plate no. 3797
Moon and Blue Flowers
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the composition, indicating the moon's position and the general arrangement of the plants.
- step 02
Apply a light wash of diluted grey/brown to the entire background, leaving the moon area untouched.
- step 03
Build up the background with darker washes, creating the cloud effect and a sense of depth.
- step 04
Paint the moon with a very light yellow/beige wash, creating a subtle glow.
- step 05
Use thin, dark green lines to create the grass blades, varying the thickness and direction.
- step 06
Add the blue flowers and yellow flower details, using a slightly thicker paint consistency.
- step 07
Paint the white feathery grass tops with thin white lines.
- step 08
Add final details and adjust values as needed.
color palette
primary · grey · white · green · blue
secondary · yellow · beige · brown
Achieve the background greys by mixing black and white with small amounts of brown or yellow. The blue is a muted, slightly greyed blue.
techniques
- ·layering washes
- ·dry brushing
- ·delicate line work
- ·color blending
- ·glazing
common pitfalls
- →overworking the background
- →making the grass too uniform
- →using too much water
- →making the moon too bright
materials
surface · watercolor paper 140lb
required
- ·watercolor paper
- ·watercolor paints (grey, white, green, blue, yellow)
- ·round brushes (various sizes)
- ·water container
- ·palette
optional
- ·masking fluid
- ·ruler
- ·kneaded eraser
Use good quality watercolor paper to handle multiple washes. Experiment with different brush sizes to achieve varied line weights.
tips & new artworks in your inbox
no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
or to save artworks, chat, and track progress
related guides
in this vein
