For the Mindfultober “Shadow” prompt I thought it would be interesting to use just one colour and sculpt a crescent moon out of paper and paint. We make this process mindful through the focused care and attention we give our painting and through our attention to the small details which make the whole.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Begin by gathering the following materials:

• Your favourite dark watercolours: Pick colours that speak to you today, in this moment.
• A big brush and some smaller brushes: Choose smaller brushes relative to your size of paper that will allow you to work on small details.
• 2 glasses of water: One to rinse your brushes and one for clean water.
• A palette or a plate: Use a palette or a plate to mix your paint colours.
• Something to draw a circle with: You can use a compass or trace around a cup or similar to create your circle.
• Paper: Use watercolour or thicker paper to get the best results. I’m using a miniature sketchbook I made myself, but you can use anything you like.

Step 2: Draw a circle

With whatever tool you’re using, draw a circle on your paper. This will serve as the foundation for your moon.

Step 3: Create a crescent with an overlapping arc

Next, create a crescent shape within the circle by drawing an overlapping arc. I use a slightly bigger circle for this arc. Take your time to get a shape that you like here, as it will be the core of your artwork.

Step 4: Create a dark mix of colour

Now mix your watercolours to create a deep hue that you like. This mixture will be used both for the sky and to add depth and shadow to your crescent moon so spend the time getting a colour you really enjoy working with.

Step 5: Paint everything except the circle

Use your big brush and the dark mixture to paint everything outside the circle. This will create the illusion of a night sky surrounding your pale moon.

Step 6: Dry this layer / allow it to dry

Allow your artwork to dry completely before moving on to the next step. You can use a heat tool, hairdryer or simply let it air dry naturally.

Step 7: Paint everything except the crescent

Now paint everything outside the crescent shape. This further defines the moon’s silhouette by deepening the background colour. It also leaves a subtle shadow of the hidden portion of the moon.

Step 8: Dry this layer / allow it to dry

Again, make sure this layer is dry before you move on. Accidentally smudging paint onto your unpainted areas can be really frustrating and is worth taking the time to avoid.

Step 9: Paint the dominant shadows on the crescent

Use your dark mixture paint the biggest areas of shadows on the crescent moon. This gives the core structures and shapes on the moon, which we’ll then refine. You can use a reference image, or your imagination to create these shadows.

Step 10: Add details with a smaller brush

Using a smaller brush, start to add details to the shadows on crescent moon. Take your time and enjoy this work. You can use a reference image, or your imagination to bring details in here.

Step 11: Continue to add details & darken shadows

Continue to develop your painting by adding more details and darkening the shadows on your crescent moon.

Step 12: Outline the full circle

Outline the entire circle that encompasses your moon. This adds a bit of contrast which helps to define the moon’s edges against the night sky.

Step 13: Add any final details needed

Lastly, make any final touches or adjustments as needed until you feel that crescent moon is finished.

Step 14: Enjoy your finished art

Once your artwork has dried, step back and appreciate the beauty of your crescent moon. Then thank yourself for making the time to do something just for you.

See a Real Time Example for Mindfultober Shadow

You can watch my real-time example of this approach here – it’s about 20 minutes long:

Take it Further

You might enjoy exploring the use of shadows further with my Skillshare Class: Watercolor for Beginners: How to Add Depth & Form through Layering This class explores the use of shadows and highlights to create beautiful images that have dimension and form. If you don’t have a Skillshare membership, this link will give you 1 month’s free access to Skillshare, where you can take this class plus thousands of others. (If you choose to continue your access after a month with a paid subscription, I’ll be paid a small commission.)

Mindfultober Specific Blog Posts:

• Mindfultober
• Circle Part 1 of 2
• Circle Part 2 of 2
• Intertwine
• Tiny

Final Thoughts

“Mindfultober Shadow” is a about combining art and mindfulness, allowing you to discover the power of staying present in your creative process. The journey of painting a crescent moon is not just about the final artwork; it’s about the journey itself, the calmness it brings, and the mindfulness it nurtures.

I look forward to seeing what you create.

Happy drawing!