Slippers side by side on a rugTwo rounded wedges from above, fleece showing at the opening. The rug gives you a pattern to fill. Tartan or plain.
Earmuffs and a pair of fogged-up glassesA headband arc with a fluffy circle at each end. Glasses below, lenses filled pale grey with one wiped streak.
Sheep in snow with only their dark faces showingWhite wool on white ground, so draw just the faces, ears and legs, and let a blue shadow describe each body.
A black-capped chickadee on a snowy twigBlack cap, black bib, white cheeks: three shapes on a round body. Fluff it up until it is nearly a ball.
A bobble hat, a scarf and gloves laid out flatArrange them like a person with no body: hat at the top, scarf in an S, a glove each side. Pick one striped pattern.
A bowl of porridge with a swirl of honeyBowl seen from above: a circle, a spiral of gold, a few blueberries and a spoon at four o'clock. Cream, gold, blue.
A fir branch bowed under a load of snow, close upOne branch entering from the top corner, bent down at the tip, white heaped along the top. Dark green, blue-white.
A hot water bottle in a knitted coverA rounded rectangle with a neck and stopper, cable-knit lines down the cover. Red rubber showing at the top.
A park bench buried up to the armrestsOnly the top slat and two iron armrests show above a smooth drift. A lamp post behind for scale. Green, black, white.
A row of fence posts each wearing a cap of snowPosts shrinking into the distance, a rounded white cap on each, wire sagging between. Brown, white, grey-blue.
A row of sparrows puffed up on a snowy branchSix round balls with a beak and a tail each, shoulder to shoulder, one facing the wrong way. Browns, grey, white.
A single lost mitten on a fence postMitten pushed down on the post, thumb sticking out to one side, a little snow gathered on top. Red wool, grey wood.
A snow angel seen from aboveLie back, sweep the arms up and down and the legs side to side: two fans and a bell shape. Blue shadow in the hollow.
A snow rabbit with leaf ears and berry eyesOne smooth half-egg of snow on a tray, two long leaves pushed in for ears, two red berries for eyes.
A snow-covered field with one line of footprintsTwo wavy lines for the land, then a dotted trail shrinking toward the horizon. White paper, pale blue shadows.
A snowed-in car with only the mirrors and aerial showingOne smooth white hump with a windscreen dent, two dark mirrors, one thin line. Shade the hump on one side only.
A snowman doing a headstandStack the balls small to large going up, hat on the ground, stick arms holding him steady, scarf hanging down.
A snowman kit laid out flat: carrot, coal, scarf, hat, sticksArrange the parts in the order they go on, top to bottom, with small labels. No snow in the picture at all.
A snowman seen from directly aboveThree circles inside each other, a dark disc for the hat, two stick arms and a carrot pointing to one side.
A snowman wearing a bucket for a hatBucket upside down and slightly too big, handle hanging at the side, stones for a crooked grin. Tin grey, orange.
A three-ball snowman with stick arms and a carrot noseIn North America a snowman is usually three spheres, in the UK two. Coal or stones for the eyes, sticks for arms.
A tiny snowman on the arm of a park benchNo taller than a mug: two snowballs, twig arms, gravel eyes. The bench slats give you the scale. White, green.
A two-ball snowman in a flat capThe British build: one sphere for the body, one for the head. Tilt the cap and add a pebble smile. White, tweed brown.
A wolf howling on a ridgeWolves howl alone or as a group. Head tipped back, muzzle to the sky, tail down. One solid dark shape on pale snow.
An ice fishing hut beside a hole in the lakeA small box hut, a round dark hole, a short rod on a stand and a bucket. Flat horizon behind. Red hut, white, black.
An igloo with a short entrance tunnelA dome of snow blocks laid in rows, with a low tunnel at the door to cut wind and heat loss. White, blue-grey.
Coats and scarves crowding a row of hallway hooksFive hooks, each with a different coat shape, scarves hanging longest. A line of boots on the floor underneath.
Ducks standing on a frozen pondFive ducks on flat ice, one slipping with a foot out sideways, faint reflections under them. Brown, green, grey-white.
Earmuffs and a pair of fogged-up glassesA headband arc with a fluffy circle at each end. Glasses below, lenses filled pale grey with one wiped streak.
