[For Elementary Schools] Practical! A Collection of Graduation Illustration Ideas
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!
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[For Elementary Schools] Practical! Graduation Illustration Idea Collection (41–50)
waving hand illustration
Graduated students say goodbye to their school and dive into new environments, don’t they? An illustration idea that captures this sense of storytelling is a waving scene.
By the way, when drawing a student waving, pay special attention to the hands.
It’s not as noticeable with a stylized touch, but the more realistic the style, the more skill it requires.
Try drawing with awareness of details like the slight bend of the palm and the fact that each finger has a different angle.
Japanese sword
As a concept symbolizing graduation, how about a dynamic illustration of a Japanese sword? A design combined with motifs like Daruma or cherry blossoms is a perfect match for expressing the journey of challenge and growth.
Add a message cheering on the brave graduates, and it will become a striking piece of art.
Shall we celebrate everyone taking their first step forward with a powerful yet beautiful illustration of a Japanese sword to adorn this grand new beginning? It’s sure to become a wonderful memory!
Spring-themed illustration
When you think of graduation ceremonies, many people picture spring.
So here are some ideas that evoke a springtime feel.
First up are flowers.
Cherry blossoms—the classic for graduations—are a great choice, and tulips or anemones are lovely as well.
Next are insects.
How about choosing creatures that signal the arrival of spring, like butterflies and honeybees? Lastly, clovers.
Four-leaf clovers can also add a touch of good luck.
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.
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.
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.
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.