Drawing Tips | The Story Elves - Help with writing, editing, illustrating and designing your own stories

- Tip -

The colors of snow

story_elves_squirrel_snowcolor_wh_web

In a meeting, big and small elves sat debating what sort of storytelling tip we might create—and then word came in via the tel-a-story (an elf telephone) that elves and animals alike were preparing for a great snowstorm in the North Country.  It is springtime, but snowstorms occur in the spring!  And spring, being a colorful time, is a wonderful time to talk about the colors of snow.

Because snow is white it is very reflective and takes on the colors of the surroundings.  Often, the most important color is blue.  The sky is blue and that reflects both on snow and on water.  Therefore,  a light blue can be used for creating some volume in the appearance of snow.   You can also use light gray, green or even yellow.  (Be careful with the yellow, though.  If snow is too yellow it might just look like something else, and we all know not to touch the yellow snow!)

Look at our squirrel character now and see if you can pick out the colors added to the snow.  Doesn’t it look much more like real snow when it is not left entirely white?

story_elves_squirrel_snow_color_web

Always be sure to add colors lightly, as well.

story_elves_squirrel_snow_thumb4_web

Consider creating an illustration with a bright blanket of spring snow.  The color key above can be helpful as you create voluminous snow!

And, one last note.  If you are creating art in more of a comic style, you might prefer all white snow because it looks less realistic!

Print Friendly
The Story Elves - Help with writing, editing, illustrating and designing your own stories