Cherry Blossoms With Moon Background

Simple Cherry Blossom Painting

• A canvas or item do be painted on
• Varying sized brushes.
  • Minimum: 1 small round brush(Size 2 and under), I larger flat brush(between 12-16 will work best)
• 20-40 cotton swabs
• A pencil
• A thin gel pen or a very thin sharpie
• Cup filled with water (for cleaning brushes)
• Paper towel (to dry the brushes)
• Paint canvas or paper plate (to put paints on)
• Acrylic paint
  • Dark blue
  • Dark purple
  • Dark pink
  • Sky blue
  • Light pink
  • Grey
  • White

The first step taken is always important when painting.

When painting a background first, it creates depth in the painting.

First trace a circular object about a third of the size of the canvas; outline using a pencil (or paint)very lightly on your canvas.

Next set out paints you will be using for the background, additionally white, and a darker set of colors for the corners. In the photo a simple light blue, a slightly darker blue, and a bit of white was used.

Wet a large flat brush and go in with the color wanted for the background; leading the brush horizontally using wide strokes. Adding in a few strokes of white before cleaning off the paint just used can add some texture.

To add some depth make the corners a bit darker. White can be added between the main colors and darker colors to blend out.

Add the color of that is wanted for the petals onto the pallet. The colors used in the photo are dark blue, dark purple, a dark pink and a light pink.

In the next steps the placement of the petals can be slightly sporadic though there shouldn't be any spots by themselves so it looks like a full branch.

Take some cotton swabs and dip into the darkest color(dark blue) and add onto the canvas in the most outer corners slightly going inwards.

Repeat this process with a slightly lighter color(dark purple) on top starting slightly farther in from the corners and continuing farther in to create depth in the petals.

Repeat with the second lightest and lightest colors(dark pink and pink) starting farther in and ending further in than the last two colors.

Next you will want to take a nice gel pen that glides easily or a very thin sharpie. Color shoudl be black or a dark brown.

Add lines in-between the petals ranging in length to add branches. You will want to have the branch width get thinner as the branch goes towards the center of the painting.

Note: Make sure the branches are fully filled in with the sharpie/pen.

The moon can be left white, if you are happy with the look this is your last step.

To add texture to the moon you will want a reference photo to look at to know where to place the shading.

All that will be used is a very light grey paint to add the texture. Follow your reference photo on where the add the texture. If you want more depth you can add a second shade of grey that is slightly darker, but it is not needed.

To create the look it the photo simply use a flat brush and go back and forth with grey and white. Let dry, then apply a white glob of paint directly to the canvas and smear out with a small paintbrush.