Icicles along the edge of a cabin roofTapered spikes of uneven length. They can grow on bright freezing days, when sun-melted snow refreezes as it drips.
Knitting needles in a half-finished scarfTwo needles crossed, a ball of yarn with the strand trailing, rows of V stitches below. Two colours of wool.
Sheep in snow with only their dark faces showingWhite wool on white ground, so draw just the faces, ears and legs, and let a blue shadow describe each body.
Six different snowflakes on a dark blue pageEach has six arms, because ice crystals are hexagonal. Vary the side branches and never the count. White on navy.
Slippers side by side on a rugTwo rounded wedges from above, fleece showing at the opening. The rug gives you a pattern to fill. Tartan or plain.
Three sets of animal tracks crossing fresh snowA bird, a rabbit and a dog. Give each trail its own print and spacing and let them cross once. Grey-blue on white.
Two hands wrapped round a steaming mugCrop tight: fingers overlapping, thumbs on top, a sleeve cuff pulled down over each wrist. Steam in two soft curls.
Wool socks propped in front of a wood stoveFeet in the foreground, soles toward you, stove door glowing beyond. Striped socks, orange glow, dark room.
Landscapes 21
A chairlift crossing a white valleyOne cable on a diagonal, chairs evenly spaced and getting smaller, skis dangling from each. Red chairs on white.
A country lane with snow on the hedges and two tyre tracksThe tracks converge to a point two thirds up the page. Hedges as dark masses with white tops. Grey, umber, white.
A figure leaning into a blizzardBody tilted forward, scarf straight out behind, snow as slanted streaks across everything. Most of the page stays white.
A frozen lake with skaters as small dark figuresLow horizon and a big pale sky. Figures no taller than a thumbnail, each leaning forward, a curved scratch behind.
A frozen waterfallColumns of ice like organ pipes, thick at the top, with a dark rock face showing between. Turquoise, white, slate.
A log cabin under a thick lid of snow, one window lit8 by 10 inch canvas. Blue-grey snow, one warm yellow window and its glow on the drift below. Ultramarine, white, ochre.
A low winter sun with a sun dog on each sideOften two sun dogs flank the Sun inside a halo, level with it. Ice crystals in the air cause them. Pale gold, grey.
A mountain range in fresh snow under a clear sky9 by 12 inch canvas. White on the sunlit faces and blue-violet on the shaded ones, split by a sharp ridge line.
A pond hockey game at duskFour figures, two boots for a goal, long shadows on scraped ice. Snowbanks round the edge. Pink sky, grey-blue ice.
A red barn in a white field8 by 10 inch canvas. One red shape on white under a grey sky, a few fence lines. Cadmium red, white, Payne's grey.
A stand of birch trunks in snow8 by 10 inch canvas, upright. Tape off the white trunks, wash grey-blue behind, then add scattered black fissures.
A stone bridge over a half-frozen streamOne arch, snow along the parapet, black water in the middle and grey ice shelves growing in from each bank.
Bare trees in silhouette against a winter sunset9 by 12 inch canvas. Blend orange up into violet first. Once dry, pull black branches over it, thinner at the tips.
Children dragging a plastic toboggan up a hillThree small bright figures on a big white slope, a rope, a red toboggan, a worn track beside them. Red, blue, yellow.
Chimney smoke rising straight up over snowy rooftopsRoofs as white slabs at different angles, dark chimneys, thin columns of smoke in still air. Greys, brick red.
Falling snow in the cone of light under a street lamp8 by 10 inch canvas. Dark blue all over, a pale yellow cone, then white dots flicked on only inside the light.
Frost patterns spreading across a window paneStart in one corner and branch outwards like feathers, leaving a clear patch in the middle. White pencil on grey.
Hoar frost on a wire fence and dead seed headsHoar frost is white ice crystals loosely attached to wires and leaves. Draw short spikes standing off every edge.
Moonlit snow with long blue tree shadows9 by 12 inch canvas. Full moon behind the trunks so the shadows fan toward you. Prussian blue, white, a little violet.
The northern lights over a snowfield9 by 12 inch canvas. Auroras hang as curtains and rays, in green with some red and purple. Black sky, pale snow.
Ski tracks weaving down between dark firsTwo parallel lines in S-curves from top to bottom, firs as dark triangles either side, a tiny skier at the front.
