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How to Create Your Own Cherry Blossom Painting

Cherry blossoms are so revered in Japan that they celebrate the beautiful, fragrant blooming period each year with "hanami," or viewing parties. Washington, D.C. holds the National Cherry Blossom Festival each year to celebrate the beautiful trees and the amicable relationship between the U.S. and Japan. Delicate in appearance, cherry blossoms bloom in soft and bold shades of pink simultaneously, against the near-black background of the bark, creating a stark vision of beauty. Paint your own cherry blossoms for a lovely addition to your art collection or use your painting for invitations for a spring party or baby shower.

Things You'll Need

  • Watercolors
  • Watercolor paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Paint a very dark brown trunk. Make it a little angular, as cherry blossom trunks are generally not straight vertical lines. The height of the trunk should be about one-third the length of your paper.

    • 2

      Paint six branches coming off the trunk. The branches should extend to the edges of the paper and should be somewhat pointy at the ends. Make the branches angular, as the branches aren't straight as in other types of trees.

    • 3

      Paint light pink flowers all around the branches. Load the tip of your brush with paint and touch the brush to the paper five times to form the five petals of each flower. The cherry blossom petals are a little rounded.

    • 4

      Paint a dark pink blot in the center of each flower. Randomly give some of the flower petals dark pink lines for texture and interest.

    • 5

      Connect the flowers with smaller branches coming off the main branches. Again, these branches should have a few angles, as cherry blossom branches aren't straight. They should end in a point.

    • 6

      Add more flowers as your taste and balance sensibilities dictate.

    • 7

      Allow your painting to dry thoroughly, then frame with a pink or black mat in a nice frame. Hang it on your wall to enjoy cherry blossoms all year round.

Fine Art

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