painting winter light and shadows in watercolour

Join me in the little village just above where we live in the Pyrenees, on a quiet, sunny winter morning after an overnight snowfall.

Last week we woke to a world completely transformed — fresh snow blanketing everything, clear blue skies, and that special hush that only comes after a big dump of snow. The kind of morning that makes you want to wrap up warm and head straight outside.

We wandered slowly up through the forest and into the village above ours, crunching along snowy paths, taking it all in. When I spotted this simple little chapel covered in snow, it stopped me in my tracks. Something about its quiet presence against all that white felt timeless and peaceful, and there were beautiful shadows on the bright white snow. I knew straight away it would make a perfect scene for us to paint together.

There’s so much to explore in this lesson

The soft, snowy background, the subtle shifts in tone within the snow, the snow-covered stone wall, tangled brambles, and of course the beautiful shadows stretching across the ground. We’ll look at how to keep the scene light and fresh, while still creating depth, contrast, and a strong sense of atmosphere.

I hope this lesson encourages you to slow down, enjoy the process, and lose yourself in the calm of painting a winter scene.

Find the lesson on Patreon

If you’d like to paint this scene with me step by step, the full video lesson is available on my Patreon, alongside a growing library of watercolour tutorials, guided challenges, and sketchbook projects. You’re very welcome to join us.

Happy painting!