Cosy 15
A cat asleep on a radiator shelfCat as a loaf with paws tucked under and tail hanging down over the radiator ribs. Ginger or grey on white.
A cat watching snowfall from indoors, seen from the gardenWindow frame first, the cat a dark shape on the sill with light behind it, flakes crossing in front. Amber, navy.
A chunky knitted blanket over the arm of a chairDraw the knit as rows of fat V shapes that bend where the blanket folds. Cream wool, a mustard chair.
A dog in a quilted coat with snow on its noseHead and shoulders, ears up, a white dab on the nose and flakes on the eyebrows. Any breed. Red coat.
A flask and two cups on a snowy benchFlask upright with its lid off, two cups steaming, brushed-clear planks under them. Green flask, white all round.
A half-done jigsaw on a table under a lampEdge pieces joined in a frame, loose pieces scattered, one held in a hand. The picture on it is a snow scene.
A log pile stacked under a lean-to roofDraw the log ends as rough circles with rings and splits, packed tight. Snow on the roof, an axe in a block.
A patchwork quilt of nine squares, each a different patternRule a three by three grid and fill each square: stripes, dots, checks, stars. Stitch marks along every seam.
A pot of tea under a knitted cosyA dome with a spout out of one side and a handle out of the other, a bobble on top. Stripes follow the curve.
A reading nook with a lamp, a blanket and a stack of books8 by 10 inch canvas. One pool of lamp light in a dark room. Warm ochre inside the pool, blue-grey outside it.
A window seat with cushions, looking out on snow8 by 10 inch canvas. Warm colours inside the frame, cold outside: rust and mustard cushions against a blue-white garden.
A wood stove with a kettle on topA black box on short legs with a glass door, flames inside, a flue going up. The kettle breaks the top edge.
Lacing up skates on a bench beside the rinkBent figure in profile, fingers pulling the laces tight, one boot done and one to go. White boots, red scarf.
Two people at a bus stop talking in breath cloudsBundled figures in profile, facing each other, a soft cloud from each mouth. Hats low, collars up. Muted colours.
Wet boots drying on newspaper by the doorBoots leaning on each other, laces loose, a dark damp ring spreading on the paper. Brown leather, grey newsprint.
Animals 20
A blue jay on a snow-capped fenceMostly blue with a white chest, a blue crest and a black U-shaped collar round the neck. Add white snow under its feet.
A bull moose in deep snow without his antlersBulls drop their antlers after the mating season to save energy for winter. Long face, shoulder hump, buried legs.
A doe stepping through a snowy wood8 by 10 inch canvas. Pale vertical trunks, the deer mid-stride between them with one foreleg lifted. Umber, grey, white.
A dog sled team crossing a frozen lakeDogs in pairs on one long line, the sled and driver at the back, everything small under a wide sky. Low blue shadows.
A hedgehog asleep in leaves under the snowEuropean hedgehogs may hibernate in winter. Cutaway view: snow on top, leaves below, a curled ball in the middle.
A horse in a rug breathing clouds over a gateHead and neck over the top bar, ears forward, two soft plumes from the nostrils. Frost on the gate. Bay, navy rug.
A male bullfinch on a frosted brambleThe adult male has a rich red chest and underparts, and females are grey-buff. Round body, short thick bill.
A male emperor penguin guarding an egg through the darkEmperors are the only penguins that breed in the Antarctic winter. The male incubates the single egg for two months.
A pair of cardinals at a snowy feederThe male is vivid red with a black mask, the female reddish olive with a grey mask. Both wear a crest.
A polar bear walking across sea iceWhite or yellowish fur over black skin. Build it from a long wedge head, a sloping back and heavy legs. Cream, grey.
A ptarmigan almost invisible against the snowRock ptarmigan moult to white for winter and have feathered legs. Draw an outline, one dark eye and a faint shadow.
A red fox pouncing head first into deep snowIt pinpoints mice by sound, then leaps high and lands on the spot. Draw the arc: tail up, nose and front paws down.
A red squirrel with long winter ear tuftsThe winter coat is thicker and darker, with noticeably larger ear tufts. Tail arched over the back. Russet, cream.
A snowshoe hare sitting up on its big hind feetThe large hind feet stop it sinking in soft snow, and the coat turns from brown to white for winter.
