Every year, white and soft pink cherry blossoms are found blooming all over Japan. This annual rite of spring is eagerly celebrated by gathering in parks to picnic under the flowering trees. These trees, known as sakura, carry great cultural significance for the Japanese. With their short blooming season, they remain an enduring metaphor for the ephemeral nature of life. They are also a popular good luck symbol, and can frequently be found depicted in art, as well as many consumer goods such as clothing and stationary.
Sakura is native to Japan and other Asian countries, but can also be found growing in many other parts of the world, prompting similar kinds of celebrations. This project is a nice way to welcome spring after a long and loathsome winter.
Materials
- watercolour paper
- assortment of pink and white papers
- brown or black ink
- small paintbrush
- hole punch
- flower punch
- glue stick
Instructions
Begin by viewing some images of cherry blossoms. The following sites will be helpful:
Cherry Blossoms in Art:
In a Temple Yard by Hiroshi Yoshida
Illustration of Flowering Cherry Blossoms at Ueno Park by Hashimoto Chikanobu
Mount Fuji With Cherry trees in Bloom by Katsushika Hokusai
Next, paint some branches on your paper using the ink. While this dries, use your hole punch and flower punch to create shapes in a variety of pink and white papers. Lay them on the branches and when you’re pleased with the layout, lift a few off at a time, apply some glue to the paper, and press them back on. Craft/flower punches can be found in art supply and scrapbooking stores.
This project was featured on Smiling Like Sunshine and Serenity You
ArtClubBlog 
Lovely ,Thanks for joining us at Creative Mondays 🙂
I love Cherry blossoms, this would be a fun project!
that is really lovely – I love the way your instructions just say “paint some branches”, your branch is very artistic – i suspect mine may be somewhat less so
You’re too funny! It’s really easy if you have a look at a tree or a photo of one. Good luck.
Lovely. I love how the flowers are lifting off of the canvas a bit, it really gives some dimension to the piece.
Thanks Jessica. Glad you like it 🙂
So very pretty, Cherry Blossoms are beautiful. Thanks for showing us how, I never would of thought of it. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday’s Best!
Thanks Cathy!
This is gorgeous.I’d love for you to share it on our spring carnival.
http://smilinglikesunshine1.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-carnival-monthly-round-up.html
Thank you!
Just found your blog today and I’m loving it- fabulous place for a mom with an art background. This project is fantastic! Thanks for sharing!
Such a nice response to my blog. Thank you so much!
Featuring this today on Serenity Saturday party!!
serenityyou.blogspot.com
Natasha xx
Thank you so much Natasha. I’ll be dropping by!
So pretty! Thanks so much for sharing this with the Spring Carnival. 🙂 I featured your post here: http://sunnydaytodaymama.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/all-year-round-week-eight-7-spring.html
Your Spring Carnival is a great idea. Thank you for the feature!