Set of 4 Watercolor Christmas Prints

Watch the video below to see how to paint a beautiful watercolor Christmas wreath, a perfect starting point for your holiday art journey!

Time needed: 2 hours (This estimate can vary greatly based on detail and drying time)

Creating these unique Christmas watercolor prints was an incredibly rewarding experience, and I’m excited to guide you through the process for each design. Remember, watercolor is about embracing fluidity and unexpected beauty, so don’t be afraid to experiment!

1. Mastering the Art of Layering: Start with the Lightest Hues

   A fundamental principle in watercolor painting is to work from light to dark. Just like with my watercolor gift tags, I always begin by laying down the lightest possible color wash first. This provides a base layer and prevents colors from becoming muddy. As the initial layer dries, you can gradually build up depth and vibrancy by adding darker, more saturated layers on top. This technique allows for beautiful translucency and luminous effects, which is especially effective for achieving the delicate textures and rich tones needed for festive artwork. This approach was central to every single design I painted, from the subtle greens of a pine wreath to the ethereal depths of a misty forest.

2. The Classic Pine Wreath: Step-by-Step Watercolor Tutorial

   The video embedded above provides a comprehensive visual guide to painting the pine wreath, offering a fantastic step-by-step tutorial. To begin, use your pencil to lightly sketch a perfect circle on your watercolor paper – this will be the base for your wreath. Next, with a very dilute brown or pale green, make light, initial strokes for the pinecones, hinting at their shape without too much detail. Once that’s dry, it’s time to add layers and layers of pine needles. Using your #2 brush, start with a light green, creating short, feathery strokes radiating outwards from your circular guide. Allow each layer to dry before adding the next, gradually increasing the intensity of your green hues to create depth and texture. For the pinecones, use your #6 brush to build up layers of brown, focusing on creating overlapping scales and shadows to give them a realistic, textured appearance. Finally, to add an organic touch, I depicted the other half of the wreath with layers of twisted branches, using various shades of brown. Remember, watercolor can feel complex, but breaking it down into simple, overlapping layers makes it much more manageable and enjoyable!

3. Creating the Whimsical Boho Christmas Tree

   For the whimsical boho Christmas tree, simplicity is key. Start by sketching a light, loose outline of a conical tree shape with your pencil – don’t strive for perfection; a slightly asymmetrical form adds to the bohemian charm. Then, using your #6 brush, begin to add layers of broad, sweeping strokes. I started with a very pale green, allowing it to dry. On top of that, I added another layer of a slightly darker green, focusing on creating individual “branch-like” shapes that overlap and extend, giving the tree a soft, flowing appearance rather than a rigid, defined structure. Think about how branches would naturally splay out. You can even incorporate subtle hints of other colors like muted blues or purples in deeper layers to add to the ‘boho’ feel, or stick to varying shades of green for a more classic look. The trick is to keep the edges soft and slightly undefined, letting the colors blend and blur where they meet. This approach results in a beautifully ethereal and modern festive tree that feels both elegant and relaxed.

   
   

4. Painting Serene Trees “In the Mist”

   The “trees in the mist” design is a popular concept, and while my version isn’t revolutionary, it’s incredibly satisfying to paint and delivers a beautiful, atmospheric effect. To achieve this, begin with a truly super light layer of trees using a pale green and your #6 brush. Imagine distant trees, barely visible through a fog, and paint them as soft, indistinct shapes. Let this first layer dry completely. Once dry, add a second layer of trees directly on top, using a slightly darker shade of green. The key here is to offset them slightly from the first layer and vary their size, making some appear closer and others further away. By gradually going darker with each subsequent layer and changing the position and scale, the trees in the background will naturally appear to disappear into the misty distance, creating a sense of depth and ethereal beauty. I experimented with two versions: one with two distinct layers for a subtle effect, and another with three layers for a deeper, more pronounced misty forest. This technique is fantastic for creating tranquil winter scenes.

5. Digitizing Your Art: Scanning Your Watercolor Creations

   Once your watercolor prints are completely dry, the next exciting step is to digitize them. This allows you to easily share your art, create multiple prints, or even design gift tags. I discovered an incredibly useful app called PhotoScan by Google Photos. This app truly works like magic! Instead of just taking a simple photo, PhotoScan guides you through a process of capturing multiple images from different angles. It identifies four corners on your painting and instructs you to align your phone with each corner individually. The app then intelligently stitches these images together, automatically removing glare and flattening the perspective to create a high-quality, flat digital image of your painting. It’s incredibly intuitive and produces excellent results, making the digitization process simple and accessible even if you don’t have a professional scanner. This method ensures your digital files accurately represent the colors and details of your original artwork.

6. Adding Personalized Text and Final Touches

   With your watercolor paintings transformed into crisp digital files, you can now add a personal touch by incorporating text. I used image editing software like Photoshop to overlay festive greetings, meaningful quotes, or simple holiday messages onto each print. Choosing the right font and placement can dramatically enhance the overall aesthetic of your DIY watercolor art. Once the text was added, I saved these enhanced images, making them ready for download and printing. The versatility of digital prints is wonderful; for instance, I adapted the pine wreath design into both a standalone print and smaller versions suitable for charming gift tags. Imagine tying a handmade watercolor gift tag to a carefully chosen present – it adds an extra layer of thoughtfulness that truly stands out during the holidays. You can access these ready-to-print designs in our new printables library, making it even easier to incorporate handmade elements into your holiday celebrations.

   

Get the Free Watercolor Christmas Printables Here!