Winter Watercolor Landscape Tutorial for beginners

How to Paint a Winter Landscape in Watercolor for Beginners

Using Fuumuui Paper and Brushes (15% Discount Code)

Looking for a simple watercolor for beginners project? In this step-by-step tutorial, you’ll learn how to paint a peaceful winter landscape using Fuumuui 140lb Rough Paper and the Fuumuui 9 Brush Set.

You can also get a 15% Fuumuui discount on any Fuumuui product by using our exclusive code BILL15 at checkout at www.fuumuui.com

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Materials Used in This Video

Special Offer: Get a 15% Fuumuui discount when you buy any Fuumuui paper or brushes. Just enter the code BILL15 at checkout on the Fuumuui website.

Why Fuumuui Works Well for Watercolor for Beginners

The Fuumuui 140lb Rough Paper has a nice texture that holds water well and gives soft, natural edges. The Fuumuui 9 Brush Set includes a good range of sizes that make it easy to switch between large washes and smaller details — ideal when you’re still learning control.

Fuumuui 9 piece brush set discount code bill15

If you’d like to try the same materials used in this tutorial, you can purchase them with a Fuumuui discount of 15% using code BILL15.

Step-by-Step Watercolor Tutorial for Beginners

Step 1 – Light Sketch (0:00)

Start with a very light pencil sketch of the cottage, the path, and the main tree shapes. Keep the lines soft so they disappear under the paint. This is a helpful habit in watercolor for beginners — less drawing, more painting.

(You can download the ready-made sketch for this tutorial by becoming a YouTube member here. First Month FREE)

Step 2 – Paint the Sky (1:02)

  1. Wet the sky area with clean water using a large brush from your Fuumuui 9 Brush Set.
  2. Mix a light wash of Winsor Blue (add a touch of Payne’s Grey if you want a cooler sky).
  3. Drop the color into the wet paper — stronger at the top and lighter toward the horizon.
  4. Add a soft glow of Indian Yellow near the horizon for warm evening light.
  5. Lift a few soft cloud shapes while the paper is still damp.
  6. Let the sky dry completely before continuing.

Step 3 – Paint the Cottage (3:18)

  1. Leave most of the cottage walls as the white of the Fuumuui paper.
  2. Paint the roof with a soft blue-grey mix (Winsor Blue + a little Payne’s Grey).
  3. Use Light Red mixed with a touch of Scarlet Lake for the chimneys and door.
  4. Add small warm windows using Indian Yellow for a cozy glow.
  5. Soften the bottom edge of the house so it sits naturally in the snow.

Step 4 – Trees and Bushes (5:51)

  1. Mix Payne’s Grey with a little Light Red (or Scarlet Lake) for a soft grey-brown.
  2. Use the side of a medium brush from the Fuumuui 9 Brush Set to create loose, broken tree shapes in the distance.
  3. Switch to a smaller round brush for the closer trunks and branches.
  4. Leave plenty of white paper showing through — this becomes the snow on the trees and bushes.

Step 5 – Paint the Path (9:50)

  1. Mix a soft warm tone using Indian Yellow, Light Red, and a touch of Scarlet Lake.
  2. Paint the path with irregular, soft edges so it feels natural.
  3. Add cooler blue-grey notes in places where the snow is reflecting the sky.
  4. Make the path narrower as it moves into the distance to create perspective.

Step 6 – Snow and Final Details (12:08)

  1. Keep most of the snow as pure white paper.
  2. Mix a very light blue-grey (Winsor Blue + a tiny bit of Payne’s Grey) and apply soft shadows to give the snow form and depth.
  3. Darken areas under the house, along the path, and at the base of the trees.
  4. Add a few small birds in the sky with a fine brush from the Fuumuui 9 Brush Set.

Tips for Watercolor for Beginners Using Fuumuui

  • Always work from light to dark.
  • Keep your mixes watery and transparent.
  • Use the white of the Fuumuui 140lb Rough Paper for the brightest snow.
  • Soft, broken edges look more natural than hard outlines.
  • Step back regularly to check your values and overall balance.
Fuumuui Watercolor Paper

This watercolor for beginners project is perfect for practicing wet-into-wet skies, simple tree textures, and creating soft winter light. The Fuumuui paper and Fuumuui 9 Brush Set respond well to light pressure and help you achieve a calm, atmospheric result.

And if you’d like the sketch for this painting (plus over 150 other tutorials and sketches), you can become a YouTube member here:
👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbqo9pRf_CUsB0M66lMuV1Q/join

Follow along with the video, pause whenever you need more time, and enjoy the process. With a few practice sessions you’ll feel much more confident painting winter landscapes in watercolor.

Happy painting!

Bill Holkham

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