About This Video

In this guided activity video, JD leads participants through painting a snowy pine tree in the woods with acrylic paint.

The activity begins with setting up a vertical canvas, paint brushes, water, paper towels, and a palette. JD then guides participants through painting a snowy background, blending blue and white, adding distant pine trees, painting a larger pine tree in the center, and finishing the scene with snow details and shadows.

Throughout the video, JD reminds participants that everyone’s artwork will look different. Participants can make their trees taller or shorter, add more or fewer branches, and use their own style as they build the winter scene step by step.

This video gives participants a creative acrylic painting activity focused on winter scenery, color blending, brush control, layering, depth, creative choice, and pride in finished work.

Supplies Needed

Canvas, such as a 9 by 12 inch canvas or another similar painting surface

Acrylic paint, including dark blue, dark green, and white

Black and white paint, optional for adjusting colors

Paint brushes, including a flat brush and a round brush if available

Cup of water for rinsing brushes

Paper towels

Paper plate or palette for paint

Paint apron or clothes that can get messy

Hair dryer, optional and only with caregiver support

Good For

• Adults with IDD who enjoy painting, winter scenes, trees, snow, nature themes, color blending, or creative art activities.

• Caregivers looking for a guided painting activity with clear setup, flexible choices, and a finished project participants can display.

• Adult day programs, home routines, or group activities about art, acrylic painting, winter, nature, brush practice, following directions, and self-expression.

• Participants who benefit from visual modeling, encouragement, creative choice, and a step-by-step project they can complete with support nearby.

How to Use This Video

Use this video as a guided acrylic painting activity for a home routine, day program, small group, or supported creative time.

Caregivers can gather the supplies ahead of time and help participants set up their canvas, paints, brushes, water cup, paper towels, and palette. Because acrylic paint can stain clothing, it may help to protect the table and have participants wear an apron or clothing that can get paint on it.

JD gives step-by-step instructions, but the snowy pine tree scene does not need to match his exactly. Participants can change the size of the trees, add more or fewer background trees, make the snow brighter or softer, or simplify parts of the painting as needed.

Because this activity involves acrylic paint, water, brush rinsing, drying time, blending, layering, and optional use of a hair dryer, caregivers can provide support with setup, managing spills, cleaning brushes, portioning paint, staying oriented on the canvas, drying safely, and letting the finished painting dry before moving it.

At the end, participants can sign their artwork, let it dry, show it off, and save or display it as part of their art collection.