Overview
Cherry blossom trees are some of the most beautiful trees in the world and capturing them in pencil can be a difficult undertaking. With just a few simple steps, you can create a stunning drawing of a cherry blossom tree. By understanding the basic principles of pencil drawing, as well as observing and understanding the anatomy of the tree itself, you can make a professional looking piece of art that is sure to be admired by your peers.
Proper Tools
The first step to capturing a stunning pencil drawing of a cherry blossom tree is to make sure you have the proper tools for the job. You’ll need a set of graphite pencils, ranging from the lightest (H) to the darkest (9B). You’ll also need a kneaded eraser and a good quality sharpening blade. It also helps to have a piece of paper that has a grainy feel to it, such as a bristol board. This will give your pencil drawing a much more cleaner and professional looking feel.
Analyzing the Scene
Before sitting down with your pencil and paper, it’s important to spend some time analyzing the scene you will be attempting to draw. Spend some time observing the branches of the tree and the placement of the flowers. Notice how the light is hitting the cherry blossom tree and take some mental notes of what you observe. This information will help you when it comes to putting pencil to paper during the drawing process.
Beginning the Drawing
Now that you have everything ready and you have taken a few observations, it’s time to begin drawing the cherry blossom tree. You will begin by lightly sketching the main branches of the tree, starting from the top and then radiating out. Begin by lightly sketching in the small branches, but be sure not to make them too heavy or dark. After completing the light sketch of the branches, you can then move onto the blossoms.
Adding the Color
Due to the light and delicate nature of the cherry blossom tree, this is the time to begin bringing your drawing to life by adding some color and texture. You will begin by lightly layering the lightest shade of graphite onto the blossoms. Bring some of the darker graphite shades out to where the shadows are and bring the lighter shades up into where the light is hitting the flower. You can also add some white to your flowers, which can really bring your drawing to life.
Finishing Touches
At the end of your drawing, you’ll want to use your kneaded eraser to remove any unnecessary graphite smudges that may have occurred during the drawing. Lastly, you’ll want to take a few moments to look at the overall image and see what other details you may need to add. Taking your time and being precise in your details will add to the overall aesthetic of the drawing.
Creating a Background
For a more professional looking piece of art, creating a background is always a great thing to do. When adding a background to your cherry blossom tree drawing, look at what is around it and draw it to the best of your ability. Whether it be grass, other trees, or a skyline, the background can really help to set the entire piece of art off.
Using Different Angles
Another tip when creating a pencil drawing of a cherry blossom tree is to take into account the possibility of different viewing angles. By viewing the same tree from different angles, you can gain a better understanding of the overall shape and structure of the tree. The extra experience you get from drawing the same object from different angles, as well as trying different techniques as you go along, will help to expand your own personal experience and make your artwork more impressive.
Effects of Weather on Cherry Blossom Trees
Cherry blossom trees are greatly affected by weather. Rain and wind can cause the petals of the flowers to blur and give them a watercolour effect, which can present a unique challenge when trying to capture them in pencil. However, with a steady hand and an understanding of how pencil drawings work, it is still possible to capture the amazing beauty of a cherry blossom tree, even in the most turbulent of weathers.
Adding Life to the Drawing
When drawing a cherry blossom tree in pencil, lighting can be the key to bringing it to life. You can either use an artificial light source, or use the shadow and light created by the sun itself. Reflections on the petals of the blossoms are particularly effective when done correctly, as it will create a more realistic looking drawing.
Improving Texture
With every pencil drawing, adding texture is key in making the drawing appear more professional and 3-dimensional. With a cherry blossom tree, the blossoms and branches will have their own individual textures and this needs to come through in the drawing itself. To add texture, use heavier layers for darker sections, lighter layers for highlights and use your kneaded eraser to gently pull out texture from the lightest sections.
Highlighting Focal Points
When creating your cherry blossom tree drawing, it’s a good idea to highlight certain areas of the tree and make them stand out. Whether it’s a particularly full branch or a single flower, you can use light and dark shades to create a sense of depth and realistic dimension to your drawing. This will help to add focus and emphasis to certain parts of the tree, which in turn will make your entire drawing much more impressive.
Adding Complementary Elements
Adding complimentary elements to your cherry blossom tree drawing can really help to make it stand out from the rest. This could be a bird in the background, a bench in the foreground, or even a person walking past the tree. Whatever it is, adding these elements will make your drawing much more interesting and dynamic. They can also draw attention to certain areas of the tree and help to create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing composition.
Incorporating Different Mediums
For a truly unique and memorable cherry blossom tree drawing, consider incorporating other mediums, such as watercolour or coloured pencils. By subtly blending these mediums into your pencil drawing, you can create an incredibly unique piece of art that will make your work stand out. Having these different mediums will also add a sense of vibrancy and energy to your drawing that can be difficult to achieve with just pencil.
Using Colour
While a pencil drawing of a cherry blossom tree can be beautiful on its own, employing colour is the best way to bring the drawing to life and make the colours of the blossoms come alive. Even if you don’t use any other mediums, you can still achieve a beautiful result by lightly layering coloured pencils over the lightest graphite shades. Colour can also be used to create a background for your tree, adding a whole new dimension to your artwork.
Shading & Blending
Shading and blending are a vital aspect when it comes to capturing a realistic cherry blossom tree in pencil. To create an effective shading and blending, use a combination of light layers of graphite and a kneaded eraser to pull out the highlights. This will help to create an effective balance between the shadows and the light, resulting in a realistic looking drawing.
Making the Drawing Dynamic & Unique
The last step in creating a stunning pencil drawing of a cherry blossom tree is to make the drawing as dynamic and unique as possible. Play around with different angles, textures and highlights and add small details that will make your cherry blossom tree drawing stand out from the rest. Incorporating your own artistic flair will help to make your drawing truly unique, and a piece of art that people will admire for years to come.
