Snow Caps
It felt so great to get outside to sketch yesterday afternoon, even in snow. I’ve painted these flowers in summer, fall, and now winter. They look rather handsome in their snow caps, don’t you agree?
Tips & Techniques– Take the bare minimum of art supplies– pencil or pen and sketchbook– outside when it’s cold, and choose a subject that you can sketch quickly. I used a Micron 005 sepia pen in my Handbook Journal Co.140lb watercolor journal. Inside, I painted with QoR watercolors, using predominantly cobalt blue and raw sienna for the blue gray sky, and cobalt blue and dioxazine purple for the snow caps. Choosing two different gray mixes helps to set them apart. And although there was very little color to speak of, mixing a lively gray made all the difference.
NOTE: My previous post incorrectly listed dates for my Drawn to Nature workshop at Madeline Island Art School. The correct dates are JULY 20-24, 2026.
Drawn In 
oh wow! Quite handsome, indeed. Delighted to hear you snuck out for a brief outdoors sketch! Thanks so much for the tip on pairing up varied recipes for grays! And super thanks for sharing the surprise of a second post this week!,
Thanks Barb. I’m glad the second post was a pleasant surprise and not more junk in the inbox!
very welcome!
Hi Jean,
I love your “Snow Caps” ! I think I’m going to try more winter paintings, we are certainly having a snowy and cold enough winter in Vermont! I noticed that you suggested QoR watercolors for your grays. I’m just curious, are you using more QoR paints than Winsor Newton (or Daniel Smith?)these days? Are there any particular pigments you recommend?
Thanks!
Dory
Hi Dory– I use a lot of QoR colors– they are made in NY and they dry and rewet beautifully in my palette pans. I like the color vibrance and transparency. I wouldn’t replace what you have– I use some W&N and DS colors, too. It’s all about getting to know the colors you have!
Heh, they look like a roomful of dancing chefs! So whimsical and fun!
They do look like chef’s hats. I was thinking that the snow must start to compress at a certain point to create that effect, or perhaps the demarcation is be due to a pause in the snow falling. Either way, it’s fun!
“Factors Governing the Shape of Snow on Seed Heads” sounds like an excellent little research project. And if it happened to be accompanied by informal investigations into the various flavors of hand-cranked ice cream, it could add up to a perfect day!
Looks just like my yard.
It’s a very distinctive “look” in the garden, thanks to all the snow.
So lovely ! 😊
They’re so full of life, they look like they’re going to dance off the page. 🙂
But I do hope you have warmer weather soon!