Inside Art: December 2025

by Louise Seirmarco-Yale, Reston Artist

Learning the art of seeing—not just looking—is an invaluable skill during the holidays, when our environment changes so noticeably. From Halloween through the New Year, our everyday world transforms through creative expression.

We can train ourselves to see rather than simply glance. December’s decorations offer a wealth of visual experiences where we can practice seeing art.

Notice both the subtle changes and the noisy, obvious ones in your surroundings. Look at the holiday lights. Then see how the lights glow, how shadows fall around each bulb, and how reflections on windows or ornaments add an extra layer of art to the nightly view.

Ornaments, tinsel, and lights on shiny surfaces can create reflective patterns that feel visually loud. Try to notice all these effects.

A holiday silhouette might be a tree outlined against the evening sky or a wreath shape on a door. The edges and subtle shapes that give these scenes their beauty deserve attention too.

Consider the rhythms and patterns created by strings of lights, rows of wreaths, or stacked garlands. Nature meets décor in pine boughs paired with electric lights, holly in a metal pot, or bare twigs arranged in a vase with a bow. In a minimal holiday scene, less is more—one quiet vignette, like snow on a branch, can become the center of your focus.

One bright ornament, one vivid ribbon, or a single light in a dark setting can offer a striking accent of color. Ask yourself, “What draws my eye?” Learn to focus on the art element. Lines of tinsel or the long sweep of ribbon down a tree help define the shapes we see. Look for lines.

Time-worn garlands and vintage ornaments add the texture of age and tradition. Rusty sleds, old tree stands, and childhood decorations form a collage of memories. Children’s handprints in the snow, a stocking hung, or boots lined up by the door remind us of the sweetness of human presence during the holidays. Notice how a doorway dressed in greenery, a window display, or a decorated mantel frames what you see.

Art is emotional and cements memories. As holiday artist-photographers, we edit, crop, and assemble images to archive our personal experiences. Use one favorite visual moment this month to make a piece of photo art.

How does it feel to bring new awareness to decorations you once saw as ordinary? Practice seeing instead of simply looking. The potential for art is always there. Try something new this year as you unpack familiar décor. Notice the lines, colors, designs, shapes, textures, and contrasts. Remember that art lives within all of us, all the time.

Have fun—and then photograph it. Happy holidays!

Louise Seirmarco-Yale is a Reston artist, speaker, teacher and author of “Art. You Be The Judge. Reawaken your Instincts and Enjoy Art On Your Own Terms”, available on Amazon, or download for free at www.peopleneedart.com/, Email Louise at: hello@peopleneedart.com, or follow her on FB and Instagram: @louise_seirmarco_art