Do you want to draw the Moon? Consider, first, what the Moon looks like. If I ask you to think about the Moon, the first image that might come to mind is that of the big white orb in the night sky. Or, you might even think of a silhouette of a wolf howling at the Moon.
In this step-by-step tutorial, I’ll be teaching you how to draw it with some clouds floating over it.
Why Draw the Moon?
Our moon is pretty spectacular. Not only is it beautiful to look at in the night sky, it’s the Earth’s only natural satellite. People have been drawing the Moon for thousands over years — in fact, they in 2000, researchers unearthed a 15,000 year old lunar cave painting! But, the first realistic painting of a moon on record was done by none other than the famous astronomer Galileo Galilei. In 1609, Galileo created a series of watercolor paintings of the Moon’s phases, which you can see below.
What Role Does the Moon Play?
The Moon controls the tides, but this luminary has also played an important role in religion and myth. Many cultures have their own lunar deities. For instance, there’s the Ancient Roman goddess Luna (known to Ancient Greeks as Selene). And the Ancient Egyptians had gods such as Ibis and Khonsu.
The Moon also plays a role in astrology. Astrologists believe someone’s moon sign governs how they process feelings and emotions. Each astrology sign has a different ruling planet, and for Cancer, it’s the Moon.
Ok, now that you know a little more about why we’re so entranced by the Moon, it’s time to draw! I can’t wait to see your moon drawings!.
What Tools Do I Need to Draw the Moon?
To get started, you’ll want to begin with some really basic materials. Grab the following:
- A No. 2 pencil or an HB pencil
- A white plastic eraser or kneaded eraser
- A sheet of copy paper
- A copyright-free photograph of the Moon or your own photo.
- A paper towel or oil-free tissue (optional)
- Something the size you want the Moon to be (or a compass if you want to be super precise)
How to Draw the Moon: Your Step-by-Step Tutorial
1. Get all your supplies together and sit comfortably with your feet on the floor. Yes, good posture does help your drawing! Set up your photo so it is easy to see. Make sure it’s not at an awkward angle and that there is no glare. The photo I will be working from is from a photograph I took a couple of years ago during a Blood Moon.
2. Draw a circle on your paper with your pencil. You don’t need to draw the circle freehand. You can simply find something that is the right size to trace, like the lid of a jar. Feel free to use a compass, but try not to put a hole in your paper.
Don’t press hard. You just need a light indication of the shape of the Moon. If it’s your main focus, you will want to make it fairly large on the piece of paper. If it is just part of the night sky, you want to think about its placement. The focus of my drawing will be the Moon, so I will make the Moon large but move it over slightly off-center to make the drawing a little more interesting.
3. Now that you have a circle, I want you to squint and look at the photo. Lightly draw the shapes you see in the Moon. You’ll notice that when you squint you just see the light and dark shades. The in-between colors go away. This does not usually look pretty. That is OK! These marks are just indications and will disappear as you work.
4. Look at your drawing and make sure the shapes match the photograph. Make any adjustments, and when you feel it looks right, begin to fill in the darkest areas. If something looks not right, just step back from the drawing and look at it.
If you’re stuck, turn it upside down. Remember, this isn’t meant to look photo realistic. If you want to add a few more craters or mountains, or even give it more of a face, go for it.
5. Now is when you’ll want to use your HB pencil if you have one. It’s darker and puts down more graphite. I like turn my pencil slightly on its side and color only in one direction. I then turn the paper and do this again at a 90° angle to the last lines.
This is called crosshatching. It allows you to make an area much darker, but it also has a rough look. If you prefer a smoother look, wrap a paper towel or oil-free tissue around your pointer finger and smudge the graphite. Don’t use your finger without a tissue because it will transfer the oil from your skin onto the paper.
6. Repeat the crosshatching approach over the whole moon. If you are using my photo, do it in the sky just around the Moon as well. If you are using a photo that has a dark sky without clouds, lie your pencil on its side and build-up the background using cross-hatching everywhere. Use your paper towel or tissue between each layer to give it a nice, soft look.
7. Continue crosshatching to fill the dark areas of the sky and Moon. The smoother you do this, the more peaceful and serene the drawing will feel. The rougher your marks, the more movement, and energy the drawing will have.
Keep repeating this but remember to step back from you drawing and squint so you can see the brightest areas and darkest areas. If some areas are a little too dark, use the corners and edges of your eraser to lighten them. If the eraser gets really dirty, wipe it off with your paper towel.
8. Now is the time for your final touches. Finish the final darkest darks and lightest lights. If you need some mid-tones, use your eraser lightly in the dark areas. Want a smoother finish? Do more gentle smudging with the tissue.
9. Now is the hardest part, when to call it done! If you are happy, stop! If something needs to be darker go ahead add some more graphite. Remember, this is your interpretation of the photograph! Does mine look exactly like the photograph, no, but it looks like a moon, in a turbulent sky!
Hope you had fun! I’d love to see your drawings. Post them on Instagram and tag me @Painting_with_Barb
Do you have any questions? Leave them below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! Until next time, keep practicing the Moon because Halloween will be here before we know it.
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