Grade Level:

Elementary–Middle (adaptable for all ages)

Estimated Time:

• Intro & demo: 5–10 minutes

• Painting base layer: 10–15 minutes

• Snowman circles & shading: 15–20 minutes

• Drying time (natural or blow dryer): 5–10 minutes

• Face, accessories & details: 20–25 minutes

• Snowflakes & finishing touches: 5–10 minutes

• Cleanup: 5–7 minutes
  Total: ~60–75 minutes (you may extend to 90 mins for younger groups)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Art Techniques & Skills

• Use acrylic paint layering to create texture and implied depth.

• Demonstrate double loading skills using white + blue to create a dimensional snow base.

• Apply dab-and-lift brush techniques to simulate snow texture on the snowman.

• Use the back of a paintbrush to create controlled dot textures (snowfall).

Art Concepts

• Understand foreshortening and perspective by painting a snowman viewed from above.

• Explain how contrast and value shifts create a sense of form (brighter whites appear closer).

• Apply shading and highlighting to hats, scarves, and accessories for a more 3D effect.

• Observe how shape changes with point of view (ex: the carrot nose becomes a circle from above).

Creativity & Expression

• Make individualized design choices in accessories, colors, and added details.

• Express personal style while following structured steps.

Required Materials

Surfaces

• Mixed media paper (recommended)

• OR canvas, canvas board, cardstock, or cardboard. You can use any surface that handles acrylic well

Paint & Tools

• Acrylic paints: blue, white, black, orange, brown, plus other colors for hat & scarf

• Paintbrushes:

  • Medium flat or round brush for background

  • Small detail brush for face and accessories

  • Back end of a brush for snowflakes

• Water cup

• Paper towels or cloth

• Palette (paper plate works)

Optional

• Reference images of winter hats, scarves, and stick arms

• Aprons/smocks, table cover/protector

Lesson Procedure

1. Intro (Perspective & Texture) – 5 minutes

• Explain that students will paint a snowman from above - a bird's eye view perspective. The snowman will even be joyfully looking up - a rare and exciting angle to imagine a snowman!

• Show how viewing the snowman from above changes shapes (circles get closer together, carrot nose becomes a circle, etc.).

• Introduce acrylic techniques: not premixing blue + white, creating texture by dabbing, and layering from darker to lighter values.

2. Background Snow Base – 10–15 minutes

• Slightly wet brush; dot some blue and white on paper, and load brush with blue and white without premixing.

• Make random crisscross “X” strokes across the surface.

• Encourage visible streaks, marbling, and variations that will help create realistic snowy shadows and highlights.

• The base will appear more blue than real snow, and that’s what we want! It suggests shadow and will give us more range for our snowman.

3. Snowman Shape & Value Shifts – 15–20 minutes

Paint three nested circles in white:

• Largest (body base)

• Medium (middle section)

• Smallest (head)
  Spacing should be tight to show closeness to the viewer.

Fill circles with value changes:

• Bottom circle: blue + white mix, slightly brighter than background

• Middle circle: mostly white with a hint of blue

• Top circle: pure white
  Encourage students to dab with a dry or nearly dry brush rather than smear to get textured “snow.”

4. Dry Time – 5–10 minutes

• Allow paint to set enough to add details cleanly. Could be planned for next day if needed.

5. Face & Body Details – 20–25 minutes

• Coal eyes + smile (black)

• Carrot nose from above = a circle, not a triangle

  • Add a tiny shadow curve under it and a highlight on top

• Add coal buttons if desired

• Create scarf using two rectangles flowing outward from the head circle

• Paint winter hat in any style (beanie, pom pom, earmuffs, etc.)

  • Add white for highlights

  • Add black or darker tones for shadows

• Add stick arms (slightly curved, knobby, imperfect)

Optional: Add pattern details to scarf or hat once dry.

🥕 The carrot is a great learning opportunity. To visualize why it's a circle, have students hold their pointy pencil and turn it to view it with the pointed tip facing them. Like the pencil, the pointy carrot will appear to be a circle shape from that angle.

6. Snowflakes & Finishing Touches – 5–10 minutes

• Use the back of the paintbrush dipped in white paint to dot falling snow

• Dot snowflakes across the entire scene. Don't forget some on the snowman!

• Add any additional designs the student imagines

Assessment Criteria

While I tend to be a big fan of letting young artists go wild with their own interpretations, and I encourage and appreciate their own ways to explore art, I also understand some teachers are required to assess their art students. When assessment is necessary, here are some areas to review:

Understanding of Techniques (Performance-Based)

• Student used layered blue + white strokes to create a textured snowy background

• Proper value progression on the snowman (darker → lighter as it goes upward)

• Successful use of dabbing technique for snow texture

• Snowflakes created using controlled dotting

Understanding of Perspective

• Three circles show correct size relationships

• Carrot nose painted as a round shape (not a triangle)

• Accessories placed so the viewer is clearly looking from above

Creativity & Expression

• Student added personalized colors, patterns, accessories, or background details

• Work reflects effort, care, and thoughtful choices

Craftsmanship & Completion

• Painting shows attention to clean edges where needed

• Student completed all major components of the snowman

• Work is dry, neat, and ready to display

Cleanup Procedure (5–7 minutes)

• Rinse brushes thoroughly, reshape bristles

• Wipe tables, palettes, and paint areas

• Dry brushes on paper towels

• Collect water cups and dispose of dirty water

• Return materials to designated area

• Ensure paintings are placed flat to dry

More lessons are available to families in my FAMILY ART CLUB!
Join to gain access to dozens of lessons, plus a new video weekly.
My membership lessons are housed inside a special member's only library.

I've made this single lesson available to the public as a special preview on YouTube. Click to view the full lesson: