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1- First things first, we need to lay down the foundation lines. This step is important as it sets the overall structure of your illustration.

Sketch out the basic shapes and elements that will form the backbone of your scene. For example, place the trees, mountains, and any major features that will anchor your composition.

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2- Then on another layer, we can start by coloring the background. For the sky, let’s go with a kind of blue. Use brown for the houses, and white for the snowy areas.

This stage sets the mood and atmosphere of your illustration, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different color combinations.

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3- Now, here’s the secret sauce – adding layers upon layers. Each new layer will bring your illustration to life. I started with the lights coming out from the windows.

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4- Then the trees and bushes, the river. On another layer, I added the shadings and the snow on the roofs and mountains.

This last step is not easy to end as you can continue to add details for hours if you want to but I tried to keep it short in this tutorial.

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And that’s all. Don’t forget the reflection on the river, as this is a very important step in order to make it more realistic.

I highly recommend watching the video too so everything make sense and ties in with this PDF.

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