18+ Adorable BFF Drawing Ideas That Bond Besties

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Staring at a blank page with your best friend waiting for a drawing is its own kind of stress, right? Too many ideas online, no time to sort through them and half the tutorials look impossible anyway.

That’s exactly why this list exists! I scrolled through hundreds of pins so you don’t have to, lol!

Every sketch here made the cut because it’s doable, cheap to try and actually looks good once it’s done! No fancy easels required, no art degree needed.

Some of these work for a quick birthday card. Others are perfect if you just want to practice with a pencil on a lazy afternoon.

You’ll find a mix here, from simple beginner sketches to a few that stretch your skills a little. Pick whatever matches your patience level today!

Grab some paper, a pencil and maybe a few colored pens. Let’s get into it!

About the author:

Hi I'm Sophie who loves choosing outfits for both formal occasions and everyday casual wear which creates meaningful memories. I dedicate my time to finding outfit ideas for various activities including dates, nights out, festivals, boat tours and all other social events. ✨💛

BFF DRAWING IDEAS

Matching Heart Puzzle Piece Sketch

We’re starting off strong with the matching heart puzzle piece sketch! Two puzzle pieces that only fit together, one for you and one for your friend.

I always mess up the interlocking bit on my first try. It still reads as one heart once you color each half differently. Two shapes, a steady hand and you are basically done. The wobbly line right down the middle somehow makes it sweeter.

  • The two-page best friend classic
  • Works with just colored pencils
  • No ruler needed

Visit the how-to →

Two Girls Pinky Promise Drawing

How cute is this pinky promise drawing? Two simple figures with linked fingers, drawn in that soft cartoon style everyone loves right now.

She calls it her signature move, haha! Kids really do commit to a brand early.

  • The promise sketch everyone copies
  • Great for beginners
  • Looks sweet in black ink

Matching Sunflower Friendship Sketches

Sunflowers keep showing up in friendship art and honestly I get it. They’re cheerful, easy to shape and forgiving if the petals come out uneven.

I always draw the bud a little crooked on purpose. One full bloom plus a smaller bud beside it stands in for the two of you. Somehow it never fails to look sweet, especially with a few loose petal outlines scattered near the stem.

Best Friend Cartoon Duo Portrait

This cartoon duo portrait is basically a caricature of you and your best friend, minus the mean parts! Big heads, tiny bodies, exaggerated smiles.

Pick one silly trait each of you has. Then lean into it hard, since that is the entire secret to a good cartoon portrait.

  • Inside jokes drawn on paper
  • Fun with markers
  • No perfect proportions needed

Galaxy Sky With Moon Sketch

Looking for one of the best drawing ideas to actually challenge yourself a little? A galaxy sky with a glowing moon does the trick!

I always ruin the first splatter attempt and just call it a supernova, lol! Blend blues and purples with a cotton swab, then splatter white paint for stars. It looks fancy but takes maybe twenty minutes.

  • The one that looks harder than it is
  • Blends with cotton swabs
  • White gel pen for stars

Realistic Rose In Bloom

A realistic rose needs patience, not talent. Start with the center swirl, then layer petals around it slowly. My first rose always looks like a cabbage, honestly! Shading saves it, darker at the base and lighter near the tips, until suddenly it could wilt.

A tiny stem with one thorn adds just enough realism without extra effort.

  • Slow and steady wins this one
  • Needs a blending stump
  • Practice on scrap paper first

Grab the tutorial →

Fantasy Dragon Perched On Mountain

Talk about talent! A dragon perched on a mountain sounds intimidating, but breaking it into shapes makes it manageable.

I sketch the mountain first, then build the dragon’s pose around it. Wings out, tail curled, done!

This one impresses people way more than the effort it actually took, lol!

  • The showoff sketch that’s secretly simple
  • Reference photos help a ton
  • Great for pen and ink

Birthday Cake With Melting Candles

Is it really a birthday without cake drawn somewhere? Not in my book! This one has candles mid melt, wax dripping down the sides.

I always add one extra drip just to be dramatic. That tiny detail is oddly specific but I stand by it every time, especially when the frosting looks slightly lopsided.

  • Cake that never actually melts
  • Colored pencils blend the wax nicely
  • Add sprinkles for texture

Balloon Bouquet Birthday Sketch

Balloon bouquets are one of those birthday drawing ideas that look way more impressive than the effort involved. Cluster five or six balloons and let the strings tangle a bit. My strings always end up crossing in weird places anyway, haha! Turns out uneven strings look more natural than straight ones, no shame in that.

