8891 Red Barn in Snow
Jerry Yarnell – Inspiration of Painting PBS Television Series

A quiet winter road curves gently through a snow-covered landscape, leading the eye toward a warm red barn reflected in still water, with bare trees and soft pastel skies completing the peaceful scene. In this beginner level acrylic painting lesson, Jerry walks you step-by-step through creating this tranquil winter setting in an 80 minute session on an 18x24 canvas, capturing the calm beauty of snow, light, and atmosphere.

You’ll learn how to build strong composition using the winding road and fence line to guide the viewer’s eye into the painting, while placing the barn and surrounding elements with proper perspective. Jerry demonstrates how to block in large shapes first, then refine them with controlled brushwork to maintain clarity and structure.

Special attention is given to painting snow using subtle value shifts and color temperature changes, avoiding flat white surfaces while creating realistic depth and form. You’ll also explore how to paint reflections in water, bare tree branches, and soft winter skies using gentle blending techniques.

By the end of this lesson, you’ll gain confidence in painting winter landscapes, handling light on snow, and creating depth through perspective and atmospheric effects. This is an ideal project for beginners looking to expand their skills while creating a calm and visually engaging seasonal scene.