A snowy owl on a fence post6 by 8 inch canvas. Males are the purer white and females carry more dark brown flecks. Grey sky, white bird.
A stoat in its white winter coatIn the north of its range the stoat turns all white for winter, apart from the black tip of its tail.
An Arctic fox curled into a ball on the snowIts thick white winter fur doubles as camouflage. A circle, two small ears, one closed eye. White with blue-grey shade.
Snow monkeys bathing in a hot spring8 by 10 inch canvas. Japanese macaques bathe together in hot springs. Heads above steaming water, snow on the rocks.
Swans on black water between snowy banks9 by 12 inch canvas. Near-black river, white banks, two white birds and their broken reflections. Almost no colour.
Waxwings stripping a rowan tree of berriesBuff-grey birds with a pointed crest, black face markings and yellow in the wing. Rowan berries are a winter favourite.
Snowmen 10
A half-built snowman with the head still being rolledTwo balls stacked, a child pushing the third and leaving a bare green track through the snow behind it.
A melting snowman with his hat sliding offShrink the top ball, slump the middle to one side, put a puddle under him and the carrot on the ground.
A snow dog sitting beside its snowmanSame build at two sizes: the dog is one ball and a head, with stick tail, stone nose and leaf ears.
A snowman at night with a lit window behind him8 by 10 inch canvas. Navy ground, the snowman rim-lit in warm yellow from the window side. Navy, ochre, white.
A snowman at sunset with pink and blue shadows8 by 10 inch canvas. Snow takes the sky's colour: warm pink on the lit side, blue-violet on the other. No pure white.
A snowman losing his scarf to the windScarf streaming off to the right, one stick arm reaching after it, hat tilting. Snow streaks show the wind's direction.
A snowman standing guard with a broomBroom held upright in one stick arm like a sentry, bristles at the top. Straight back, stern stone mouth.
A snowman with a bird perched on his carrot noseProfile view so the carrot sticks out sideways. The bird looks at him and he looks at the bird, cross-eyed.
A snowman's face filling the whole page6 by 6 inch canvas. White, blue-grey shade down one side, coal eyes, a carrot pointing straight at you. Orange, black.
A street of snowmen, each wonkier than the lastOne per front garden, five in a row: a tall one, a leaning one, a fat one, a headless one and a very small one.
How it works
None of the 100 subjects depends on Christmas, so these winter drawing ideas last from the first frost to the thaw. There are snow scenes, cosy interiors, animals in their white coats and 18 snowmen, and each comes with a way to begin. Deal three, then pick a group to narrow them.
Read the full guide
Winter things to draw when everything is white
Snow sets a problem: the subject and the paper are the same colour. The answer is to draw the shadows. In Sheep in snow with only their dark faces showing, a blue shadow describes each body. A row of fence posts each wearing a cap of snow works the same way. Leave the paper bare and shade one side of each shape in grey-blue.
Seventeen subjects to paint, palette included
The To paint group holds 17 subjects, each with a canvas size and the colours to mix. A red barn in a white field is one red shape, a grey sky and a few fence lines. Bare trees in silhouette against a winter sunset is a blend, then black branches. More, by subject: winter painting ideas.
A snowflake has six arms, because ice crystals are hexagonal. Vary the side branches as much as you like, but never the count.
A first snowman to paint: A snowman's face filling the whole page, on a 6 by 6 inch canvas.
January doodle ideas for a planner margin sit under Easy: 34 subjects, such as A single lost mitten on a fence post.
Questions and answers
What are some snowman drawing ideas beyond three balls and a hat?
The Snowmen group has 18. Change the viewpoint, as in A snowman seen from directly above, or change the story, as in A melting snowman with his hat sliding off. The build differs by country too: in North America a snowman is usually three spheres, and in the United Kingdom two.
Why is there nothing about Christmas here?
So the page still works in January and February. Christmas has its own list, and so does New Year. Everything here is weather, wildlife or indoor warmth. A log cabin under a thick lid of snow, one window lit is as useful in late February as in early December.
Which winter animals really turn white?
Several, and the hints say which. In the north of its range the stoat turns white apart from the black tip of its tail. Rock ptarmigan and snowshoe hares moult to white for winter too. On paper, draw each as an outline, one dark eye and a faint shadow.