• 70 ideas

Catholic Drawing Ideas

One Catholic thing to draw per press: an object of the Mass, a sign of Mary, a saint, a season.

Catholic Drawing Ideas

More filters
Show all 70
  1. An Advent wreath of four candlesA circle of evergreen with four candles, ideally three purple and one rose. On the third Sunday the rose one is lit.

Next step Easter drawing ideas

All 70 ideas

Mass and the sacraments 14

  • A baptismal font on its pedestal Usually a stone basin on a pedestal. Many fonts are eight-sided, so draw three faces and hide the rest.
  • A bishop's mitre and crosier The mitre is a tall folding cap with two peaks and two lappets behind. The crosier looks like a shepherd's crook.
  • A censer swinging on its chains A metal incense burner hung from chains, usually three or four. Let the smoke curl out through the lid.
  • A chalice with a host above it A chalice is a footed cup on a stem. Draw the host as a plain circle above the rim.
  • A chasuble spread flat, front and back The chasuble is the outermost vestment worn at Mass. Draw it laid out, with a band of ornament down the middle.
  • A monstrance: a sunburst on a stand The usual form is a sunburst on a stand, topped by a cross, with a small round window at the center of the rays.
  • A pair of cruets on a tray Two small jugs, one for the wine and one for the water. Draw them in glass so that the levels show.
  • A paten and a ciborium side by side A paten is a small shallow plate. A ciborium looks like a chalice with a rounder bowl and a cone-shaped cover.
  • A small hand bell with a wooden handle An altar bell is a small hand bell, or a set of several on one handle, rung during the Mass.
  • A tabernacle with a lamp burning beside it At least one lamp is kept burning before the tabernacle at all times. Draw the door closed.
  • One stole in each color of the year A stole is a long band of cloth worn by deacons, priests and bishops. Draw it in white, red, green and violet.
  • The seven sacraments as seven small signs Baptism, confirmation, Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, matrimony. One plain sign for each.
  • The tall Easter candle on its stand The paschal candle is the church's biggest candle. It carries a cross plus the Greek alpha and omega.
  • Two candles on a cloth-covered altar At least two candles stand lit on or beside the altar at Mass. Let the cloth hang over the front edge.

Mary and the rosary 14

  • A blue mantle hanging in folds In paintings Mary is traditionally shown in blue. Keep the deep folds dark and the tops of the folds pale.
  • A circle of twelve stars The back of the Miraculous Medal shows a circle of twelve stars. Space them like the hours on a clock face.
  • A fleur-de-lis drawn out of a real lily The fleur-de-lis is a stylized lily, and Mary is often shown with a lily. Draw the flower, then the emblem.
  • A Lourdes grotto: a rock cave with a statue of Mary A Lourdes grotto copies the cave at Lourdes in France, in real or built rock, with a statue of Mary in it.
  • A May crown woven of small flowers A May crowning honors Mary in the month of May. Weave the crown of small flowers and leaves, no jewels.
  • A May procession with a statue carried on shoulders The last May devotion often ends with a procession in which a statue of Mary is carried into church.
  • A rosary wound around a pair of folded hands The hands are the hard part. Wind the beads over the fingers and let the crucifix hang below them.
  • A small cloth scapular on its two cords Two small pieces of woolen cloth joined by two strings, worn so that one hangs in front and one behind.
  • A statue of Mary in a garden of her flowers A Mary garden is a small garden around a statue or shrine of Mary. Plant lilies, violets and irises.
  • A white Madonna lily Pure white flowers, tinted yellow in the throat. In old paintings of the Annunciation the angel hands Mary one.
  • The letter M with a small cross on top The Miraculous Medal carries a large letter M with a cross above it. Letter it bold and plain.
  • One bright star over a dark sea Star of the Sea, an old title of Mary, as guide of those at sea. Add one small boat under the star.
  • Rosary beads laid in a loop with the decades countable Five sets of ten small beads, called decades, with one larger bead between each set and the next.
  • The short strand of a rosary, close up A crucifix, one large bead, three small ones and another large one. Then the loop begins.

Saints by their symbols 14

  • A lamb for Saint Agnes Agnes has been shown with a lamb since the Middle Ages. Draw it lying down with its head up.
  • A lily and a carpenter's square for Saint Joseph Joseph's emblems include a white lily and the tools of a carpenter. Lay the flower across the square.
  • A lion beside a stack of books for Saint Jerome Jerome's emblems are a lion, books and writing things. Put the quill and inkpot on the top book.
  • A scallop shell for Saint James The scallop shell is the sign of James and of the pilgrim road to Santiago. Fan the ribs out from the hinge.
  • A shamrock for Saint Patrick Patrick is shown holding a shamrock. Three round leaflets on one thin stem.
  • A stag with a cross above its head for Saint Hubert Hubert's emblem is a stag with a crucifix over its head. Set a small plain cross between the antlers.
  • A tower with three windows for Saint Barbara Barbara's emblem is a tower, often with three windows. Make it round, with the windows near the top.
  • A wheel for Saint Catherine The emblem of Catherine of Alexandria is a wheel. Draw it large, with a crown resting at its foot.
  • A window of six saints, each shown only by an emblem No faces are needed: a key, a wheel, a shell, a lamb, a tower, a lily. Give each its own panel.
  • Birds on an outstretched arm for Saint Francis Francis of Assisi is shown with birds and animals. Draw one plain sleeve and three small birds along it.
  • The four evangelists as four winged creatures Matthew is a winged man, Mark a lion, Luke an ox and John an eagle. Give each one a quarter of the page.
  • Three gold balls for Saint Nicholas Nicholas is shown holding three golden balls or coins. Stack them as a triangle on a closed book.
  • Two crossed candles for Saint Blaise The emblem of Blaise is two candles, crossed and lit. Tie them where they cross and tilt both flames upright.
  • Two crossed keys for Saint Peter Peter is shown with a key, or keys, in hand. Cross two of them like the letter X, handles down.

