How to Paint a Snow Village
- 1). Prepare the canvas by applying two coats of varnish. Lightly sand the surface with a fine-grit sandpaper. Remove any debris with a tack cloth. Place the canvas on an easel or flat surface.
- 2). Set up a work station. Lay out paintbrushes and paints. A heavy acrylic paint is best as it mimics the texture of oil paint without the mess or lengthy drying time. Set out a container of water to rinse brushes in.
- 3). Blend a small amount water with blue and violet paint. Use a wide bristle paintbrush to paint a wash over three-quarters of the canvas. Paint in horizontal strokes starting at the top and working down the canvas. Add additional blue paint to the mixture, and deepen the bottom half of the color wash. This will add an evening sky to the snow village and also be the same colors used for shading in the snow. This also creates the illusion of the snow reflecting the sky. Allow the color wash to dry.
- 4). Paint a white circle in the sky to create a moon. Add a small amount of yellow to the center of the moon, blending it into the white paint.
- 5). Use a soft graphite pencil to lightly sketch in the village. Draw various sized houses to create an interesting snow village. Consider adding people walking in the streets. Include street lights and parked cars.
- 6). Mix some white paint with a small amount of yellow. This will create a light ivory color that will act as a base for the snow. Paint in all the areas where snow will be on the ground. Be generous with the snow, giving it a deep fluffy appearance. Mix a small amount of blue or violet with the ivory color. Add shadows throughout the snow. Shade around any objects that lay on top of the snow or touch it. For example, add a small amount of blue or violet around the base of any trees or underneath parked cars.
- 7). Use a small paintbrush to paint in any houses, trees and streetlights. Add pine needles to evergreen trees, and leave other trees bare. Use a dark brown or black for tree trunks and branches. Use a liner brush and yellow paint to add highlights to all the tree branches. Paint all windows and street lights with a bright yellow color. This will create the illusion of glowing lights.
- 8). Add snow to the tops of all the houses and on the tree branches. Add shadows using blue or violet paint to the places where the snow meets the houses.
- 9). Allow the paint to dry, and add two coats of varnish.