Winter's Wonders: Snowflake Coloring Pages

No matter the time of year, come here to enjoy a snowflake coloring page!  You'll find dendrites and plates made of ice.  Not an endless variety, simply a sample of nature's ice crystal art.

So you think you know what a flake of snow looks like, right?  Well, you might just be surprised.  Take a look at some of the amazing shapes!

All of these crystals or ice images are based on observation or photos taken by scientists and enthusiasts.  Well, all but the last three.  Those were created by me and AI.

Behold the fascinating, ephemeral creations of nature. 

Dendrites

The flakes below are from a book entitled Art Studies from Nature as Applied to Design published in 1872.  The originals, illustrated in the book, were carefully drawn by eyewitnesses.

Flakes shaped like these are called dendrites.  Why you ask?  Dendrites form branches like a tree.  As you can see, these flakes have limbs.

Some of these flakes look like they would hurt if they hit you!  Fortunately, they're too tiny to wound you.  But...

there once was reported a  snowflake so massive, 8 inches thick and 15 inches across, that you'd probably notice if it landed on you!

It was said to have fallen in Montana in 1887.  There's no photo to prove it.   The report could be true... could be a snow job!

The largest documented snow crystal, photographed by Kenneth Libbrecht, was approximately one-third of an inch wide.

Hmmm...quite a difference between the two!  Why? 

Perhaps it has to do with language.  A snowflake could mean one crystal or lots of crystals that get stuck together as they fall.  A snow crystal is just one crystal of ice.

Others are just fascinatingly complex and jewel-like.

No matter their shape, you must admit, they're delightful to behold.  Ok, for those of you in the northern climes where flakes fall far too often, I understand.

Snowflakes might have lost their charm, perhaps?

The snowflake coloring page below consists of two flakes stuck together.   That's how it was captured on film.

It's faceted like a fine piece of jewelry.  Image it's a diamond brooch sparkling in the sun!  Ok, it would have to be moissanite on my budget.

This beautiful flake, derived from a hi-resolution Nasa photo, reminds me of a dream catcher.

Plates

These snowflakes look like fancy dinner plates made of flat, thin ice.  

The first two flake drawings in this category are based on hi-resolution photographs from Nasa. 

The snowflake above and below are from photos taken by Wilson Bentley in 1890.

I think these would make beautiful patterns for dinnerware, don't you?

The snow crystal below is called a capped column (Bentley photo).  It looks like a barbell to me, what do you think?

Four Fun Facts about Flakes of Snow

Snow is a beautiful thing!  Have you ever wondered how we learned that each flake is unique, or how many shapes it comes in, or how fast it falls or whether it can be man-made?

1. The first snowtographer was Wilson Bentley, aka "Snowflake Bentley."  His thousands of photos demonstrated that each flake is unique!
2. Each flake is unique but there are only approximately 35 basic shapes.
3. Snow usually falls at about 3 mph.
4. Yes, snow can be man-made in a lab by scientists.

You probably didn't come here for a science lesson but in case you are interested in how flakes are made, snow not corn, go here https://scijinks.gov/snowflakes/

SnowFakes Created with AI

 I prompted AI to create some snowflake coloring pages for me.  The following pics are the results.

So, I think some interesting snowflake-like images were created.  What do you think?

As you can see, there are some bits that are unfinished (lines don't connect).  Overall a good effort by a machine.

Create Your Own Snowflake Coloring Page

How do you do make your own page?  Simple... you have already feasted on these flakes of ice for inspiration.  Now...

1. Pick your favorite(s)
2. Print
3. Color

Now you have  your own unique colorful masterpiece.  Share!  Hang them in the air or give them as gifts.

Or just focus on those flakes and visualize the fun you've had in the snow.  How peaceful you felt observing the snow gently falling, etc.

Purple Snow?

Sure!  That's what happens when purple rain falls in the winter. 

Well, not exactly.  In the high mountains of Germany,  snow of many colors has been observed.  Gold, purple, green, red, orange and pink snowdrifts. 

The colors are the result of simple organisms that have acclimated to the cold.

Source: The Many Colors of Snow - Deschutes Land Trust
deschuteslandtrust.org

Next time you're out in the snow, think of these flake shapes.  You might just appreciate these glamorous gifts of nature a little more than before!