  • Party mood in under ten minutes
  • Any marker set works
  • Great warm up sketch

Get the step-by-step →

Cute Birthday Gift Box Drawing

This gift box drawing is small but mighty! A simple square, a bow on top and a few gift tags scattered around.

I always forget the shadow until the very end. Add it underneath and the whole box pops off the page. That is the whole trick, honestly. It takes maybe an extra minute.

Simple Potted Cactus Sketch

A potted cactus is one of the most forgiving drawing ideas for beginners out there! It’s just circles and lines really.

My cacti always come out lopsided and I have made peace with it. Nobody knows what a real cactus looks like anyway, am I right? Mistakes just read as character, haha!

  • The plant that forgives every mistake
  • Green and brown pencils only

See the full tutorial →

Basic Fruit Bowl Still Life

A basic fruit bowl still life teaches shading without overwhelming anyone. Round shapes, simple shadows, a bowl to hold it all together.

I always throw a banana next to an orange for the texture contrast. The mix makes shading way more interesting to practice. My bowls never look quite even, but that is fine.

Clean India Broom Poster Sketch

Swachh bharat drawing ideas come up a lot around school projects. This broom poster sketch is the one teachers actually love! A giant broom sweeping away trash with the Indian flag colors in the background.

I always mess up the lettering and end up erasing half of it. Keep the words simple, since the image does most of the talking. My version still won a certificate once, somehow, lol!

  • The school project fan favorite
  • Poster colors work best
  • Bold outlines read from far away

Hands Planting Tree Poster Drawing

Hands planting a small tree is another poster idea that always lands well. Two cupped hands, a sapling and some soil, that’s the whole composition!

I always add too much soil and it looks like a small hill, haha! Green and brown carry the entire message without extra clutter. Teachers seem to eat this one up every time.

Handmade Pop Up Cake Card

Birthday card drawing ideas rarely get more fun than a pop up cake card! Fold the paper right and a little cake pops up when the card opens.

I always mess up the first fold and have to start over. It takes careful cutting but no real drawing skill beyond coloring the layers. Grandparents lose their minds over these every time!

  • The card that surprises them twice
  • Cardstock folds cleanest
  • Glue stick over tape

Visit the how-to →

Folded Balloon Birthday Card Sketch

This folded balloon card sketch is quicker than the pop up version but still feels special. Draw balloons on the front flap so they line up when it opens.

I always eyeball the alignment instead of measuring it properly. Somehow it still lines up close enough, lol! Simple, sweet and done in one sitting.

  • The five minute handmade card
  • Markers work better than pencil
  • Fits a standard envelope

Open the tutorial →

Basic Cartoon Cat Face

Who doesn’t love a cartoon cat face, am I right? This one belongs on the easy this ideas for beginners list forever, honestly. Two triangle ears, round eyes and a few whiskers, that’s the whole cat. If you were hunting for easy this ideas for beginners, this one is a keeper! If you were hunting for easy drawing ideas for beginners, this one is a keeper!

Kids draw a version of this in about ninety seconds and somehow it always looks great! A single curved line for the mouth finishes the whole face.

  • The cat that draws itself basically
  • Any pen works fine
  • Under two minutes

Charcoal Portrait Of Eyes

Last but definitely not least, we have charcoal portrait eyes! Charcoal this ideas for beginners can feel scary at first. Eyes are actually a gentle place to start since they’re small and forgiving. If you were hunting for charcoal this ideas for beginners, this one is a keeper! If you were hunting for charcoal drawing ideas for beginners, this one is a keeper!

Blend with your fingertip for soft shadows around the lash line. Messy fingers are basically part of the process, lol!

It won’t look perfect the first time and that’s completely fine.

  • Smudgy fingers are part of the deal
  • Soft charcoal blends easiest
  • Kneaded eraser lifts highlights

Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.

And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍

Xoxo Sophie

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Sophie

I’m Sophie, the editor behind Oldure in Amsterdam. I help you plan what to wear by starting with the mood of the moment and translating it into repeatable, in-depth, step-by-step outfit formulas that account for venue reality, weather shifts, movement, and footwear. You will always see clear separation between styling frameworks and my personal perspective, plus updates when seasons and recommendations change. I publish practical guidance you can apply immediately.

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