.
The graduation anthology is the culmination of one’s school years, and did you know that the bouquet you receive on graduation day carries many meanings? In particular, a bouquet of marguerites is not only cute in appearance, but with flower meanings like perseverance and peace, it’s said to be a flower that cheers on graduates embarking on a new chapter.
Roses and tulips are also great choices for graduation bouquets.
They might even be perfect flowers for the cover illustration of a graduation anthology.
Handshake
Needless to say, there are plenty of photos and stock images of handshakes, but who is shaking hands with whom is extremely important.
You can have people from different school clubs shake hands, or try a teacher and a student—the process of exploring motifs already sparks exciting ideas.
It might also be nice to have a couple shake hands while wearing identical accessories on their wrists.
Hands reflect a person’s way of life.
Pay attention to the details and draw them carefully.
Illustration ideas to brighten up the graduation anthology: A collection of memorable designs (61–70)
Calligraphy
Calligraphy, which beautifies the letters themselves, is also a simple yet highly persuasive form of expression.
There are special flat pens sold for it called calligraphy pens, but you can achieve beautiful results with a mechanical pencil used in class or with the brushes you used in calligraphy or art lessons.
Drawing on black construction paper with white chalk can also have a nice charm.
Calligraphy is, after all, an art, so don’t worry about how good your penmanship is—just follow your heart and draw lines freely until you’re done.
Even if it’s crooked, that can actually become a charming feature.
nature
Majestic trees with their roots firmly planted in the earth, grand mountain ranges, rivers that carry life-giving water from headwaters to tributaries, and the clear blue sky that lifts our spirits…
Couldn’t natural landscapes be the perfect motif for graduates brimming with infinite potential? Especially for schools located in nature-rich areas, depicting familiar scenery will make the class anthology all the more memorable.
And if the anthology’s title ties in with nature, it will be an even better match!
camera
A camera illustration is a perfect fit for the image of an anthology filled with many memories! For a graduation yearbook, I think it would be lovely to combine a camera illustration with photos as well.
It’s also recommended to draw an illustration where you and your friends are reflected in the camera’s lens.
People will be impressed when they look closely at the illustration and notice the little trick.
