A beard drawn as one big cloud with a smile cut into itDraw the cloud first, in bumps. A small curve near the top is the mouth, and the nose sits on it.
A beard in long curls, each one ending in a hookDraw each lock as two lines that meet in a curl. Overlap them like roof tiles, top row first.
A moustache that curls up at both ends and hides the mouthTwo fat teardrops lying tail to tail under the nose. Flick each tail upward.
A Santa face in five shapes: triangle, band, oval, cloud and ballTriangle hat, a band of fur, an oval face, a cloud of beard and a ball on the tip of the hat.
A sleepy Santa with his hat pulled down to his eyebrowsThe fur band sits right on the eyes, drawn as two short lines. Let the hat tip fall forward.
A winking Santa with one cheek pushed upA wink lifts the cheek on that side. Curve that eye shut and tilt the moustache with it.
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Faces and beards, continued
Santa in round glasses, looking over the top of themHe is often shown with glasses. Sit them low on the nose and draw the eyes above the rims.
Santa laughing, eyes shut, mouth wide open inside the beardTwo upturned curves for the eyes. The open mouth is a dark half circle in the white of the beard.
Santa with snow caught in his beard and eyebrowsLeave the snow as white lumps and shade lightly round them so they show against the beard.
Santa's face built on a circle, the beard added lastDraw a circle for the head. The hat brim crosses the top third and the beard hangs from the ears down.
Santa's head in profile: round nose, curled moustache, hat tipped backStart with the nose as a ball. The moustache sweeps back from under it and the beard falls forward.
Three Santa faces in a row: surprised, proud and worn outKeep the hat and beard the same in all three. Only the eyebrows and the mouth change.
The whole figure 12
A tiny Santa far off on top of a snowy hillOne curved line for the hill. At that size he is a triangle, a dot of beard and two short legs.
Father Christmas in a long hooded robe trimmed with furFather Christmas, the traditional English name, was often drawn in a long red hooded gown with white fur.
Santa as a stack of three shapes: hat, beard and coatA triangle on a cloud on a bell shape. Two small boots poke out underneath.
Santa bending to set a parcel down, one hand on his backTilt the egg of the body forward. The beard hangs straight down, away from the chest.
Santa dozing in an armchair with his boots beside itDraw the chair first. He sinks into it, chin on his chest, hands folded over the belt.
Santa mid-stride, coat swinging and the bag bouncingLean the whole figure forward. The coat hem and the tip of the hat trail behind the movement.
Santa on tiptoe, one mitten up to hush the roomRaise the heels off the floor and round the shoulders. One mitten goes in front of the beard.
Santa reading a list so long it trails across the floorDraw the paper as a ribbon that folds back on itself. His glasses sit on the end of his nose.
Santa standing square on, hands resting on his belt buckleHe is usually shown portly. Draw the body as one big egg and put the belt round its widest part.
Santa stretching and yawning in striped socksArms up in a Y, mouth open in the beard. The boots stand empty to one side.
Santa walking away, a full bag over one shoulderFrom the back you see the hat, the coat and the boots. The bag hides one arm.
Santa waving with one mitten and holding his hat on with the otherBoth arms go up, so the coat lifts and the white fur hem shows at the front.
On the rounds 12
A plate of crumbs and an empty glass on the hearthA flat oval with a few dots on it and a glass beside it. The fireplace is one dark arch behind.
A sleigh waiting on a snowy roof, the reins looped over the seatDraw the roof ridge as a slope. The runners sit on it and sink a little into the snow.
Runner tracks and hoof marks across a roof, and nobody thereTwo long parallel lines and pairs of small curves in the snow. The empty roof tells the story.
Santa creeping past a dog asleep on the rugPut the dog in front and large. He is smaller, behind it, with one foot in the air.
Santa lowering a parcel down a chimney on a ropeHe kneels at the chimney with the rope in both mittens. Only the top of the parcel still shows.
Santa reading a map by lantern on the sleigh seatThe lantern is the only light, so the map and his face are bright and everything else falls dark.
Santa with one leg in a chimney pot, testing the fitHe is said to come in by the chimney. Draw the chimney first so the leg has somewhere to go.
Santa's bag tipped over, parcels sliding out of its mouthDraw the bag as a slumped pear with a wide mouth. Square corners of boxes poke out of it.
Santa's shadow thrown on a living-room wallDraw only the shadow: a pointed hat, a round body and the lump of the bag, all in one flat tone.
The sleigh from underneath: two runners, the floor and a bulging bagSeen from the ground it is a long shape between two curved skis, with the bag hanging over the back.
Sooty boot marks leading from the fireplace to the treeA line of dark boot shapes that fade as they cross the floor. The tree stands at the far end.
Two boots and a coat hem beside a fireplace, the rest out of the pictureCrop him at the knee. The white fur hem and the black boots are enough to say who it is.
Elves and the workshop 12
A shelf of unfinished toys: a horse with no tail, a drum with no skinOne long plank and four toys in a row, each with one part missing.
An elf at a workbench painting a wooden trainElves are usually drawn in green or red, with large pointed ears and a pointed hat.
An elf brushing the coat of a patient reindeerElves are said to look after the reindeer too. The elf needs a stool to reach its back.
