Ready to add some Christmas magic to your art? In this easy acrylic painting tutorial, I’ll show you how to paint a glowing Christmas tree that will light up your canvas! Whether you’re a beginner artist or just looking for a fun festive project, this step-by-step art tutorial will help you paint a Christmas tree that captures the warmth and sparkle of the season. So grab your brushes, and let’s make some holiday magic!
If you would prefer to watch the video tutorial then you can watch that below, or head over to my Youtube channel.
Want to watch the full length tutorial with step by step instructions? Then join my Patreon, where you can get instant access to all of my full length art tutorials! You can paint this Christmas tree with me while I explain exactly what to do.
Let’s get painting!
You will need:
- Canvas, or acrylic paper
- Acrylic paints (blue, white, green, orange, yellow)
- Glazing medium (opitonal)
- Paintbrushes
- Water
Step 1:
Paint the background using a mix of dark and light blue shades of acrylic paint. Use lighter paint in the centre of the canvas, as this is where the Christmas tree will be glowing. Then, use light blue paint to paint the snow at the bottom of the canvas.
Step 2:
Then we can add some snow to our painting by splattering some white acrylic paint to the canvas. This is such a quick and easy way to add snow to your paintings!
To do this, just follow my paint splattering technique. Or watch the video below:
Step 3:
Now we can start painting the Christmas tree! If you want to see how to paint the smaller snow covered trees in the distance, then watch the full length tutorial on my Patreon.
To start the Christmas tree, use a really dark green shade of acrylic paint a vertical line in the centre of the canvas to form the trunk.
Step 4:
Then, start painting the tree branches by using the same colour paint and pulling it outwards from the top of the trunk.
Make sure the branches are smaller at the top of the tree, and get wider towards the bottom. As this will give it the distinctive Christmas tree shape.
Step 5:
Continue to paint the tree branches, making sure they are thicker in the middle towards the trunk. This will give the tree a bushier look, like lots of Christmas trees have.
Try to twist and turn your paintbrush as you are painting the branches to get more natural markings on the canvas.
Step 6:
Add some shades of lighter green paint to the tops of each branch to give your Christmas tree a fuller, more three dimensional look.
This will create the highlights on the branches, while the darker green paint showing through underneath will be the shadows.
Step 7:
Add snow to your Christmas tree by adding shades of light blue and white acrylic paint to the very tops of each branch. Make sure you leave some green showing through underneath. Just paint the snow where it is likely to fall on the tree. This technique is really easy but also really effective!
Step 8:
Now we can start to paint the glow from the string lights. Mix a shade of yellow and orange paint and mix it with a little bit of glazing medium. If you don’t have glazing medium, then you can just use water. Check out this video I created showing you how to paint string lights, where I use water to create this effect.
Step 9:
Use the orange paint mixture to paint a small circle anywhere that you’d like your fairy lights to be. I dotted mine all over the Christmas tree, and then painted a large glow at the top.
Then, use a really light shade of yellow, or even white paint, to paint the lights in the centre of each glow, as well as the star on top of the Christmas tree.
Step 10:
To complete your festive Christmas tree painting, use white acrylic paint to add some more snow drops. Then, use a small paintbrush to paint some snowflakes falling around the tree.
I hope you enjoyed painting this glowing Christmas tree! If you want to watch the full length tutorial, so that you can have a Christmas paint party, then just join my Patreon – you can cancel at anytime!
