For all those that didn't get booked on the Christmas gnomes workshop, as promised, here's some instructions for one you can do at home.
So if you're looking to add a touch of festive charm to your Christmas décor? Why not create your very own watercolour Christmas gnome? These adorable characters are perfect for cards, gift tags, cute artworks and definitely a fun project to enjoy with the family. In this blog post, I'll guide you through a simple step-by-step process to paint your very own watercolour gnome – a whimsical addition to your festive celebrations!
Materials You'll Need
Watercolour paper
Watercolour paints (a basic palette is fine)
Brushes (round brushes in small and medium sizes work well)
A pencil and eraser for sketching
A small jar of water and some paper towels
A cocktail stick - of course!
A black pen or finaliser for adding details
SKETCH : Sketch Your Gnome
Start with a light pencil sketch. Begin by drawing a rounded egg shape for the body, a small oval or circle for the nose and a big santa hat on top.  Add the arms and legs, the big long beard and finally the boots and skis. Don't worry about perfection; gnomes are all about personality! Alternatively you can download and trace my sketch.
Step 1: Add the Base Colours
I used red, blue and grey for my gnome, however you can experiment with any colours you like. We’re going to paint this gnome in layers. Wet your brush and begin with a light red wash for the hat.  Keep it light, we’ll add some darker red later. Add red stripes to the arms and legs. Curve these slightly to suggest the rounded form of the limbs. Give him some red gloves.
Be sure to leave the beard and nose untouched for now. Let the first layer dry completely before moving on.
Step 2:Â Tunic & Boots
I used blue here. Make sure you’ve got your cocktail stick handy.  You’re going to add a light wash of blue all over belly BUT be careful to avoid the beard. I like to start by adding the blue colour right at the edge of the beard, then wetting my brush and encouraging that paint down over the rest of the tunic. Quickly and before your paint dries, use the sharp end of the stick to make stripes across the body.  Make sure these are curved to suggest a rounded body.  While the paint is still wet you can dab in a little extra b blue on the bottom and right hand side of the body. This will help to make his belly look rounder.
Paint the boots blue.
Step 3:Â The grey bits - beard, Fur and ice
Using a very watered down black or paynes grey, use a smaller brush and add light grey to the bottom edge of the hat, under the nose and hat and on the pointy bits of the beard.
With a clean damp brush we are going to make a circle for the hat’s pompom. Once that is wet, drop a bit of grey paint in there and let it blend out. While still wet, scribble round with the cocktail stick to give some texture.
Make the ice at the bottom with a slightly darker grey mixture and sweep the side of your brush across the bottom of the page 2 or 3 times. Lightly does it.
Step 4: Paint the Nose and Final Touches
The nose is the heart of your gnome’s charm! Use a soft beige, brown or peach colour and leave a white highlight to give it a warm glow. Once the nose is dry, you can also add a bit of shadow beneath it to make it pop.
Cast your eye over your gnome. Using a smaller brush, layer darker tones of your chosen colours to create shadows and depth. Add subtle lines to give the hat some folds and texture.  For the legs and arms, blur the underside of the limbs, darken the bottom of the boots.
Once the paint is dry, use a fine-liner pen to outline the ice skates and other features if you like a bolder, more illustrative look.
Step 5: Display Your Gnome
Once your masterpiece is dry, it’s ready to shine! Frame it, turn it into a greeting card, or simply display it on your mantlepiece or fridge for a dose of festive cheer.
Painting festive gnomes is not only fun but also a lovely way to relax and get into the festive spirit. I hope you enjoy painting these adorable characters as much as I do!
If you give this a go, I’d love to see your creations – feel free to share them on Instagram and tag me @kerryslackart!
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