How to Draw Santa?

Start with two simple shapes — a circle for the head and a rounded rectangle for the body — then build the hat, beard and belt on top. Almost all of Santa's recognisability comes from three things: the pointed hat with its pom-pom, the big white beard, and the belt. Get those right and the drawing reads as Santa even if everything else is rough.

Step by step:

1. Head. Draw a circle near the top of the page, leaving room above it for the hat.
2. Body. Below the head, draw a rounded rectangle or a wide oval, roughly twice the width of the head. Santa is round — resist making him slim.
3. Hat. From the top of the circle, draw a wide band across the forehead, then a triangle leaning to one side, ending in a circle for the pom-pom. The lean is what stops it looking stiff.
4. Beard. Draw a large cloud-like shape covering the bottom two-thirds of the face and spilling onto the chest. Use scalloped, bumpy edges rather than a smooth outline.
5. Face. Inside the space left above the beard, add two small dots for eyes, a rounded triangle nose, and a curved moustache sitting over the beard. Add small circles on the cheeks.
6. Arms. Two tubes coming out from the sides of the body, ending in mitten shapes — mittens are far easier than hands and look correct.
7. Belt. A horizontal band across the middle of the body with a square buckle in the centre.
8. Legs and boots. Two short tubes below the body, ending in L-shaped boots.
9. Trim. Add fluffy white cuffs at the wrists, a band at the bottom of the coat, and the hat brim. Use the same bumpy line as the beard.
10. Outline and colour. Go over your final lines, erase the guides, and colour: red coat and hat, black belt and boots, gold buckle, and leave the beard and trim white with light grey shading.

An easier version for young children — Santa's face only:

1. Draw a large circle.
2. Add a triangle hat on top with a circle pom-pom.
3. Draw a wide U-shape across the lower half for the beard.
4. Two dots for eyes and a small circle for the nose.
5. Colour it in.

This takes about two minutes and still looks unmistakably like Santa.

How to draw a Santa hat on its own:

1. Draw a horizontal rectangle for the fur brim.
2. From one end, draw a curved triangle sweeping up and over to one side.
3. Add a circle at the tip.
4. Make the brim and pom-pom bumpy rather than smooth.
5. Colour the cone red and leave the brim and pom-pom white.

Tips that make a real difference:

• Draw lightly first. Sketch the basic shapes with faint pencil lines you can erase, then commit to the final outline.
• Bumpy lines for anything furry. A smooth outline makes the beard look like a shape; a scalloped, wobbly one makes it look soft.
• Keep the face small. Most of Santa's head is hat and beard. Beginners draw the face too large and it stops looking like Santa.
• Curve everything. Rounded shapes throughout suit the character; straight lines make him look stiff.
• Shade under the beard and hat brim with light grey to give a sense of depth.

Common mistakes:

• Making the hat too short and upright — the length and the lean give it character.
• Drawing the beard too neat.
• Forgetting to leave space above the head for the hat, and running out of paper.
• Making the body too narrow.

Variations to try once the basic version works: a side profile going down a chimney, Santa waving with a sack of presents, just the head peering over a fence, or Santa in a sleigh. The same head construction works for all of them.

Materials: a pencil, an eraser, and a black pen or fineliner for the final outline. Coloured pencils or markers for colouring — red, black, gold and a light grey for the beard shading. Nothing more is needed. For a related festive subject, see how to draw a Christmas tree.