This winter birch tree painting uses easy watercolor techniques and gorgeous winter colors! Using an oil pastel resist technique is perfect for creating a barrier so the watercolor paint doesn’t bleed into the birch tree. And using salt on the wet paint helps to create an icy effect that gives the whole art project a magical winter feel.

There are so many fun watercolor techniques for kids to try! Take a look at my collection of watercolor painting for kids for more fun and creative ideas.

Watercolor winter birch tree painting idea for kids.

I used liquid watercolors undiluted for this project to get a really vibrant blue and purple and a watercolor set for the lighter shade of blue. Each painting will look unique depending on the colors used and how the paint mixes together on the wet paper!

For another fun winter tree art project, take a look at this gorgeous chalk pastel winter tree art that looks like stained glass!

There are so many great winter art projects for kids to make! If you are looking for more winter project ideas take a look at my collection of beautiful winter art for kids to make.

Create your own winter birch tree painting

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Supplies

Watercolor paper
Watercolor paint
Wooden board and painter’s tape (optional)
Paintbrushes
Paint palette and water dish
Pencil and eraser
Black oil pastel
Coarse salt

Instructions for your winter tree painting

1. First you want to prepare your paper. Tape your watercolor paper down to a wooden board using painter’s tape. If you don’t have a wooden board you can use, try taping it down to a table.

This is an optional step but helps to keep the paper nice and flat as it dries, keeps the paper from moving around as kids are painting, and gives the paper crisp white edges.

2. Next, draw out your birch tree with a pencil. Have kids press lightly so they can erase if needed. Start by drawing the trunk and then adding in some branches like in the photo below.

Drawing a birch tree and tracing it with black oil pastel.

You want to keep the drawing simple with straight lines to make it as easy as possible for kids to draw.

3. Use a black oil pastel and trace over your drawing. You want to press fairly hard to create a barrier between the birch tree and the watercolor paint.

Draw in a few lines in the trunk and branches to complete the birch tree drawing.

mixing blue and purple watercolor paint for a birch tree painting idea.

4. Get your paints ready. I used undiluted liquid watercolors for the bright blue and purple colors and light blue color from a watercolor set. Once kids start painting, they will have to paint fairly quickly so it’s important to have the paint ready to go.

Make sure to test out the colors first on scrap paper. Watercolor paint will always dry slightly lighter.

Using a wet on wet technique for painting.

5. Use a clean brush and clean water to paint over your background first, being careful not to paint with the water inside the tree. You want your paper to be wet not soaking, if some kids add too much water just dab the paper with a paper towel to soak up any excess water.

6. Start painting your background, one color at a time, being careful not to paint inside the tree. Make sure to clean your brush in between colors.

Painting with blue and purple watercolors for a winter tree painting idea for kids.

Remind kids to dab the paint on and let the wet paper mix the colors together. This is called a wet-on-wet technique.

To learn more about easy watercolor techniques that kids can do, take a look at these 5 easy watercolor techniques for kids that produce fantastic results.

Adding coarse salt to wet watercolor paint.

7. Once kids have finished painting their background and while the paint is still wet, it’s time to sprinkle on the salt. Kids can choose to sprinkle on as much or as little as they would like.

As the paint dries and the salt soaks up some of the paint, it will start to create interesting patterns. This will give the background an icy winter feel.

Watercolor winter birch tree painting idea for kids using a resist technique.

Let the paper dry completely before carefully brushing off the salt into the sink or garbage. Make sure not to smudge the pastel as you brush the salt off.

Carefully take the tape off around the edges to reveal your beautiful painting. This winter birch tree painting is a fun and easy art project that kids will love to make!

More painting ideas kids will love

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Pin this art project for later

winter birch art project for kids using watercolors and oil pastels

Yield: 1 birch tree painting

Watercolor Resist Winter Birch Tree Painting Idea for Kids

This winter birch tree painting uses easy watercolor techniques and gorgeous winter colors! Using a resist technique and salt helps to create an icy effect that gives the whole art project a magical winter feel.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 45 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

Watercolor paper
Watercolor paint
Pencil and eraser
Black oil pastel
Coarse salt

Tools

Wooden board and painter’s tape (optional)
Paintbrushes

Instructions

First, tape your watercolor paper down to a wooden board or table with painter's tape. This is an optional step but keeps your paper nice and flat as it dries and helps to keep it from moving around as kids paint.
Next, draw out your birch tree. Have kids draw lightly with a pencil first so they can erase if needed. Start by drawing a trunk using straight lines and then drawing in a couple of branches.
Keep the drawing nice and simple.
Trace over your drawing with black oil pastel. Draw in a few lines in the trunk and branches to complete the birch tree drawing.
Get your paints ready in a palette or have your watercolor set beside you ready to go. I used undiluted liquid watercolors for the bright blue and purple and a watercolor set for the light blue color.
Test out your colors first on scrap paper, watercolor paint will always dry a bit lighter.
Use a clean brush and clean water to paint the background, being careful not to paint inside the tree. You want the paper to be wet not soaking.
Start to paint using one color at a time, dabbing the paint on as your go. Make sure to clean your brush when you switch colors.
Let the wet paper mix the colors together creating new shades and interesting patterns.
While the paper is still wet, sprinkle on some coarse salt. As the paint dries and the salt soaks up some of the paint, it will start to create even more interesting patterns. This will give the background an icy winter feel.
Let the paper dry completely before brushing off the salt into the sink or garbage, being careful not to smudge the pastel.
Carefully take the tape off around the edges to reveal your gorgeous winter tree painting!