• 80 ideas

Preppy Things to Draw, Each With the Colours to Use

Press the button for one preppy subject and the two or three colours that make it look right, then start the clock.

Preppy Things to Draw, Each With the Colours to Use

Show all 80
  1. Disco ball throwing square sparklesSilver grey, lilac and pink. Curve the grid lines so the ball looks round, then fill odd tiles with colour.

Next step Same smileys, older decade: Y2K ideasDrop this idea into a full scene prompt

All 80 ideas

Smileys, bolts, bows and patterns 28

  • Argyle diamonds with a thin cross line Navy, kelly green and white. Tall diamonds touching at the points, then a thin dashed X laid over each.
  • Breton stripes across a long-sleeved top Navy on white. Thin stripes that bend a little with the sleeves, under a wide, shallow neckline.
  • Cabana stripes in pink and white Pink and white, wide and even. Use the width of your ruler as the stripe so every one matches.
  • Cable-knit plait running down a sleeve Cream with soft grey shading. A cable is two ropes crossing over and under each other, like a plait.
  • Checkerboard that ripples like a flag Lilac and white. Draw the grid with wavy lines both ways so the squares swell and pinch across the page.
  • Cluster of four-point sparkles Yellow and white on a pink ground. Each sparkle is a plus sign with its sides pinched in. Mix the sizes.
  • Disco ball throwing square sparkles Silver grey, lilac and pink. Curve the grid lines so the ball looks round, then fill odd tiles with colour.
  • Drippy smiley sliding off its own circle Yellow with an orange outline. Hang three drips off the bottom edge and end each one in a round blob.
  • Flower with a smiley for its centre White petals, yellow middle, pink outline. Five round petals first. The face goes in last.
  • Gingham square in two blues Sky blue and white. Stripe across, then down. Go over each crossing a second time so it turns a darker blue.
  • Heart filled with tiny checks Hot pink and white. Rule the grid straight through the heart and colour only the squares that fall inside.
  • Heart struck through by a bolt Hot pink heart, yellow bolt. Draw the bolt on top, then rub out the heart line wherever the bolt crosses it.
  • Lightning bolt fading from pink to orange Hot pink at the top, orange at the tip. A bolt is two long diagonals with one short flat step between them.
  • Madras check in four summer colours Pink, yellow, green and blue. Cross wide and narrow stripes both ways and let the colours overlap.
  • Pastel checkerboard in pink and white Pink and white only. Rule the grid, pencil a dot in every other square, then fill the dotted ones.
  • Ponytail tied with a wide ribbon, from behind Navy ribbon on any hair colour. The bow sits where the tail starts and the hair fans out below it.
  • Ribbon stripe in navy, white and pink Navy edges, white lines, pink centre. Rule five bands along a strip and cut a V into each end.
  • Row of five smileys in five pastels Pink, lilac, mint, lemon and sky blue. Draw round a coin so all five circles match, then repeat one face.
  • Satin bow with long trailing tails Bubblegum pink with a darker pink in the folds. Two loops, a small knot, and tails cut to a V at the ends.
  • Scalloped border round the whole page Hot pink on white. A scallop is a row of half circles. Draw round a coin and keep each one touching the next.
  • Smiley in heart-shaped sunglasses Yellow face, pink lenses, one white glint on each lens. The glasses stand in for the eyes, so leave those out.
  • Smiley polka dots on a hot pink ground Yellow dots, hot pink behind. Space the dots in a loose grid and give every third one a different face.
  • Smiley with lightning-bolt eyes Yellow and hot pink. Circle first, then a small zigzag bolt where each eye goes and a plain arc for the smile.
  • Star outlined twice, in pink then orange Pink inner line, orange outer line, white gap between them. The double outline is the whole trick.
  • Three bolts stacked big to small Turquoise, pink and yellow. Lean all three the same way so they read as a set, not as three accidents.
  • Wavy-edged heart in two pinks Pale pink inside, hot pink outside. Trace the heart again a finger-width out, this time with a wobbly line.
  • Winking smiley with a bow on top Yellow face, lilac bow. One eye is a dot and the other a short curve. Sit the bow slightly off centre.
  • Your initials as a monogram in a scalloped circle Navy letters, pink frame. Make the middle letter taller than the two beside it and ring them with scallops.

