Watercolour Snowflakes

Age: 5-12 years old 
Duration: 1-1.5 hours
Theme: Snowflakes, Winter, Cold Colours, Symmetry 
Technique: Watercolour, tape resist, cold colours, salt andoil-pastel resist

Prototypes by Sinthia Cousineau

Materials 

  • Masking Tape
  • Salt
  • Jar of water
  • Large paint brush
  • White Oil Pastel
  • Watercolor Paints
  • Black Sharpie
  • Scissors (to help young ones cut masking tape)
  • Medium to large watercolor paper
  • ​Optional: Snowflake Stencils

Project Steps

Step 1: Design a Snowflake (10-15 minutes)

  • Use an old yogurt container top to trace 2 circles on a white sheet of paper.
  • Put a dot in the center of the circles.
  • Use a ruler to create a symmetrical snowflake design inside the circle.
  • Create a different design for each circle. 
  • Then pick the design you like best.

Step 2 (Optional): Tape the Boarders 
(2 minutes)

  • Use masking tape to help create a frame and stick the paper to the table as you work.

 Step 3: Create Snowflake
​(20-30 minutes)

  • Use the masking tape to create a design of your snowflake, you can rip the tape for smaller parts of the snowflake.
  • Note: For younger children, thicker tape is easier to manipulate. 

Step 4: Draw smaller snowflakes

  • Using white oil pastel, draw smaller snowflakes in the background.

Step 5: Wet & Add Watercolor

  • Add water all over the watercolor paper and then add cold colors that represents winter, such as blue, pink, and purple and light green, and mix the colors on the sheet. Make sure the entire paper is filled with colors.

Step 6: Sprinkle Salt

  • Before the watercolor dies, sprinkle salt all over the paper. Then let everything dry. 

Step 7: Remove Tape & Outline the Snowflake

  • Once dry, carefully remove the Masking Tape. Then use a black sharpie to outline and add details to the snowflake. This step is optional, if you prefer not having any drawing the snowflake looks good without as well. 
Prototype by Sinthia Cousineau

Students Painting their Snowflakes

Students at Art Neuf
2021-2013 

Students Finished Snowflake Artwork

Age 5
Age 5
Age 5
Age 11
Students at Pointe-Saint-Charles Art School
2024
Age 9
Age 6
Age 6
Age 9
Age 8
Age 6

My Students,  Montreal
​ 2025

Age 7
Age 6
Age 6
Age 6
Age 6
Age 6
Reference Images for Snowflakes
snowflake_images.docx
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File Type: docx
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snowflake_reference_images.docx
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File Type: docx
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