Quiet Winter · Plate 33 of 45

Snow globe color reference

Snow globes are glass globes filled with water and small white flakes that swirl like snow when shaken. They date back to the 1800s in Europe. Many hold a tiny winter scene on the base.

Colors to reach for

Keep the glass clear with pale blue tints and white highlights, the flakes white, and the base warm wood brown or gold.

• pale blue
• white
• gold
• brown
• silver

How to color the snow globe, step by step

1. Read the gray shading guide first. It already marks where the snow globe is darkest, so the shadows are mapped before you pick up a pencil.
2. Lay a light first layer of pale blue and white over the largest areas, with soft pressure and small circles, letting the gray show through.
3. Build depth with gold and brown, going over the gray areas a second and third time until they read as shadow and form.
4. Finish with silver for the smallest details and highlights, then step back and compare with the color reference above.

Questions about this page

What colors do I need to color the snow globe?

Start with pale blue, white, gold, brown and silver. Keep the glass clear with pale blue tints and white highlights, the flakes white, and the base warm wood brown or gold.

Where is the snow globe in Quiet Winter?

It is plate 33 of 45 in Quiet Winter. Like every Nibfern drawing it is printed on one side of the page, with a light gray shading guide under the lines and a dotted cut line at the spine.

Can I frame the snow globe page?

Yes. Cut along the dotted line and trim to the corner marks for a 7 x 9 inch print that fits a standard 8 x 10 frame.

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