Painting Kelp: Helps Winter Blues

 

 Beginning Phase

Adding Subject 

Since January is nearly over, I’ve found myself shifting into the mindset of warmer weather. One of my favorite ways to embrace summer is by heading to the beach. Unfortunately, living in the Midwest means the closest option is the river shoreline—far from ideal, especially after winter, with its lingering smells of chemicals and dead fish. Not exactly paradise.  

That’s why this is the perfect time to create an ocean scene on canvas. Above is the start of my newest painting, inspired by where I’d love to be right now: scuba diving through an amber forest of golden, flowing kelp beds, where fish gracefully dance in the turquoise depths. Absolute heaven! Stay tune for the finish.

Painting Winter Scenes

These snow-themed paintings showcase the variety of colors that can capture the essence of snow—ranging from blues, violets, and grays, to greens and browns—each offering a unique perspective of a snowy landscape.

As I've discussed in previous posts, painting snow is as much about patience and practice as it is about achieving the level of accuracy you find satisfying. For me, the goal is realism, though I often feel I fall short. My style leans toward a craft-like approach, but I continually refine my techniques to achieve a more realistic application.

For beginners, it can be overwhelming to follow expert tutorials focused on realism, especially when you're just looking for something fun and accessible. Personally, I find that keeping the process enjoyable makes learning much more rewarding.

What I love most about this process is how it allows me to learn by recreating, which ultimately helps me create something even better with each project. It has been invaluable in refining my skills and deepening my understanding of the medium.

Gnome In Snow

This playful painting of Gnome Santa was created quickly but turned out to be a charming addition to my snow collection. It also made a delightful Christmas gift!

Christmas Lighthouse Painting

A lighthouse adorned for Christmas stands resilient in a snowy dusk filled scene, surrounded by a sky painted in soft pinks and pastel blues. A large wreath hangs from the tower, while a nearby Christmas tree sparkles with twinkling lights. Snow falls gently, blanketing the white picket fence and the warmly lit house attached to the lighthouse. The colorful sky reflects on the snow, enhancing the festive glow of the lights and creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere.  

Below is the final painting, followed by a breakdown of the steps taken to bring it to completion.  

In the second stage, I began by blocking in the base colors. For the ground, I used a mix of Prussian blue, ultramarine blue, and a touch of white to create depth and coldness in the snow. The lighthouse was painted with pink tones and muted violet hues, achieved by blending sienna, crimson, ultramarine blue, and white for a soft yet striking effect.  

For the rooftops of both the house and lighthouse, I combined burnt umber, sienna, ultramarine blue, and a small amount of white to achieve a weathered, wintry look. The Christmas tree, garland, and wreath were created using a mix of bluish green, ultramarine blue, yellow, burnt umber, crimson red, and white for rich, festive greenery. Finally, the glow of the Christmas lights was captured with a blend of yellow, a hint of sienna, and white, adding warmth and a magical touch to the scene.

 

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.