Groovy Snowman Painting

This 8x10 acrylic painting, completed in 2016, was inspired by my efforts to master snowy scenes.  

The piece is a recreation of a work by the talented artist Vickie Wade from her Snow and Christmas Collection. I admired how she blended soft, cool winter tones with the warm earthy hues of the children’s jackets. I aimed to capture that same effect and was pleased with the result.

Check out Vickie Wade Fine Art Collections

Below is a series of photos showcasing the painting process, starting with the finished piece and followed by step-by-step progress shots.

Santa’s Winter Wonderland: A Journey in Christmas Painting

Creating Christmas-themed paintings is both fun and challenging. The image below captures my journey of trial and error—adding and removing characters until the composition finally came together.  

My process is often a bit scattered, much like my preparatory paintings, as I explore ideas before committing to a final concept. Before starting this particular piece, I spent hours searching for inspiration, sifting through countless photos. Ultimately, the idea for this project sparked from a charming Christmas card.  

When my mind is bursting with ideas, I often create quick thumbnail sketches to refine the layout. If my memory falters, I rely on reference photos as visual aids to bring clarity to my vision.  

Deciding on the story I wanted to tell with this painting was a challenge. My first attempt featured a lively scene with children playing in the snow—building a snowman, a dog enjoying an igloo, and kids sledding in the background. While it was fun to paint, the composition felt overly busy and lacked cohesive planning.  

In the end, I opted for a simpler yet whimsical narrative: Santa building a snowman on his winter wonderland farm. This second idea became the final version, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.  

Painting Christmas Cards

When it is cold and blustery outside and you’re looking for a fun Christmas activity to do with the kids? Paint seasonal greeting cards. 

For this project, I used 5.5 x 8.5-inch cold-pressed watercolor paper. I started by folding the paper in half and then painted my subject horizontally. Although I typically use watercolor paints, I decided to use acrylics for this piece to achieve a more vibrant, textured effect. While you can choose any theme for your greeting cards, I opted to paint a snowman, inspired by the winter season and my love for capturing the charm of snowy landscapes.

Snowman on a Winter’s Night

‘Tis the season to paint winter scenes! But how does one capture the magic of snow on canvas? I quickly discovered that creating realistic snow takes more than a few dabs of white paint. After several attempts, I turned to YouTube in search of fun, beginner-friendly tutorials featuring winter themes.  

For me, snow is one of the trickiest subjects to paint. It’s not just white—it’s a blend of cool, warm, and neutral tones that bring it to life. To make the process enjoyable rather than overwhelming, I found a simple step-by-step video tutorial for painting an adorable snowman. It’s perfect for beginners and makes for a charming winter project.  

Looking for a creative gift idea? This snowman painting could be the perfect personal touch! Check out the video tutorial linked below and start your own winter masterpiece.  

Tutorial of “Snowman on winter night” 

 

Repurpose and Renew

I often repurpose old canvases to bring new subjects to life. However, not every project goes smoothly. For example, when I try to paint purely from imagination, the results often fall short. Without the guidance of reference photos, my brain struggles to create visually compelling images. That’s when I turn to my photo library or search online for inspiration.  

For this project, I’m exploring an underwater scene featuring a curious octopus being stalked by hungry sharks.  

Stay tuned—I'll share more photos as the painting progresses! Inspirational Photo

Refining details surrounding the subject help create texture 

Detailing shadows and enhance lighting 

 

Balancing Inspiration and Originality in Art

When starting a new project, I seek out inspiration photos of the subject I want to capture. If I don’t have the right images in my personal collection, I search online to find the perfect composition and perspective. For this particular project, I was looking for reference photos such as an octopus, sharks, sea grass and starfish which I will incorporate into my work.

People often ask me, “Isn’t that copyright infringement?” While it can be, I usually alter the image to make it my own. I’m reminded of a quote often attributed to Picasso: *“Good artists copy; great artists steal.”* I’m not suggesting this is inherently right or wrong, but it’s how I’ve learned to paint a variety of subjects. Without a photographic memory, this approach helps me refine my artistic process.

Look out for my next blog post when I merge my subjects.