Draw a snowy silhouette with mixed media
Create a snowy silhouette scene using mixed media: sketch trees and figures, paint backgrounds, add torn paper, salt, and white paint for texture.
About this activity
Create a snowy silhouette scene using mixed media: sketch trees and figures, paint backgrounds, add torn paper, salt, and white paint for texture.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Clear a flat workspace and protect it with scrap paper or a paper towel so your paints and glue won’t make a mess.
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Step 2
Use a pencil to lightly sketch a horizon line and the shapes of trees and figures where you want your silhouettes.
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Step 3
Trace and fill the trees and figures with a black marker or black paint so they become dark silhouettes.
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Step 4
Paint a colorful sky background around the silhouettes using watercolors or tempera, blending colors from top to bottom.
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Step 5
While the background paint is still wet sprinkle salt lightly over the painted sky to create textured sparkles as it dries.
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Step 6
Let the paint dry completely so the salt can set into the texture.
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Step 7
Gently brush off the dry salt with your finger or a dry brush to reveal the starry snowy texture.
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Step 8
Tear scrap white paper into snowdrift shapes to build up snowy ground and small snow patches.
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Step 9
Arrange the torn paper snow where you like on the page to check placement before gluing.
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Step 10
Glue each torn paper snowdrift onto the page and press gently so they stick flat.
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Step 11
Use white paint to dot or splatter falling snowflakes and to add bright highlights on the torn-paper snow.
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Step 12
Add small white paint details on tree branches and figures for snow resting on them.
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Step 13
Let the whole artwork dry completely before moving it.
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Step 14
Share your finished snowy silhouette on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you create a snowy silhouette scene using mixed media?
To create a snowy silhouette scene, lightly sketch trees and figures on mixed-media paper. Paint a wet gradient background (blue to purple or gray) and sprinkle salt onto the wet paint for icy texture. Let dry, brush off salt, then use torn white paper glued along the bottom for snowbanks. Paint or fill silhouettes with black acrylic or marker to contrast. Add white splatters with a toothbrush or small brush for falling snow.
What materials do I need for a snowy silhouette mixed-media project?
You'll need mixed-media or heavyweight watercolor paper, pencils and eraser, a set of watercolors or diluted acrylics for the background, black acrylic or tempera for silhouettes, white paint for highlights, brushes (flat and round), a toothbrush or splatter brush, table salt, scrap or torn white paper, glue (PVA or glue stick), child-safe scissors, palette, water cup, paper towels and a smock. Optional: masking fluid or salt shaker for controlled texture.
What ages is this snowy silhouette activity suitable for?
This mixed-media snowy silhouette activity suits ages about 5–12. Younger children (5–7) enjoy tearing paper, stamping paint, and simple silhouettes with close adult help for scissors, glue, and salt. Ages 8–12 can manage wet-on-wet painting, salt texture techniques and more detailed silhouettes independently. Adjust complexity, materials and supervision to match each child’s fine motor skills and attention span. Always supervise small tools and wet paint with younger kids.
What safety tips should I follow for this snowy silhouette craft?
Safety tips: use non-toxic, washable paints and keep salt, glue and small torn paper pieces away from toddlers. Provide child-safe scissors and a smock, and protect the work surface with newspaper. Supervise use of toothbrush splatter techniques to avoid paint in eyes and discourage tasting materials. Allow proper drying time before handling art to prevent smudging. For allergies, check paint and glue ingredients beforehand.
Watch & Learn
Need help?
What can we use if we don't have salt to sprinkle over the wet sky paint?
If you don't have salt for the step 'While the background paint is still wet sprinkle salt...', substitute coarse sea salt or granulated sugar for a similar textured sparkle or sprinkle fine craft glitter for a shinier effect.
My sky didn't get sparkly because the paint dried too fast—how can I fix it?
If the salt doesn't create texture because the background paint dried, lightly re-wet the painted sky area and reapply salt immediately while the paint is damp, and next time work quickly through the 'paint the sky' and 'sprinkle salt' steps.
How can I adapt the steps for younger kids or make it more challenging for older kids?
For younger children, skip the watercolor blending and offer pre-drawn silhouette templates plus pre-torn snowdrifts to glue, while older kids can freehand complex silhouettes, layer multiple torn-paper drifts, and add fine white paint splatter and branch highlights.
What are some ways to extend or personalize the snowy silhouette artwork?
To extend the project, add cotton batting or torn tissue over glued snowdrifts for 3D texture, use metallic or iridescent paint for highlights on tree branches and snow, or press small sequins into wet white paint splatters for extra sparkle before drying.