moon drawing step by step

The ability to draw is a gift. Yes, it comes more naturally for some, those seemingly born with an eye for a line and a hand that follows the mind. For the rest of us, it's a foreign language that is difficult to decipher. But drawing is not an innate ability. It's a skill, one that parents — through encouragement and cheerleading — can hone in their kids.

A great way for anyone to start is with a step-by-step drawing. For the skilled artists or the kid that can't color between the lines, following a practiced artist step-by-step as they build out a character or scene is a great way to see how a pro does it. It's also the perfect way to practice and to come away with a drawing that is most likely beyond your skill.

Here, Fatherly's resident professional artist — illustration fellow Connor Robinson — has come with a suite of fun Halloween drawings (because, kids + Halloween) including pumpkins, bats, and here, a spooky clouded moon.

So here's how to draw the moon in 5 simple steps. If your kid loses interest in drawing, there are always Halloween jokes to turn to.

What You'll Need

A paper
A pencil
Some crayons (optional)

The key to drawing a realistic moon is knowing how to properly combine round and spherical shapes. You need a big one and then smaller ones to form the craters.

Step 1: Start by drawing a big circle across the page

a circle- step on in drawing a moon

Try a few drafts of this first step and let your kids know that drawing a perfect circle is an impossible skill even Rembrandt could not master. It's also a great way to practice drawing skills.

Step 2: Scribble a cloud towards the top and bottom of your circle

a drawing of a circle with whispy clouds step 2 in drawing a moon

Use short connected curved lines to achieve this. There's room for some creativity here. Want a whispy cloud? Try out a few more straight lines.

Step 3: Fill the bigger circle with smaller spheres of different sizes

a drawing of a circle with whispy clouds and small craters step 3 in drawing a moon

These smaller spheres will form the craters on the moon.

Step 4: Draw a line across the bigger spheres to form a crescent

a drawing of a moon with whispy clouds and small craters step 4

You can also use your pencil at this point to add detail by drawing short curved lines across the surface of the moon.

Step 5: Shade in the crescent, with a black pencil to highlight your craters

a drawing of a moon with whispy clouds and small craters and bats flying across it step 5

That's it! Now is the time for your kid to add some flare. You can color the clouds or moon in eery shades, add in bats for a more holistic Halloween effect, or get out the glue and glitter and go to town on this portrait. Be sure to hang it up after all is done — an excellent addition to your usual Halloween decorations.

Completed colored drawing of a moon with whispy clouds, craters and bats flying across it