A lovely graduation song

[For Elementary Schools] Practical! A Collection of Graduation Illustration Ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Composition nerdmutō
Started performing in bands in junior high school. Influenced by Japanese rock and UK rock, spent over 10 years continuing band activities while creating original songs. Later began producing Vocaloid tracks using Hatsune Miku, with total plays of released songs surpassing 10,000. Has five years of experience writing for music magazines. Currently works as a music writer, director, and composer, keeping a ground-level perspective on the scene by attending live shows across Japan. Now performs at live houses in Tokyo, showcasing guitar playing centered on acoustic guitar and informed by knowledge of chord analysis and guitar scales. Also writes leveraging a broad knowledge of music genres.

Are you looking for illustration ideas that can be used in an elementary school graduation yearbook or anthology? Reflecting on six years of memories and expressing days spent with friends and school events through drawings is a perfect activity for such a special milestone like graduation.

In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of illustration ideas to brighten up your graduation anthology.

From themes like sports day and the school trip to scenes depicting everyday moments with classmates, we’ve gathered a variety of motifs.

Whether you’re confident in your drawing skills or feel a bit unsure, we hope you’ll find an idea that suits you!

[For Elementary Schools] Practical! Graduation Illustration Idea Collection (41–50)

Photographic reproduction of a school building

Photographic imitation of the elementary school building by an elementary school student; graduation anthology cover illustration (6th grade)

Photographic reproduction of a school building

Here is a proposal for an illustration that reproduces the school building we’ve shared our school life in.

It’s convenient to use a photo of the building directly for the rough sketch, trace the main lines, and then draw—it helps reduce distortion in the shapes.

It might also be interesting to draw the building’s lines with unique tools like a waribashi (disposable chopstick) pen or a bamboo pen, or to try using colored inks.

If simply coloring it makes the scene look dull, I recommend adding originality by changing the background to a sunset or blue sky, or by creating patterns with ink bleeding effects.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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balloon

Illustration Making #1: Long-tailed Tits Riding a Hot Air Balloon ♪ by Cococro Art

balloon

Here’s an illustration idea featuring hot air balloons that evokes a bright future after graduation.

For example, how about drawing vibrant balloons with characters riding in them? The characters could be children who are graduating from kindergarten, which would be lovely, or you could use stylized animals.

It’s also a great idea to set the balloons against a blue sky and add fluffy, floating clouds.

Aim for a vivid illustration that instantly brightens the viewer’s mood.

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A child drawing with colored pencils

[Colored Pencil Drawing] How to Draw a Child’s Face | Little Colored Pencil Class | Illustration Making | Colored Pencils

A child drawing with colored pencils

Here’s an introduction to drawing children’s illustrations with colored pencils.

You’ll need white thick paper or a message card, and colored pencils.

What expressions of graduating children leave the strongest impression on you? Smiling faces, determined faces, faces enjoying delicious food.

You probably have a story with each child.

It’s nice to recall those memories while drawing their faces with colored pencils.

Layering colors changes the nuance and broadens your range of expression, so it’s highly recommended! Please give this idea a try.

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balloon

How to Paint Balloons and a Blue Sky with Acrylics / Easy Acrylic Painting for Beginners / Step by Step

balloon

Using balloons as a motif, which give a festive impression, is also a lovely idea.

Even when we say a balloon motif, there are many possible patterns.

An illustration of someone holding balloons, or a scene of balloons soaring high into the sky, would both work well.

In the latter case, you could overlap the image of balloons flying into the great sky with children graduating and advancing to the next stage of their education.

If you depict many balloons, adding some uniquely shaped ones and other playful touches will create a lively, cheerful finish.

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pigeon

[Acrylic Painting] Dove, a Symbol of Peace | Illustration Painting, Easy Drawing Method for Beginners… acrylic painting beginner art

pigeon

Doves, symbols of peace and friendship, are recommended as illustrations for kindergarten graduation ceremonies.

When painted with acrylics, they dry quickly and are easy to layer, making them convenient.

Acrylic paints have vibrant colors, so you can create very bright illustrations.

Take advantage of the strengths of acrylics by starting with the background first.

If you’re not used to drawing, it’s easier to start by creating the background, then sketch what you want to draw in pencil before painting.

The pencil lines will disappear neatly when you paint over them with acrylics.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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In conclusion

An illustration to accompany an elementary school graduation anthology is a special way to capture six years of memories.

Days spent with friends, encounters with teachers, and experiences at various events.

A single drawing can hold the gratitude and hopes that words alone can’t fully convey.

The illustration you create for this milestone of graduation will, when you look back someday, bring warm memories to life.