How to Paint a Christmas Wreath in Watercolour
- Kerry Slack Art
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Perfect for beginners • Festive • Flowing and joyful
There’s something wonderfully cosy about painting a Christmas wreath — all those berries, leaves and little festive sprigs coming together in a loose, expressive circle. A watercolour wreath is simple, playful and completely forgiving… a brilliant project for beginners and a relaxing treat for experienced painters too.
Below you’ll find the general guidelines, techniques and colour mixes you need to paint a beautiful wreath in your own unique style. Think of it as a gentle roadmap rather than a strict step-by-step.
Materials You’ll Need
300gsm watercolour paper (NOT or cold pressed)
Watercolour paints:
Sap Green
Prussian Blue
Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red
Cadmium Yellow
Orange
Kuretake Gold (optional)
Round brushes (sizes 4–8 work beautifully)
Cocktail stick or any handy pointy thing for creating veins in your leaves
Mixing palette
Water jars
Pencil & eraser
Optional: white gouache for snowy splatter
Colour Mixing Guide
Before you start, mix three or four greens so you’re not reaching for the same colour every time. This instantly makes your wreath feel more natural and interesting.
Bright Leaf Green
Sap Green + a touch of Cadmium Yellow
Great for fresh leaves and the central holly leaf
Blue-Green
Sap Green + Prussian Blue
Lovely for cooler shadows and depth
Muted Olive
Sap Green + a whisper of Cadmium Red or Orange
Ideal for mistletoe, eucalyptus and background stems
Festive Reds
Cadmium Red for punch
Alizarin Crimson for depth
Mix the two to create juicy, dimensional berries
Keep some mixes very watery (for your background shapes) and some thick and creamy (for confident foreground details).
The General Approach
1. Begin with Larger, Softer Shapes
Start your wreath by painting the palest, most diffused foliage first. These shapes can be slightly undefined and loose — think soft eucalyptus, misty stems and simple mistletoe forms.Use plenty of water and let the colour flow wet-in-wet. This creates that gorgeous ethereal base layer that everything else will sit on.
2. Add Mid-Tones and Build Volume
Once your first layer is dry, begin weaving in stronger foliage.Use the mid-tone greens and more defined brushstrokes:
Fir sprigs
Blue-green leaves
Clusters of berries
Longer sprays and stems
Vary the angle and spacing to keep the wreath feeling natural and hand-gathered.
3. Make the Holly the Focal Point
Your holly cluster is the star of the show — so let it shine.
Paint the centre holly leaf in a bright Sap Green mix.
Paint the leaves either side in a more muted blue-green to push them back in space.
Add stronger contrasts and sharper edges here than anywhere else in the wreath.
Use your richest reds for the holly berries, adding a drop of Alizarin Crimson to the lower half for shadow.
This contrast pulls the eye straight to the holly.
4. Mix Up Your Sizes, Shapes & Values
A beautiful wreath has rhythm — little changes in shape and colour that lead your eye around the circle.
Consider:
Tiny berries next to larger berries
Broad eucalyptus leaves beside thin pine needles
Pale stems mingling with darker ones
Occasional pops of warm orange or cool blue
This variety keeps the composition lively and dynamic.
5. Deepen the Berries with a Touch of Shadow
Give the berries a sense of roundness by adding a small shadow on one side. A mix of Alizarin Crimson and a touch of Prussian Blue works perfectly.Leave the highlight untouched — it makes them look glossy and festive.
6. Fill Gaps with Dots, Swirls & Wispy Details
When you think you’re nearly done, hold your painting at arm’s length.Any sparse areas can be gently filled with:
Tiny dots
Loose swirls
Wispy grasses
Quick stem marks
These final touches bring the wreath together without overpowering it.
Final Thoughts
Painting a Christmas wreath is really about layering, variety and that lovely balance between softness and detail. Start loose, gradually build structure, make your holly pop, and finish with a sprinkle of joyful little accents.
Every wreath will look different — and that’s the magic. Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can play with different colour palettes, themes and shapes to make each one uniquely yours.
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