A drawing is one of the most personal things you can give someone. It costs nothing, it takes a little of your time, and it shows you were thinking about them while you made it. You do not need art skills: partners keep wobbly stick figures for years. Here are 25 easy things to draw for your boyfriend or girlfriend, grouped from five-minute doodles to more personal sketches, with simple tips to make them look good and ideas for sending them when you live apart.
Tips if you think you cannot draw
Start with shapes. Almost everything on this list is circles, ovals, rectangles and lines. Draw lightly in pencil first, then go over the lines you like in pen. Keep it small; a drawing the size of a sticky note looks neat even if it is simple.
Use one accent colour, usually red or pink, for hearts and cheeks. And sign and date it. In a year, the date will matter as much as the drawing.
- Pencil first, pen second.
- Small drawings look tidier.
- One accent colour is enough.
- Always add the date.
Quick drawings (under 5 minutes)
Perfect for a note in a lunch box, a sticky note on the mirror or a photo sent in the morning.
1. Two hearts linked together
1 minute
Like two rings of a chain. Simple and instantly readable.
2. A tiny envelope with a heart seal
2 minutes
Add ‘for you’ on the front.
3. A smiling sun
2 minutes
With a note: ‘You are my sunshine’, or something less cheesy if you prefer.
4. A cup of their favourite drink
3 minutes
Coffee, tea or bubble tea, with a little face.
5. A moon and a star
2 minutes
Good for a goodnight message, especially across time zones.
6. A heart-shaped balloon
2 minutes
With a long curly string.
7. A cartoon of their face
5 minutes
Exaggerate one feature they like, such as curly hair or big glasses.
Personal drawings that mean more
These take a little longer but are the ones people keep.
8. Your pet
10 minutes
Their dog, your cat, or the pet you plan to adopt together.
9. The place you met
15 minutes
A café, a classroom, a train. Add two tiny figures.
10. Your first date
15 minutes
What you ate, where you sat. Draw from memory and ask if you got it right.
11. Their favourite food with a face
5 minutes
A happy pizza slice or a dumpling with blush is always a hit.
12. An inside joke
5 minutes
Only the two of you need to understand it.
13. The two of you as animals
10 minutes
Pick animals that match your personalities: a sleepy bear and a busy squirrel.
14. Their hobby
10 minutes
A guitar, football boots, a game controller, a stack of books.
15. A view from their window
20 minutes
Ask for a photo and sketch it. Lovely for long-distance partners.
Romantic drawing ideas
For anniversaries, Valentine’s Day or just because.
16. Two figures under an umbrella
10 minutes
Rain drops around them, hearts falling instead of rain on one side.
17. Holding hands across a map
15 minutes
Two hands reaching from two cities, meeting in the middle. A classic for long-distance couples.
18. A bouquet of their favourite flowers
15 minutes
Flowers are forgiving to draw; nobody notices a wonky petal.
19. A drawing of your future home
20 minutes
A little house with details you have talked about: a garden, a reading nook, a dog at the door.
20. A starry night with your initials
15 minutes
Join stars into your initials as a constellation.
Funny drawings to make them laugh
Silly drawings are often the ones that end up on the fridge.
21. Them as a superhero
10 minutes
Their superpower can be something silly, such as finding parking spaces.
22. A ‘wanted’ poster
10 minutes
‘Wanted: for stealing my heart and my hoodies’.
23. A comic of your last call
15 minutes
Four panels: connection drops, frozen face, reconnect, laughter.
24. Them as a potato
3 minutes
A potato with their hairstyle. It works surprisingly well.
25. A badly drawn portrait, on purpose
2 minutes
Draw them with your eyes closed, then send it with complete confidence.
How to give or send your drawing
If you live together, hide it somewhere they will find it: a coat pocket, a book, the bathroom mirror. If you live apart, send a photo of it with a message, post the original in a letter, or draw together on a call. MileHeart’s Live Drawing lets connected partners draw on one shared canvas in real time, and you can save finished drawings to Memories.
Turning a drawing into a mini-tradition works well too: one drawing every Sunday, or a drawing for every month you have been together. Over a year, you will have a little gallery of your relationship.
Q & A
A few questions you might have
What should I draw for my boyfriend?
Something personal: his pet, the place you met, his favourite food with a face, his hobby or an inside joke. Simple drawings with personal meaning are usually loved more than detailed ones.
What is something easy and cute to draw for my girlfriend?
Two linked hearts, a cup of her favourite drink with a face, a moon and a star, a bouquet of her favourite flowers, or the two of you as animals.
What can I draw if I am bad at drawing?
Use simple shapes: hearts, mugs, suns, stick figures and potatoes with faces. Funny, deliberately bad drawings work well too. The meaning matters more than the skill.
How do I give a drawing to a long-distance partner?
Send a photo of it, post the original in a letter, or draw together on a video call or a shared canvas such as MileHeart’s Live Drawing.
Found an idea for the two of you?
Send it to your person and choose something to try together.
