Quick answer

Paint a moonlight bandit scene with the Junior Artist Painting Kit by following these simple steps: set up your canvas, sketch the raccoon, paint the night sky, add the moon, detail the raccoon, and finish with highlights.

Why the Junior Artist Kit works for this scene

The Junior Artist Painting Kit includes everything you need for a nighttime painting: pre-measured acrylic paints, a brush set, and a canvas. The kit's paint colors are chosen to work well together, making it easy to create a glowing moon and a dark sky without mixing from scratch.

Step-by-step painting guide

  1. Set up your workspace: Lay out your Junior Artist Painting Kit on a flat, covered surface. Pour the paint colors into the provided palette, and have a cup of water and paper towels ready for cleaning brushes between colors. Common mistake: using too much water can make the paint too runny. Dip just the tip of the brush.
  2. Sketch the raccoon: Lightly draw the raccoon's shape on the canvas using a pencil. Focus on the head, ears, and the mask-like face. Keep the sketch simple—a circle for the head, triangles for ears, and ovals for eyes. Checkpoint: make the sketch faint so it doesn't show through the paint. Erase any heavy lines.
  3. Paint the night sky: Use a flat brush to apply dark blue or black paint to the background, leaving a circle area for the moon. Paint in smooth, even strokes. Let the sky dry completely before moving on. Common mistake: painting the moon area too small. Leave a large enough circle so the moon stands out.
  4. Add the glowing moon: Mix a small amount of white with a touch of yellow to create a warm glow. Paint the moon circle, then blend the edges outward with a dry brush to create a soft halo effect. Checkpoint: blend while the paint is still wet for a smooth transition. If it dries, add a thin layer of water first.
  5. Detail the raccoon: Using a small round brush, paint the raccoon's face: dark gray or black for the mask, white for the cheeks and muzzle, and black for the nose and eyes. Add small ears with dark tips. Common mistake: making the mask too wide. Keep it centered around the eyes for a realistic raccoon look.
  6. Finish with highlights: Add tiny white dots to the eyes for a sparkle, and a few stars in the sky using the tip of a small brush. You can also add a subtle glow around the moon with a dry brush. Checkpoint: let the painting dry completely before adding highlights to avoid smudging.

Product information

  • Moonlight Bandit: Create an adorable raccoon under a glowing moon! This playful “masked bandit” is equal parts cute and mischievous, making it a fun nighttime adventure to paint. The Moonlight Bandit kit's pre-selected colors and guided tutorial simplify painting a night scene, so kids can focus on the fun of bringing the raccoon to life.

    Moonlight Bandit

    Moonlight Bandit