Tennis, sailing and riding 20

  • Anchor with a rope looped round it Navy anchor, cream rope. Ring on top, straight bar, then curved arms that end in arrow tips.
  • Bird's-eye tennis court in pink and green Kelly green surround, pink court, white lines. All rectangles, so it is a ruler job. The net crosses the middle.
  • Boat shoe with a leather lace bow Tan leather, white sole, navy lining. The lace runs round the opening of the shoe and ties at the front.
  • Crossed oars behind a lifebuoy Wood brown oars, navy blades, red and white ring. Draw the ring first and tuck the oars in behind it.
  • Crossed tennis rackets with a ball between Pink grips, white frames, lime ball. Finish one racket, then cross the second over it just above the handles.
  • Golf flag on a tiny round green Kelly green, pink flag, white ball. An oval green, a thin pole and a triangle flag blowing one way.
  • Horseshoe turned up like a U Silver grey with a pink ribbon tied on. A thick U shape with a row of small nail holes down each side.
  • Lacrosse stick with a netted head White head, pink tape on the shaft. The head is a long teardrop and criss-cross lines make the net.
  • Lifebuoy ring with four red bands Red and white. One circle inside another, then four red bands spaced like the quarters on a clock.
  • Penny loafer with a coin in the strap Oxblood or tan with a copper coin. The strap across the top has a small slot, and the coin sits in it.
  • Pleated tennis skirt on a hanger White with a pink waistband. Pleats are straight lines fanning out slightly from the waist down to the hem.
  • Polo shirt with the collar turned up Pastel pink or mint, white buttons. Short sleeves, a two-button opening and a plain chest with no logo.
  • Prize rosette with a smiley in the middle Yellow centre, navy and pink pleats. A circle, a ring of small folds round it and two tails cut to a V.
  • Riding boot beside a velvet helmet Chestnut boot, navy helmet. The boot is a tall tube on a small heel; the helmet is a dome with a short peak.
  • Row of little nautical flags on a line Red, yellow, blue and white. Each flag is a small square with its own bold blocks, stripes or cross.
  • Sailing boat with a striped sail Navy hull, red and white sail. Two triangles on one mast, sitting on a shallow bowl shape.
  • Sun visor and a pair of wristbands White visor, pink and navy bands. The visor is a curved peak on a strap; each wristband is a short fat tube.
  • Tennis ball with a smile along its seam Lime yellow, white seam. Let the curved seam be the smile and put two dot eyes above it.
  • Thick rope tied in one loose knot Cream rope, navy shadow. Draw the knot as a pretzel of tubes, then add short curved dashes for the twist.
  • Tube of three tennis balls Clear tube, lime balls, pink lid. Three circles stacked inside a tall rectangle with rounded ends.

Beach and summer 18

  • Beach umbrella in cabana stripes Pink and white. Draw a half circle, then stripes that all meet at the top point like slices.
  • Cruiser bicycle with flowers in the basket Mint frame, cream tyres, pink flowers. Two equal circles first, then the frame as two joined triangles.
  • Curling wave with a sparkle on the crest Turquoise, white foam, yellow sparkle. One big comma shape, with foam scalloped along the curling lip.
  • Flamingo pool float on flat water Pink float, turquoise pool. A fat ring, an S-shaped neck and a black-tipped beak. Two ripple lines beneath.
  • Flip-flops with a flower on each strap Hot pink soles, white flowers. Each sole is a rounded bean and the strap is a Y from the toe post.
  • Hammock slung between two palms Turquoise sea, pink and white hammock. The hammock is a shallow smile shape with stripes following its curve.
  • Heart sunglasses reflecting two palms Pink frames, orange lenses. Draw a tiny black palm in each lens, leaning in toward the nose bridge.
  • Hibiscus flower with five wide petals Hot pink petals, yellow centre stalk. Overlap the five ruffled petals and let the long stalk stick out.
  • Ice lolly with one bite taken out Pink top, orange middle, yellow base. Rounded rectangle on a stick. The bite is three small scoops at a corner.
  • Lemonade glass with a striped straw Pale yellow drink, pink and white straw. Float a lemon wheel on top and stack three ice cubes inside.
  • Palm tree leaning over a pink sunset Pink, orange and black. Paint the sky in flat bands first, then put the palm over it as a solid shape.
  • Rope-handled beach bag with a towel in it Navy and white striped bag, pink towel. Draw the rope handles as twisted tubes looping over the top.
  • Scallop shell in pink and cream Pale pink and cream. A fan of lines spreading from one point at the bottom, under a bumpy top edge.
  • Smiling pineapple with a checkerboard body Yellow and white checks, green crown. Swap the diamond skin for a tilted checkerboard and add a face.
  • Smiling sun with wavy rays Yellow face, orange and pink rays. Alternate long and short wavy rays the whole way round.
  • Starfish wearing a tiny bow Coral starfish, turquoise bow. Five fat rounded arms, dots down each arm and two small eyes.
  • Surfboard with a checkerboard stripe Mint board, pink and white checks. A long leaf shape with one band of checks running down the centre.
  • Three surfboards stuck upright in sand Pink, yellow and turquoise. Overlap them a little and give each board a different stripe.

