Cherry Blossom Tree Illustration
Spring has arrived in the garden state of New Jersey where I live. Cherry Blossom trees, forsythia, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths are all abloom. Hi everyone, Mou Saha here with an observational drawing tutorial of a Cherry Blossom tree using Polychromos color pencils and Goldfaber color pencils.
Recommended Materials:
Polychromos® Artists' Color Pencils - Tin of 120 - #FC110011
Goldfaber Color Pencils - Tin of 48 - #214748
Kneadable Art Eraser - Grey - #FC127220
Sketchbook
If you observe trees closely, you’ll notice how different their bark patterns are, how lichen growth add to the trunk color and how the branches grow. It’s far from the simplistic trees we drew in elementary school. Take a closer look at a tree around you. I have chosen a Cherry Blossom tree from my own yard for today’s tutorial. Sketch a light outline of the trunk of the tree with Grip 2001 Graphite pencil.
Rather than adding a solid color to the tree trunk, copy the bark pattern with small pencil marks using Polychromos and Goldfaber color pencils to create visual texture. Include the lichen in your color scheme.
Watch how the branches have extended, where they have broken or been cut off. My tree has unruly branches. When you draw yours, watch for the shapes of the negative spaces that branches make between each other.
Create a sense of dimension by using darker and lighter shades of pencils to show the layout of the branches, one emerging from behind another and more.
Take a closer look at the blossoms. Are they in clusters or do they bloom independently? Are there any leaves visible? The cherry blossom has more flowers than leaves whereas a Magnolia would have more leaves with spread-out blooms.
From my point of view, the flowers appear like tiny pink balls, although a closer look will reveal greater detail. I am choosing shades of pinks and purples for the blooms on my cherry blossom tree.
The tree is now in full bloom and hardly any branch details are visible. How about your tree?
I hope you take the time to observe the details of your chosen tree and the amazing variety of shades of the Polychromos color pencils as well as that of Goldfaber Color Pencils will help you bring it to life on paper.
