Winter holds a quiet kind of magic: the hush of freshly fallen snow, the way light bounces off the frozen ground, and the small signs of life that remind us that even in stillness, there is movement. In this tutorial, we’ll paint two rabbits nestled in a snowy landscape, using soft washes and gentle details to bring warmth to the cold.
This piece is about contrast between vast, open space and small, vital creatures. Between loose, flowing watercolor and the precise, delicate marks that define form. Between the stillness of winter and the quiet energy of the rabbits within it.
Supplies
Watercolor paper (cold press for texture)/hot press for a smoother feel
Watercolor paints (blues, warm browns, yellows, and greens)
Assorted brushes (small for details, medium for washes)
A fine liner brush or small detail brush
A pencil (for light sketching)
A clean water jar and paper towel
Step 1: The Winter Sky & Background
Begin with a wet-on-wet wash for the sky, using a mix of soft blues and grays. Let the colors blend naturally to create an atmospheric, moody winter sky. As the paint moves, drop in hints of deeper blue to suggest distant clouds or mist.
Once the sky is dry, add a distant tree line using a mix of deep green and brown. Keep it loose and slightly blurred, this will create a sense of depth.
Step 2: Defining the Snowy Landscape
Using a pale wash of warm ochres and cool grays, define the snowy ground. Keep some areas of the paper untouched to represent bright snow. Add a winding path or a subtle hint of uneven terrain by layering in soft shadows with diluted paint.
Step 3: Painting the Trees
Using a mix of brown and deep blue, paint the foreground trees with bold, gestural strokes. Let the branches extend upward and outward, keeping the forms slightly irregular for a natural look. While the paint is still damp, soften some edges with a clean, damp brush to create a sense of depth.
Step 4: Adding the Rabbits
Sketch the basic shapes of the rabbits lightly with a pencil. Use warm browns and soft grays to paint their fur, leaving small highlights where the light touches them. Keep their features simple just a hint of eyes, ears, and whiskers. A fine liner brush can help with delicate details like fur texture and small shadows under their bodies.
Step 5: Final Details & Shadows
Add soft shadows beneath the rabbits and trees using a diluted blue-gray mix. This will ground them in the snowy landscape. Adjust any highlights or deepen any shadows where needed. Step back and assess the overall balance of the painting…sometimes the most important final step is knowing when to stop!
*I kept going on my painting for a bit after the tutorial ended. This gave my paper time to dry and me time to settle with fresh eyes. Adding more to the trees in the middle ground area with branches helped me to feel my painting was complete.
Journal Prompts for Reflection
1. Winters Quiet Presence: How do you experience stillness in your own life? What does winter teach you about slowing down?
2. Small but Resilient: Rabbits may be small, but they are strong and adaptable. What is something in your life that feels small but holds great importance?
3. Traces in the Snow: In winter, footprints and trails tell the story of unseen movement. If you could leave an invisible path behind you, what would it say about where you’ve been and where you’re going?
Final Thoughts
This painting is an exploration of contrasts-light and shadow, movement and stillness, warmth and cold. It invites you to observe not only the landscape before you but the quiet world within yourself.
I’d love to hear how this painting resonates with you! Share your reflections, your artwork, or your own winter stories in the comments.
Sending so much creativity!
Char XXX
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