Bracelets, bags and room 14

  • Beaded bracelet spelling your initials White letter beads between pink and orange ones. A curved row of touching circles with a letter in each white one.
  • Claw hair clip in a checkerboard print Lilac and white checks. Two curved combs of teeth that meet, with a hinge and a pinch grip on top.
  • Cowgirl hat with a star on the crown Hot pink hat, white star, white trim. The brim curls up at both sides and the crown dips in the middle.
  • Felt pennant with your town's name Kelly green felt, white letters, pink strip at the wide end. A long triangle lying on its side.
  • Knotted headband in cabana stripes Pink and white. A wide curved band with a fat knot at the top, and stripes bending into the knot.
  • Letter beads spelling a one-word motto White square beads, black letters, a pink heart bead at each end. Keep the word short, like SUNNY.
  • Mirror with a wavy pastel frame Pink frame, pale blue glass. An arch with a wobbly border, and two diagonal glints across the glass.
  • Phone case with a smiley and a bead strap Lilac case, yellow smiley, pastel beads. A rounded rectangle, plain camera circles, a looped strap of beads.
  • Scrunchie in pink gingham Pink and white. A doughnut with a wobbly outer edge, and folds drawn as short lines pointing at the middle.
  • Stack of five bracelets up one wrist Pink, turquoise, yellow, lilac and gold. Make each one different: beads, a chain, a plait, discs, pearls.
  • Tote bag with a bolt on the front Cream canvas, hot pink bolt. A slightly tapered rectangle with two long looped handles.
  • Tumbler with a handle and a striped straw Pastel pink cup, white lid, pink and white straw. A tall tapered shape, a D-shaped handle, no logo.
  • Varsity letter patch with a fuzzy edge Navy letter, pink border. Use your own initial in a blocky slab shape and stipple the edge to look like wool.
  • Water bottle covered in your own stickers Mint bottle, stickers in pink and yellow. Invent every sticker: a bolt, a wave, a smiley, your initial.

How it works

Preppy comes in two flavours, and these 80 preppy things to draw cover both: the bright teen look of smileys, bolts, bows and pastel checks, and the older one of tennis, sailing and cable knit. Every hint names its colours first, then gives one tip for building the shape.

Read the full guide

Two kinds of preppy stuff, one list

Preppy is short for preparatory, after private schools in the north-eastern United States. The older look is their sports kit: navy, white and kelly green, argyle, Breton stripes, a Penny loafer with a coin in the strap. Tennis, sailing and riding holds 20 of those. The newer look keeps the pastels and swaps the blazer for a Smiley with lightning-bolt eyes. Nothing here carries a logo: the Polo shirt with the collar turned up has a plain chest.

Colour does most of the work

These preppy drawing ideas stand or fall on the palette. Pick two brights and white, then stop: hot pink, orange and white for a bolt, or navy, white and one pink band for a ribbon. Flat colour beats shading, so fill each shape edge to edge and outline last. For Pastel checkerboard in pink and white, pencil a dot in every other square first, or you will fill two neighbours.

  • Felt tips streak on big areas. Colour in one direction, let it dry, then go over the pink a second time.
  • Draw round a coin for smileys, scallops and beads. Matching circles make a row look printed instead of wobbly.
  • Monograms and bracelets use your own initials, which keeps the page yours. Blocky capitals are easier to space than joined-up letters.

Questions and answers

Which ones suit a first try?

Choose Easy for 39 of them. Each is built from shapes you can rule or trace: Tube of three tennis balls is three circles in a tall rectangle, and Cabana stripes in pink and white needs only a ruler. Leave the clock on five minutes.

Where are the cute preppy things to draw?

Under Cute in the list, with faces and bows. It holds 13 ideas, such as Starfish wearing a tiny bow and Tennis ball with a smile along its seam. Groups work one at a time, so Cute shows every cute idea whatever its difficulty.

How do I turn one idea into a binder cover or a card?

Repeat it. Preppy pattern is one small motif in rows, so draw a single bolt or bow, then copy it across the page like bricks, shifting each row half a step. Alternate two colours and leave white between. Pastel checkerboard in pink and white makes a ready background, and your initials in blocky capitals finish the front.

More tools

Show 7 more

Browse Drawing Ideas