I made this little art page for my journal. I just love this collage image and she just sat beautifully in the snowy scene. There is certainly a lot going on here, especially the background. Texture paste, oxide inks, stencils, collage paper, stamping…..it’s definitely a mixed media piece. Love mixed media.
Art Has No Rules: A Whimsical Winter Angel Art Journal Page
There’s something so magical about winter—the calm blues, the sparkle of snowflakes, and the cozy feeling of being wrapped up in a soft jumper. Today, I’m sharing a mixed media art journal page that captures all of that winter wonder, paired with one of my favorite creative reminders: Art Has No Rules.
This page combines paint, texture, collage, and a sweet winter angel to create a layered, whimsical design that celebrates both the season and the freedom of artistic play.
✨ What You’ll Need
Art journal or mixed media paper
Acrylic paint or watercolour (teal, turquoise, white)
White gesso (optional)
Texture or modeling paste
Snowflake stencil
Palette knife or old credit card
Angel image (printed, drawn, or collage cut-out)
Adhesive or matte gel medium
White gel pen
Letter stickers or printed words: “ART HAS NO RULES”
Sentiment sticker: “I ♥ winter”
Self-adhesive pearls or gems
❄️ Step 1: Paint the Background
Start with a coat of gesso if your page needs a little prep. Then, paint a gradient from deep teal at the top to pale turquoise at the bottom, like a winter sky fading into snow. Don’t worry about perfection—soft, uneven blending adds to the charm.
Let it dry completely before moving on.
❄️ Step 2: Add Snowflake Texture
Place your stencil and spread texture paste through it using a palette knife. Randomly scatter snowflakes across the page, some large and some small. Let them overlap edges for a natural look.
Once the paste is dry, lightly brush white paint across the raised snowflakes so they catch the light—instant winter magic!
❄️ Step 3: Create Subtle Layers
For extra depth, stamp or handwrite a few faint lines of script in the background. A little scribble of blue ink or graphite adds that dreamy mixed-media texture we all love.
❄️ Step 4: Add Your Angel
Your angel can be printed, drawn, or collaged—whatever fits your style. This one wears a cozy blue jumper and fluffy slippers, with soft white wings to match the snowy theme.
Cut her out neatly and adhere her slightly off-center using matte gel medium. She should look like she’s standing in your snowy scene, blending naturally into the page.
❄️ Step 5: Build the Snowy Ground
Tear a strip of white paper and glue it along the bottom edge to create snowbanks.
Use texture paste or thick white paint along the torn edge for that fluffy, snowdrift feel.
❄️ Step 6: Add Your Words
Arrange your quote “ART HAS NO RULES” vertically along the left side.
At the bottom, tuck in your smaller sentiment—“I ♥ winter”—as a sweet finishing touch.
❄️ Step 7: Embellish the Magic
Stick on pearls or gems to mimic falling snow or twinkling ice crystals. Add highlights and tiny snow dots with your white gel pen.
You can even brush a little shimmer paint or glitter paste over a few snowflakes for sparkle!
❄️ Step 8: Final Details
Ground your angel by adding a soft shadow beneath her feet using diluted blue paint or a watercolor pencil.
If you’d like, seal the whole page with matte medium to protect your layers.
💙 Final Thoughts
This project is a gentle reminder that art truly has no rules. Let your imagination lead the way. If your snowflakes smear or your blues mix differently than you planned—embrace it. That’s where the beauty happens.
So grab your brushes, play with texture, and create your own winter angel story on the page. Because when you let go of rules, your creativity shines brightest.
