This mixed media winter scene painting and collage brings together simple art techniques and materials for a unique and colorful winter painting!

Watercolors paints supply the cool color scheme and old fashioned paper doilies provide a delicate touch to this winter scene painting and mixed media collage.

What is mixed media anyways…

Mixed media is an artwork in which the artist uses one or more material or technique.  I love mixed media for kids.  A simple technique can be made to look much more complex and sophisticated by layering it with other processes.  Kids get to engage in age appropriate, fun, process art but they also get the satisfaction of an amazing finished artwork!  That’s a win all around! 

For this project you’ll need watercolor paints, the children’s dry cake variety is fine.  We used plastic wrap and salt to get these awesome textures.  You’ll also need to grab white paper, a glue stick, and some old fashioned paper doilies.  This combo pack of doilies is way cheaper than what I bought at our local discount store.

Cool colors of a winter scene….

We worked on 8 x 12 paper but you can work as big or as little as you choose.   In the example above we quickly covered the entire paper with cool colors.  I’m talking about laying blobs of color and water, and not neatly either.  Lay out scrap paper or a rubber craft mat and set your kids loose.  No rules apply here. 

While the paint is still wet take a piece or two of clear plastic wrap, like Saran Wrap.  Gently crinkle it up and lay in the wet paint.  Take a pinch of chunky kosher style salt and drop it in a puddle of paint.  Resist the urge to touch the painting again till dry.  The paint under the plastic wrap will take longer to dry, maybe even a day.  Patience is required.

The plastic wrap will allow the paint to pool and dry in unusual patterns creating a lot of texture and depth.  The salt will brush off when dry leaving behind a super interesting, crystallized pattern that’s perfect for this winter scene painting! 

There are so many amazing possibilities when working with watercolor paints. Check out this post for more detail on the techniques above as well as seven other watercolor techniques perfect for any age! 

 

This mixed media winter scene painting and collage brings together simple art techniques and materials for a unique and colorful winter painting!

Just add snow….

This winter scene painting needs some details!  Use an additional piece of white paper, just like was used for the background, for creating a snowy hill in the middle ground.  Use scissors if you must but I love the messy, irregular look of torn paper here.  Since kids are generally discouraged from tearing paper to bits that makes it extra fun, right?  Encourage kids to use both big and little pieces of paper to create a landform across the bottom of their paper.

Lacey paper doilies are the perfect beginning to snowy, delicate pine trees.  Cut a doily into fourths.  Fold the fourth of a doily into half, open back up and fold edges into the “half” crease.  Put glue on the two folded flaps on the back and glue down, allowing the front of the tree to pop right off the page!

If you’re working with young kids and this folding and cutting method is too much feel free to chop those doilies up any which way.  Use plain fourths or stack cut doilies up to make a multi layered Christmas tree.  

This is a great place to chat a bit about what roles the foreground, middleground, and background play in a landscape.  This free printable makes for a super easy illustration of these concepts.

This mixed media winter scene painting and collage brings together simple art techniques and materials for a unique and colorful winter painting!

Every winter scene painting needs some shine….

While the doilies add a bit of delicateness I still thought this mixed media project needed a little shine.  Grab a tiny scrap of cardboard and a shallow plate with a little shimmery paint of your choice.  The sample above used gold acrylic paint.  Dip a square end of cardboard into the paint and print a straight line in the sky.  Print again to create an “x” and a third time to create a star shape.  

This little addition is a quick and fun way to add another layer of interest.  If time or supplies are short this step is totally optional or you can change it up to fit your needs!  Use glitter star stickers or make stars with glitter glue! 

If you enjoyed this winter scene painting and collage be sure to take a look at this collage project for a fresh take on the same wintery subject! 

This mixed media winter scene painting and collage brings together simple art techniques and materials for a unique and colorful winter painting!

If you enjoyed this winter scene painting and collage please share on your favorite social media channel!  

Every single share helps me to bring you more free printable resources and fun projects! 

 

The Artists and the Elements is a year long visual arts curriculum designed to connect the elements of art, art history, and fun, hands on art projects!