An elf on a stepladder stacking boxes higher than the doorA leaning tower of squares. The elf stretches from the top step with one more.
An elf testing a spinning top on the benchThe top is a cone on its point with curved lines round it to show the spin. The elf leans in close.
An elf wound up in a reel of ribbonDraw the elf first, then wrap the ribbon round in loops that pass behind and in front.
An elf wrapping a ball and making a mess of the paperA round lump of crumpled paper with tape stuck all over it, and to the elf.
An elf's head made of points: hat, ears, nose and chinDraw a small circle, then add a point up, one to each side and one down.
Elf hats hung up after work, every tip bent a different wayA line of pegs, then a cone on each. Bend the tips different ways.
One elf shoe with a curled toe and a bellA sock shape whose toe rolls up into a spiral. The bell is a small circle on the tip.
Two elves carrying a parcel far too long for themOne elf at each end and a long box between. Only their legs and hat tips show.
The workshop door at night, light spilling out onto the snowA dark wall, a bright doorway and a long bright shape on the ground in front of it.
Reindeer 12
A mother reindeer and her calf in deep snowFemale reindeer keep antlers until calving, so in a winter picture the mother wears hers.
A reindeer being buckled into its harnessA strap round the chest and one over the back. Draw the animal first and lay the straps on top.
A reindeer giving its coat a shake, snow flying offBlur the outline of the coat with short strokes and scatter small lumps of snow in the air round it.
A reindeer in mid-leap, front legs tucked and back legs stretchedDraw the body on a slant. They are said to pull the sleigh through the night sky.
A reindeer lying in snow with its legs folded under itThe body becomes a long loaf shape. Only the knees and the hooves show at the front.
A reindeer standing still, built from two ovals and four legsA big oval for the body and a small one for the head. Join them with a thick neck, then add legs.
A reindeer with its head in a feed bucket, antlers sticking outThe bucket hides the face. Two antlers and two ears above the rim are all you need.
A single antler, drawn branch by branchReindeer antlers have broad brow tines that reach forward over the face. Draw those first.
Reindeer hoof marks in snow, two crescents to each markReindeer have big feet with cloven, crescent-shaped hooves. Each mark is two curves facing each other.
Reindeer in a line along a ridge, drawn as dark shapesNo detail, only outlines filled in. The antlers and the gaps between the legs make them readable.
The team from the driver's seat: backs, antlers and reinsThe nearest pair is large and the pairs ahead shrink. The reins run from the bottom edge to each.
Two reindeer greeting, heads low and antlers almost meetingDraw one, then its mirror image. The antlers nearly meet above the two heads.
How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next on 2026-09-30: 60 drawings of Santa Claus, his elves and his reindeer in five kinds (faces and beards, the whole figure, on the rounds, elves and the workshop, reindeer) and an Easy group. Every subject and hint is our own. No reindeer is named, no film, book, advert or toy character appears, and Santa is the only gift-bringer. Facts in the hints were checked on 2026-09-30 against Wikipedia: Santa Claus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus (mostly shown as a stout, jolly man with a white beard and often glasses, in a red coat, its collar and cuffs of white fur, a red hat trimmed in white fur, a black leather belt, boots and a bag full of gifts. Said to enter by the chimney. Flying reindeer draw his sleigh through the air). Father Christmas, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Christmas (the old English name for Christmas in the form of a person, typically considered synonymous with Santa Claus. Often drawn in a long red gown with a hood and white fur trim). Christmas elf, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_elf (mostly shown dressed in green or red, with big pointed ears and pointy hats. Said to build the toys in Santa's workshop and to look after his reindeer). Reindeer, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reindeer (female reindeer keep antlers until calving. Broad palmate brow tines reach forward across the face. Big feet with cloven, crescent-shaped hooves). Santa Claus's reindeer, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus%27s_reindeer (said to draw a sleigh across the night sky). No title repeats one on another list of this site. Licence: own work
How it works
Christmas drawing ideas, Santa Claus edition: his face and beard, the whole figure, the rounds on Christmas Eve, his elves and his reindeer. Each hint says which shape to start with.
Read the full guide
Start Santa with three shapes
A triangle for the hat, a cloud for the beard, an egg for the coat. Santa is usually shown as a portly, white-bearded man in a red coat with white fur at the collar and cuffs, and a black belt and boots. Those few parts carry the likeness.
Christmas drawing ideas: elf and workshop
Elves are usually drawn in green or red, with large pointed ears and pointed hats. They are said to make the toys and look after the reindeer, so give each one a job: a brush, a ladder, a parcel.
For Christmas drawing ideas, reindeer take the most care: two ovals first, legs next, antlers last.
Draw the beard before the mouth. The mouth is a gap left in it.
Questions and answers
Are these Father Christmas drawing ideas too?
Yes. Father Christmas is the traditional English name, and the two are now usually treated as the same figure. He was often drawn in a long red hooded gown with white fur trim. One idea in The whole figure shows him that way.
Do reindeer have antlers at Christmas?
Female reindeer keep antlers until calving, so a mother in a winter picture wears hers. The broad brow tines reach forward over the face.
What does Santa Claus wear in a drawing?
A red coat with a white fur collar and cuffs, a red hat with white fur trim, and a black leather belt and boots. He often has glasses and carries a bag of gifts.