The Church year 14

  • A basket of candles for Candlemas On February 2 people take their candles to church, where they are blessed for use through the year.
  • A blessed palm tucked behind a picture frame Palms blessed on Palm Sunday are taken home and hung beside a cross or a picture.
  • A cross of ash, smudged with a thumb On Ash Wednesday a cross of ash is marked on each forehead. The ash is last year's palms, burned.
  • A dove above a row of small flames for Pentecost The vestments at Pentecost are red, for the tongues of fire. Use red, white paper and nothing else.
  • A line of pets waiting to be blessed Animals are blessed on October 4, the feast of Francis of Assisi. Two dogs, a cat in a basket, one goldfish.
  • A pair of shoes left by the door for Saint Nicholas On the eve of December 6 children leave their shoes out, hoping to find coins in them by morning.
  • A pitcher, a basin and a towel Holy Thursday recalls the washing of the feet. Three plain objects on a stone floor are the whole picture.
  • A plain pretzel for Lent Pretzels made of only flour and water could be eaten in Lent, and became tied to the season.
  • A statue covered with a violet cloth Late in Lent, veils, most often violet, may cover crucifixes and images. Draw only the shape underneath.
  • A wheel of the Church year in its colors Violet for Advent and Lent, white for Christmas and Easter time, red for Pentecost, green for Ordinary Time.
  • An Advent wreath of four candles A circle of evergreen with four candles, ideally three purple and one rose. On the third Sunday the rose one is lit.
  • Chalk marks over a door at Epiphany Chalk the year's first two digits, then C, M and B, then its last two, with a small cross in each gap.
  • The Easter fire at night with one candle lit from it The Easter Vigil is held in the dark, after sunset on Holy Saturday. Let the fire be the only light.
  • The three gifts of the Magi Gold, frankincense and myrrh. Draw three different containers: a small chest, a jar and a flask.

Church buildings and glass 14

  • A bell tower with the bell showing A bell tower holds one or more bells. Show the bell through an arched opening near the top.
  • A church window with its lead lines drawn first The pieces of glass are held by strips of lead called cames. Draw those black lines before any color.
  • A holy water stoup beside a church door A stoup is a small basin of holy water placed near the entrance of a church. Fix it to the wall at hand height.
  • A pew with its kneeler folded down In Catholic churches the kneeler is part of the pew. Draw the bench end on, like a lowercase h.
  • A pointed window in a stone wall Gothic churches have pointed arches and large windows with stone tracery. Two tall lights and a circle above.
  • A pulpit with a curved stair A pulpit is a raised stand for preaching. Wrap its steps around a pillar and add a handrail.
  • A rack of small candles, some lit Votive candles are small, white or beeswax yellow, each one lit as a prayer. Draw rows of flames with gaps.
  • A rose window seen from the square outside A rose window is round, with stone bars and tracery that mostly radiate from the center.
  • A row of flying buttresses seen from behind a church Each is a ramping arch from the top of the wall to a heavy pier, carrying the outward push to the ground.
  • A side chapel with a statue niche, a candle rack and one window Three things in one small space. Light it from the window and let the candles make a second glow.
  • A steeple seen from the street below A steeple: a high tower topped by a spire. From below, its sides lean in toward the point.
  • A wooden confessional A booth with a middle compartment behind a door or curtain, and a latticed opening on each side of it.
  • Fourteen stations along a church wall The Stations of the Cross are fourteen images set in numbered order. Draw them as small plaques, I to XIV.
  • Organ pipes above a choir loft A pipe organ sounds by sending air through pipes chosen from a keyboard. Stand the pipes in ranks by height.

How it works

Most Catholic subjects are objects you can set on a table: a cup, a candle, a string of beads, a key. These Catholic drawing ideas name each one and say what it looks like, plus saints, seasons and church buildings.

Read the full guide

A saint without a face

Church art has long told saints apart by what they carry, so the emblem alone can stand for the person. Two keys are Peter, a wheel is Catherine of Alexandria, a scallop shell is James, a lamb is Agnes. Draw the object large and letter the name under it. Six of them in six panels make a window.

Questions and answers

What are easy Catholic things to draw?

A chalice with a host above it, an Advent wreath of four candles, two crossed keys, a shamrock or a lamb for Saint Agnes. Each is one or two plain shapes. Easy, under More filters, holds 25.

How do you draw a rosary?

Draw a loop of five sets of ten small beads, with one larger bead between each set and the next. Where the loop joins, hang a short strand: a large bead, three small ones, another large one and a crucifix at the end.

What colors are the candles on an Advent wreath?

Ideally three purple and one rose, set in a circle of evergreen. On Advent's third Sunday the rose candle is lit. The bishops' conference notes that white candles can be used too.

What are the colors of the Church year?

The main four: violet for Advent and Lent, white for Christmas and Easter time, red for Pentecost and green for Ordinary Time. Rose appears on two Sundays only. Together they make a color wheel to draw.

More tools

Show 5 more

Browse Drawing Ideas