Dan Schultz

There’s no painting like snow painting! Ever tried painting snow? …While also standing in snow? …Outside?

A few years ago, my family and I spent several days in California’s Eastern Sierras. We stayed in the town of June Lake which had snow on the ground when we arrived, and a few more inches fell during our stay. Temperatures were in the 20s (F) so we bundled up the kids (and ourselves) and enjoyed a little white before Christmas.

I managed to paint three small pieces while exploring the beautiful area. And let me be the first to state the obvious — painting in the snow is cooold. Beyond recommending that you dress as warmly as possible, I have a few, quick tips to share that might be of help when painting snow outdoors.

1. Prepare for the extra brightness, especially if the sun is out and reflecting off the snow. Set yourself up in the shade if possible. Lay down a black garbage bag or dark-colored blanket below your easel. It can reduce the brightness that’s blasting up from behind your palette and canvas. 
2. Pay attention to your feet. Waterproof shoes are great. Also, bring along something to insulate your feet from direct contact with the snow as you paint. Try standing on a piece of thick cardboard or plywood. For you coastal-dwellers, a boogie board works great!
3. Pay attention to your hands. Fingerless gloves (perhaps even more than one pair at a time!) will allow you to grip your brushes as usual.
4. Try hand and foot warmers inside your gloves and shoes. They can be great for those extra cold sessions. 
5. Bring your easel inside overnight (or at least your paint and palette). You want to keep your paint warm so it doesn’t get cold and stiff (and lonely) in the car. Stiff paint is tough to use. 

Painting snow outdoors is the best way to study its variety of colors and effects on the landscape. Plus, your friends will think you’re extra tough. So give it a try sometime. Hopefully these tips will make your next snowy painting session a little easier.

–Dan Schultz

Editor’s note:

We thought you may enjoy this bonus advice from Richard Schmid, from his book Richard Schmid Paints Landscapes, Creative Techniques in Oil:

“I have encountered three problems in winter painting. First, because the day is shorter, an early start is important. Second, it is often necessary to work with warm gloves, which can be cumbersome. I usually alternate, working with gloves for the block-in and broad areas, then removing the gloves for detail work. Third, the consistency of oil paint changes in low temperatures, causing the paint to lose its plasticity and rendering it stiff and unworkable. Adding small amounts of turpentine will usually restore the paint’s working qualities. The rule, of course, is to use the least possible turpentine especially in heavy, impasto brushwork. Rather than add too much turpentine, it might be better to substitute a knife for the brush. It is sometimes suggested that alcohol be added to the oil paint in cold weather. To the painter, perhaps; to the paints, never.”

I have heard many artists say they wish they could loosen up in their work. Certainly, many of us aspire to create paintings that look effortless, but we find that doing so is easier said than done.

It is easy to assume that in order to paint loosely, you have to paint messily. The faster the better. Energetically fling the paint and watch as a fantastically loose and effortless painting appears within minutes.

Have you ever tried that approach? Something messy does appear, but not in a good way.

So how is it done?

On many occasions, I have had the opportunity to watch other artists paint — many of whom I admire for the looseness of their work. And I discovered that they do not paint in a sloppy fashion at all. They actually paint relatively slowly, taking time to execute the right brushstrokes. They have mastered their drawing, value and color skills, and have chosen to use their brushwork to create a loose appearance.

I realize that I am not the loosest of painters. However, as I have progressed in my painting efforts, it is becoming clear that loose brushwork is the result of restraint, not speed. More control, not less. Better planned strokes, not thoughtless dabbing or flinging.

Remember that we cannot ignore the fundamentals. If we don’t know how to draw accurately, compare values or understand color relationships, loose brushstrokes are not going to help.

Once we have a good handle on the fundamentals, what can we do if we want to loosen up?

Here are a few ideas:

1. Give yourself permission! The only one making you put in all that detail is you. Experiment by purposely leaving out details, and see if you can make the painting work. You still need accurate shapes, values and colors. But paint them simply. Discern which details you really need.

2. Mix up bigger piles of paint. It is tough to make a painting look loose with too little paint. Squeeze out more color from your tubes and use it in your mixtures. Having plenty of paint ready to go makes it easier to apply it liberally.

3. Let your big brushes do the work. You can achieve a remarkable amount of detail with a large brush. Smaller brushes mean smaller brushstrokes, which probably mean less simplicity. Use your smaller brushes only where you really need them to achieve important details.

4. Allow a few well-placed brushstrokes to carry the painting. These might be early strokes you laid down in the beginning stages that you allow to show through at the end. Or you might purposely add a few larger brushstrokes near the end of the painting session to increase the look of looseness and simplicity.

Look for ways to loosen up.

One of the reasons I love painting figures in the landscape is that they provide an opportunity for me to loosen up. A landscape made from simple, large shapes is a nice contrast behind the tighter rendering of a figure.

Plein air painting is also a great opportunity to loosen up if you allow yourself to simplify all that outdoor detail.

Do you have any other tips on how to loosen up our paintings? Feel free to share them in the comment section below.

Happy painting!