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The Magic of Mid-Autumn: A Guide to Creating Beautiful and Simple Moon Festival Art for Your Little Ones

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a special time for children to create joyful and meaningful memories with their loved ones. They can learn the art of painting festive scenes, from the vibrant lanterns to the energetic lion dances, capturing the essence of this magical celebration.

Administrator

14 July, 2024

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a special time for children, filled with fun cultural activities and entertainment. Let’s explore some of these traditions by drawing scenes of children playing, carrying lanterns, and enjoying mooncakes.

For further inspiration:

1Drawing a Mid-Autumn Festival Scene

This drawing will feature three characters and street scenes on A4 paper. Start by sketching the people first, and then move on to the surrounding environment.

Step 1 Draw a female character with long hair, a fringe, and a dress. She should be holding a butterfly lantern, and her position should be slightly to the left of the center of the scene. Make her about ⅔ the height of the A4 paper.

Step 2 The second character, a male, should be placed to the left of the female character, at the far left of the drawing. Draw him standing taller than the female, with his hair styled with a fringe, wearing sandals, and holding a star lantern.

Step 3 Draw the final female character on the right side of the first character, at the far right of the drawing. She should have her hair tied in two bunches with flower clips, and wear a dress and long pants with shoes. She will also be holding a lantern.

Step 4 Finally, add some greenery in the foreground and a building in the background. Don’t forget to draw a path under the children’s feet to indicate the road. In the distant sky, add some clouds and bright stars to complement the moon.

Mid-Autumn Festival Scene

2Drawing a Mooncake

Step 1 Begin by drawing the outline of a square mooncake with a rounded border using a black brush pen.

Step 2 Using the same black brush pen, draw straight lines downward to create the sides of the mooncake. Connect these lines with curved lines, similar to the top of the mooncake.

Step 3 To create the decorative pattern on the mooncake, start with an oval in the center. From there, draw eight petals around the oval. Then, outline the entire mooncake with a darker shade of black to create a more defined shape for coloring.

Step 4 It’s time to color the mooncake! Use yellow and orange brush pens, being careful not to smudge the black outline. Fill in the spaces between the petals with orange, and use yellow for the rest of the mooncake.

Step 5 Finally, use a brown brush pen to outline the pattern and the edges of the mooncake to give it a baked, realistic look.

For more guidance: Check out our tutorial on drawing beautiful and simple Christmas scenes.

Mooncake Drawing

3Drawing a Lion Dance Performance

This drawing will feature three characters: two male performers dressed as a lion, and a female character following them with a star lantern. The background will depict a night scene with trees, mountains, and stars.

Step 1 Start with the first male performer wearing the lion head. Draw him slightly to the left of the scene, focusing on his smiling face, hands holding the lion head up, and the lion’s head.

Step 2 Draw a cloth extending from the lion’s head to cover the second performer. For the second performer, draw him standing under the cloth, with his hands raised holding the cloth, a big smile on his face, and his legs spread apart.

Step 3 The third character, a female, will be holding a star lantern in her right hand, with one foot on the ground and the other lifted as if she’s skipping. Give her short hair and a dress. Position her slightly to the right of the scene.

Step 4 For the background, include: trees, mountains, clouds, the moon, and two decorative ribbons. Feel free to follow the example illustration or add your own creative touches.

Lion Dance Performance

Step 5 Now, it’s time to add color! Use various colors for the lion’s head, with an orange tongue and red eyes. Dress the first male performer in a dark blue top and light blue pants. The second male performer can wear a green top and brown pants, while the female character can wear a pink dress with a white top. For the sky, use a dark blue shade to represent the night sky, a yellow moon, green trees, yellow paths, and multicolored ribbons.

Colored Lion Dance Performance

4Drawing a Mid-Autumn Lantern

Step 1 Start by drawing a circle in the center of your paper, with two straight lines and an oval above and below it.

Step 2 Next, add the hanging cord and the lantern’s handle.

Step 3 Draw four curved lines extending downward, resembling a gourd shape.

Step 4 Decorate the bottom of the lantern with tassels by drawing circles and three tassels right below them.

Step 5 Finally, color the lantern using red brush pens. Use red for the outermost frame, yellow for the next frame, orange for the central frame, and green and blue for the two innermost frames on the right. Color the tassels red, and the tree holding the lantern a dark pink.

Mid-Autumn Lantern

For further inspiration:

5The Most Beautiful and Meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival Drawing

Mid-Autumn Festival on the Street

Dreamy Mid-Autumn Night with Chang’e on the Moon

Simple Lantern Parade with Lion Dance and Lanterns

Joyful Mid-Autumn Festival with Parents

Easy Mid-Autumn Festival Drawing with Wax Crayons

For more ideas: Explore our article on the Mid-Autumn Festival

Keep these drawing ideas in mind to help children understand and appreciate the cultural significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Frequently asked questions

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional holiday celebrated by Vietnamese and Chinese people, among other Asian cultures. It is a time to gather with family and friends to admire the full moon, which is believed to be at its brightest and roundest of the year. The festival celebrates the harvest, and it is also a time to pray for good fortune and prosperity.

Moon festival art is a fun and creative way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with your children. It involves creating simple and beautiful artworks that depict the moon, rabbits, and other traditional symbols associated with the festival. This art form is a great way to teach children about the culture and traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival, while also fostering their creativity and appreciation for the natural world.

There are a few simple steps you can follow to create captivating moon festival art: First, gather your art supplies, including paper, paint, brushes, and any other materials you wish to use. Second, start by painting a simple background, such as a starry night sky or a serene landscape. Then, paint the moon – you can make it as simple or detailed as you like. Finally, add traditional symbols such as rabbits, mooncakes, and lanterns to complete your artwork. You can also involve your children in the process, making it a fun and educational activity for them.

Yes, there are several traditional symbols commonly featured in moon festival art. The rabbit is a prominent symbol, as it is believed to live on the moon in Asian folklore. Other elements include mooncakes, which are traditional pastries eaten during the festival, and lanterns, which are often carried during celebrations. You can also include flowers, such as osmanthus blossoms, which are associated with the festival, and autumn-themed elements like leaves and pumpkins.

Absolutely! Creating moon festival art is a wonderful way to introduce your children to the rich culture and traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival. You can tell them stories about the moon goddess Chang’e, the legendary Hou Yi who shot down the suns, or the folklore of the moon rabbit. By involving them in this creative process and sharing these stories, you can foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for Asian culture and traditions.