Hand-drawn illustrations to brighten graduation: an idea collection you'll want to copy
As graduation season approaches, many of us start working on yearbooks, message boards, and cards.
That’s when warm, hand-drawn illustrations can add a special touch.
Even if you think, “I’m not good at drawing,” don’t worry! With a few simple tips, anyone can create heartfelt illustrations.
In this article, we’ll share a wide range of hand-drawn illustration ideas with a graduation theme—from classic motifs like cherry blossoms, school uniforms, and diplomas to unique designs that are sure to bring a smile.
Why not add a personal, heartfelt illustration to your message for someone special?
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Handwritten illustrations to color your graduation: an inspiring collection of ideas (21–30)
butterflyNEW!
Butterflies are symbols of good luck and motifs that evoke change, freedom, and beauty—perfect for a new beginning like graduation.
A scene with many butterflies dancing, like in this illustration, feels both energetic and graceful, calling to mind students taking flight into the future.
How about depicting cherry blossoms, a spring motif, together with the school building you’ll be leaving behind to adorn the cover of the class anthology? If it’s just butterflies, we recommend drawing them as small accents on the page or as a decorative border.
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.
A student who looks at the worldNEW!
Graduates spread their wings from the places they’ve grown used to and set out into a new world.
There, they will see many things they’ve never seen before.
That kind of joyful future is captured in this illustration, “Students Seeing the World.” Graduation is a happy send-off, but some students may be filled with anxiety.
By adopting this motif for a graduation illustration, those worries may be eased, even just a little, and students might be able to focus on the wonderful future that lies ahead.
Graduation ceremony signboard and studentsNEW!
At graduation ceremonies, there’s usually a signboard in front of the main gate that says “Graduation Ceremony,” right? I think many people take photos in front of that sign as a keepsake.
How about turning that scene into an illustration? Smiling students standing before the signboard, families, friends wiping away tears… any combination will vividly color the moment of graduation.
It’s a versatile motif that works well for a class anthology cover, page illustrations, autograph boards, and many other contexts.
A film that captured memoriesNEW!
@root3_1100 #Graduation Anthology#sakuraMemoriesTranslation#Recommended to rideDid I do a good job drawing the cover for the graduation yearbook? If you think it looks good, press the heart!
Sakura – Naotaro Moriyama
These days, everyone has a smartphone that can easily take photos and videos, so we use standalone cameras less often.
But as a nostalgic, “emo” item, film cameras are surprisingly popular among young people.
So how about incorporating an illustration of film capturing memories as a graduation artwork? Try sealing scenes that evoke youth—school events like sports festivals and cultural festivals, club activities, romance, and more—inside the film frames.
Rendering them only as black-and-white silhouettes will give it a great atmosphere.
hold handsNEW!
When you see an illustration of people holding hands, it really gives a sense of closeness, doesn’t it? It’s perfect for expressing bonds and friendship in a simple way! So for a graduation illustration, let’s depict students holding hands with a dynamic feel.
You could zoom in on a pair holding hands, or show a large group holding hands to express a circle of friendship.
While recalling the time spent with your dearest friends, be sure to create a moving illustration.
Every time you see it, it will surely make you feel encouraged.
Desk and chairNEW!
Desks and chairs are things we use every day in school life, aren’t they? Conversations with friends you had while sitting there, memories of dozing off and getting scolded by the teacher, the changing seasonal scenery seen through the large windows…
Just seeing a desk and chair brings back all sorts of memories.
That’s exactly why they make the perfect motif for a graduation illustration.
Try carefully copying the actual desk and chair you used to capture those memories.
Adding shadows or recreating the doodles on the desktop will make the illustration even more striking.