Santa Claus Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas

If you can draw two or three simple geometric shapes, you can draw Santa Claus. That's genuinely the whole secret — the rest is knowing which lines to add in which order, and this tutorial shows you exactly that, step by step, before serving up a full list of Santa Claus drawing ideas to practice with.

Difficulty Easy
Time ~12 min
Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
Starts with two or three simple geometric shapes

Santa Claus drawing — hand-drawn Santa Claus illustration with ink lines and soft colors

How to Draw Santa Claus Step by Step

Step 1 of 9

Head and shoulders

Draw a light circle for the head in the upper middle of the page, then a wide trapezoid below it for the shoulders and chest.

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Head and shoulders
Draw a light circle for the head in the upper middle of the page, then a wide trapezoid below it for the shoulders and chest.
Face shape
Trace a rounded face outline on the upper half of the head circle, with slightly bulging cheeks on each side.
Eyes and nose
Add two small round eyes with curved eyebrows above them, and a small round nose centered below the eyes.
Hat and pom-pom
Draw a floppy Santa hat over the top of the head, drooping to the right, with a round pom-pom at its tip.
Mustache and beard
Add a wide curly mustache under the nose, then a large wavy beard flowing down from the cheeks to a point on the chest.
Coat collar
Trace the coat outline on the shoulder shape and add a fluffy collar band across the top of the chest.
Trim and beard texture
Add a fluffy white trim band along the base of the hat, then a few wavy strand lines inside the beard for texture.
Ink the lines
Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the light head circle and shoulder guide.
Color Santa
Fill the hat and coat red, the trim and beard white, the face peach, and the eyes and pupils dark.

Santa Claus Drawing Ideas to Try Next

Once the basic Santa Claus clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.

A Santa Claus garland or pattern
Repeat small Santa Claus drawings along a string or in rows — decoration you can actually put up.
Santa Claus in a snow globe
Draw a circle, put Santa Claus inside, add a base and floating flakes — instant keepsake feel.
A gift-tag sized mini Santa Claus
Design it small and simple enough to draw twenty times on gift tags.
A Santa Claus greeting-card design
Center Santa Claus, add a hand-lettered greeting and a simple border — an actually usable drawing.
Kawaii Santa Claus with a face
The cute-ify formula: dot eyes, blush circles, tiny smile on your Santa Claus.

Santa Claus Drawing Styles: Easy, Cute & More

Easy Santa Claus Drawing

Try a simplified version built from basic shapes — perfect for beginners and kids. Same nine steps as above — simply simplify or stylize the final pass.

Browse more easy ideas →

Tips for Better Santa Claus Drawings

Lean into the classic version first — holiday subjects work through instant recognition. Add your twist after the icon is solid.
Holiday palettes are part of the drawing: commit to the expected colors boldly rather than muddying them.

Not feeling Santa Claus today?

Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.

🎲 Random Drawing Generator

Santa Claus Drawing FAQ

How do you draw Santa Claus easily?

Start with two or three simple geometric shapes, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable Santa Claus on their very first try with it.

How long should it take to draw Santa Claus?

A simple Santa Claus drawing takes about 12 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.

What supplies do I need for Santa Claus drawings?

Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.

Is Santa Claus easy to draw for beginners?

Yes — Santa Claus is one of the friendlier subjects for beginners, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.