Have you ever wondered how to draw a crescent moon? I have plenty of 10-minute super easy Moond drawing ideas to share.
Let me show you how I draw moon and color it.
They’re beautiful to look at and relatively easy to paint. So, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, read on for the tutorials I’ve compiled, and get ready to create your own crescent moon masterpiece!
How to Draw a Crescent Moon – My easy tutorial
Drawing and painting a crescent moon. Level – super easy,
Medium: gouache
Total time: 15 minutes
Step 1 – Sketch Large and smaller circle
Draw a big circle and a smaller one in the right upper corner
Step 2 – Erase circles, leave Moon shape
Shape the crescent moon and erase what’s left on the sides.
Step 3 – Paint the base layer
I chose yellow as the base layer as I wanted my moon to glow a little bit, but you can go with grey or brownish to make it more realistic. Use a round brush.
Step 4 – Add a grey layer
Once the yellow layer is dry, I apply the grey layer, which is the main color of my crescent moon.
Step 5 – Blend in lighter and darker grey areas
The larger side of the moon is darker, and the smaller part is lighter, so I added lighter grey on the inner side and blended it with a semi-dry brush.
Step 6 – Shade accent
With a detailed round brush add some accents to the outer side to make the crescent moon pop and mark the shade side.
Step 7 – Finishing touches: Moon craters
To make our crescent moon look better, add some craters with a detailed brush and black color.
And the crescent moon is done!
Speedy video of my process:
MORE TUTORIALS
How to Draw Crescent Moon Shape
Medium: Pencil
Level: Easy
Before drawing the moon, let’s first try how to draw a perfect crescent shape. You may use a compass to create a circle with a two-tone pattern, which is the basic shape of the moon.
First, create a big circle, and then draw a smaller circle with the same center point inside the big one. This is the basic shape of the crescent moon shape.
Main supplies:
Easy Crescent Moon Drawing
Medium: Pencil
Level: Easy
After creating the crescent moon shape, we can now move on to the actual drawing of the moon. In this drawing tutorial, the artist shaded the crescent with some simple pencil strokes, but you can also use colored pencils or paints to make the moon shape more vibrant.
You can also add design elements to make the crescent moon look unique. For example, you can use a thicker pencil and draw some lines or dots around the edges of the moon to create a unique artwork.
Main supplies:
How to Draw a Quarter Moon
Medium: Pencil and markers
Level: Easy
A quarter moon looks like a big, curved smile in the night sky. It’s one of the easiest celestial objects to draw. There are two types of the quarter moon in the moon phase: first and third quarter.
The tutorial below will show the difference between the two and how to draw both types of the quarter moon.
Main supplies:
How to Draw a Crescent Moon and Star
Medium: Ink
Level: Easy
Of course, drawing a crescent moon won’t be complete without stars, so let’s get to it! First, you’ll need to have your basic supplies. A pencil, paper, and eraser should do the trick. Once you have those gathered, you can start sketching the crescent moon.
Then, draw the stars. They should surround the moon in a semi-circle shape and have different sizes. Start with the biggest star first, then work your way down to the smallest stars. Afterward, you can color in the stars with your desired color.
Main supplies:
How to Draw the Moon with Pencil
Medium: Pencil
Level: Easy to Intermediate
Drawing the moon is essential to capture its beautiful, ethereal light and detail. It has a lot of texture and depth, and it takes some practice to get the hang of it. Whether you’re drawing a crescent moon or a full one with a face, these step by step guide will help you get the perfect image.
Main supplies:
How to Draw Crescent Moon with Face
Medium: Pencil
Level: Easy
Drawing a crescent moon with a face is an incredibly easy task that anyone can do. This image has been used in many pieces of artwork and can be a great addition to any piece of art.
First, draw an arc that has its highest point on the left and gradually slants down to the right. This will be the crescent moon’s body. Then outline the face of the moon and add the eyes, nose, and mouth. When you are finished with the face of the moon, draw small circles to create its texture. Finally, color in the moon, and you are done.
Main supplies:
How to Draw a Simple Crescent Moon
Medium: Pencil
Level: Easy
Now that you’ve decided to take on the challenge of learning how to draw a crescent moon, it’s time to put pencil to paper and get sketching. This time, we have a tutorial on a crescent moon with clouds.
To begin, draw the crescent moon. Then, surround it with clouds. To make the clouds look fluffy, draw small circles around the moon. You can also add some stars for a nice night sky effect.
Use a cotton swab to blend the shading of the pencils.
Main supplies:
How to Draw a Mandala Crescent Moon Doodle
Medium: Ink
Level: Easy to Intermediate
A mandala is a beautiful and meaningful way to express yourself. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a beginner, drawing a crescent moon doodle is a creative and fun way to practice your art skills. Follow this guide, and you’ll be able to draw a beautiful mandala crescent moon doodle in no time.
