When the days grow shorter and the air grows colder, it's the perfect time to cozy up with your sketchbook and a steaming mug of cocoa. Let watercolor be your creative outlet this season with these 12 (erm...24) festive painting prompts. Whether you’re painting cards, decorating a journal, or simply enjoying the process, these winter-themed ideas will warm your spirit.

Set 1 - Simpler Prompts

1. Snow-Covered Cabin

Capture the serenity of a wooden cabin nestled in fresh snow. Use soft washes of indigo and Payne’s gray to suggest twilight, and dry brush for icy textures on the roof.

2. Christmas Ornaments

Paint shiny baubles with reflections and highlights. Try metallic watercolor or gouache accents for sparkle.

3. Pine Branches with Lights

Focus on pine needles, twinkling lights, and bokeh glow. Use wet-on-wet for blurred backgrounds and wet-on-dry for crisp lights.

4. Wrapped Gifts & Bows

Illustrate wrapped presents with bold ribbon details. Add soft shadows to give dimension.

5. Candlelight & Glow

Use warm hues like Quinacridone Gold, Alizarin Crimson, and Raw Sienna. Layer glazes to build the glowing aura around the flame.

6. Festive Cookies & Treats

Paint sugar cookies, gingerbread men, and mugs of hot cocoa with whipped cream. Perfect for practicing textures and color layering.

7. Wreath of Winter Greens

A classic circular composition of holly, pine, berries, and eucalyptus. Use varied greens and granulating pigments for natural depth.

8. Snowy Village at Night

Tiny rooftops glowing from within. Glaze over the background for dusk tones and paint snow as soft negative shapes.

9. Animal on a Snowy Branch

A peaceful landscape with silhouettes and a deep blue sky speckled with salt or white ink stars.

10. Ice Skates & Mittens

Capture cozy winterwear or skates dangling from a wooden fence. Play with color combinations and soft wool texture.

11. Holiday Tree

Whether minimal or decorated, a watercolor tree offers endless variations. Try layering greens and adding gold or white splatter.

12. Winter Animals

Foxes in the snow, deer in the forest, or cardinals on a branch—animals bring a whimsical touch to winter scenes.

|Take it up a notch - Combine two or more prompts in one |painting

Set 2 - More Complex Prompts

1. Northern Lights Over a Frozen Landscape

Paint the shifting glow of auroras reflecting in icy waters. Try a wet-in-wet sky with vivid greens, blues, and violets.

2. Candlelit Window

Show warm light shining through a window blurred by frost. Use salt or lifting for icy textures.

3. Vintage Sleigh

Illustrate an old-fashioned wooden sleigh. Include subtle shadowing in snow.

4. Close-Up of Woolen Textures

Zoom in on scarves, hats, or socks—highlight knitted patterns, pom-poms, and tactile yarn.

5. Mistletoe Hanging from an Archway

Focus on the graceful greenery and white berries. Add a romantic glow or candlelight nearby.

6. Letters to Santa on a Cozy Desk

Paint a scene with parchment paper, ink bottles, and a steaming mug. Use muted reds and warm browns.

7. Snowy Forest Trail with a Lantern

Create depth with trees fading into mist and glowing lanterns leading the way. Soft washes and warm-cool contrasts work well.

8. Worn Ice Skates Hung on a Fence

Add wood grain texture, scuffed leather, and melting snow to give it a storybook feel.

9. Winter Stargazing Scene

A couple or child looking up at the stars on a snowy hilltop. Use indigo, Payne’s gray, and salt for night sky textures.

10. Cup of Mulled Wine with Citrus and Cloves

Capture the cozy still life with deep reds, orange slices, and star anise floating atop.

11. Woodland Creatures Around a Tiny Tree

Paint foxes, rabbits, and birds gathered peacefully around a small decorated tree in a clearing. Whimsical and gentle.

12. Snow-Covered Street Lamp with Garland

Focus on the glow in falling snow and frost on the wreath. Add shadowy buildings for atmosphere.

❄️ Final Thoughts

These prompts are perfect for holiday cards, sketchbook studies, or simply embracing the season’s stillness and magic. Don’t stress perfection—let loose and enjoy each brushstroke. Cozy up, light a candle, and let winter inspire your watercolor journey.