Main supplies:
- Outline pen
- Markers
- White paper
How Do You Draw the Moon Phases in Order?
Medium: Pencils
Level: Easy
The moon has five phases: Full (or completely lit), Gibbous (more than half illuminated), Quarter (half illuminated), Crescent (less than half illuminated), and New Moon (no visible illumination).
If you’re a budding artist eager to capture the moon’s beauty in all its phases, this tutorial will show you how to correctly draw the crescent moon and its different stages.
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How Do You Draw a Cartoon Crescent Moon?
Medium: Ink
Level: Easy
This cartoon crescent moon is a cute and easy-to-draw image that anyone can make. It’s perfect for decorating greeting cards, scrapbooks, and even artwork. The texture is drawn instead of creating the outline of the face.
Simple drawings of the yes and lips are added to create the iconic cartoon look. For details on how to draw a crescent moon, follow the tutorial below:
Main supplies:
- Pen or Marker
- White paper
How to Draw a Crescent Moon Landscape
Medium: Ink
Level: Easy
After drawing the crescent moon outline, there are many creative ways to make your landscape unique. Here, the artist drew the crescent moon horizontally, serving as the horizon line.
Make use of the shape of the moon and its space to frame your landscape. With the crescent moon serving as an anchor, fill the sky with stars, clouds, or a combination of both.
The possibilities are endless for creating a unique background for your crescent moon.
Main supplies:
- Pen
- White paper
How to Draw a Crescent Moon Scenery with Oil Pastels
Medium: Oil pastels
Level: Easy
Create a scenery with a crescent moon with your oil pastels in a few easy steps. The crescent moon stands against the night sky in this night sky painting. You may use darker colors to make the crescent moon and stars stand out.
Then, draw the landscape you want. In this tutorial, the artist drew a valley and road scenery. The road leads to the crescent moon in the center. Use white acrylic paint to paint the moon and stars.
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How to Draw a Crescent Room with Colored Pencils
Medium: Colored pencils
Level: Easy to Intermediate
This realistic drawing of the crescent moon will make you feel like you’ve gone out of this world with its intricate details. All you need is a few colored pencils and some patience.
Using a black pad, draw the moon’s shape, which will be your basic outline. Make sure you draw the edges in a curved form and that it’s not too pointy. Then start shading.
Use white gel pencils to create the highlights and a blend of gray and white colored pencils for the middle. You should be able to create a smooth transition from one color to the other with some practice.
Main supplies:
Floating Crescent Moon Painting Acrylic
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Intermediate to advanced
Painting a crescent moon with acrylics can be a great challenge, but also very rewarding. This painting features a floating crescent moon on a body of water.
Since the moon glows, the reflections in the water will be incredibly important to bring life and realism to your painting.
First, you should plan out the composition of your painting. Think of the angle and size of your crescent moon, as well as the colors you want to use.
You should also consider the scene surrounding your moon. Do you want to include other objects, such as a boat, or anything else? Once you have your composition planned out, you can begin to paint your unique masterpiece.
Main supplies:
Crescent Moon with Clouds and Stars Painting
Medium: Acrylic
Level: Easy
This dreamy painting of a crescent moon surrounded by clouds and stars is the perfect way to capture the beauty of nighttime. With its soft colors, it will make any room look fresh and inviting. Here’s how to draw this magical scene.
Main supplies:
Read also: 38 Best Canvas for Acrylic Painting for Beginners that Professionals use
How to Draw a Crescent Moon FAQ
How do I make my crescent moon look more realistic?
To make your crescent moon look more realistic, try adding some shading. To do this, draw in some darker curved lines inside the crescent moon shape. You can also add small patches of light and dark to create a more realistic look.
Can I draw a crescent moon in different colors?
Yes, you can! Try drawing the outer edge of the crescent moon in one color and the inner edge in a different color. This will create an interesting effect that can make your crescent moon more beautiful and unique.
How do I draw a crescent moon with stars?
To draw a crescent moon with stars, draw small dots inside the shape of the crescent moon. You can use white or silver to create a beautiful night sky effect or even add some sparkles for an extra magical touch.
Wrap Up
Drawing a crescent moon is an enjoyable and rewarding experience, regardless of your skill level. With the right guidance and techniques, you can create stunning pieces of art. Just remember to practice, have fun and enjoy the process! Happy drawing!
Masha Eretnova, born in 1991, is a Buenos Aires-based certified teacher, artist, and member of the Professional Artist Association with 20+ years of personal painting journey.
She started painting and drawing very early and is now an international abstract artist and educator passionate about acrylic painting, gouache, and crafts.
Her works are part of international exhibitions and contests, including ArtlyMix (Brazil), Al-Tiba 9 (Spain), Exhibizone (Canada), Italy, and many more.
Besides her artistic pursuits, Masha holds a post-grad diploma in Teaching Film Photography and 2 music school diplomas: piano and opera singing.