How to Draw Santa Claus

Finished Santa Claus drawing with a gift bag and shaded clothing

This tutorial shows how to draw Santa Claus carrying a gift bag over his shoulder in his classic appearance. At the end, you’ll see how to add simple shadows that give the drawing more depth and volume.

How to draw Santa Claus step by step

Step 1: Sketch Santa’s basic figure

Begin with a simple stick figure. Santa Claus has a short, broad body, with the chest nearly as wide as the pelvis. Draw these initial guidelines with very light lines because you will need to erase them later.

Sketching Santa Claus as a simple rounded stick figure

Step 2: Build Santa’s rounded body

Check the proportions of the stick figure before continuing. Draw two intersecting facial guidelines across the head. Then use circles and cylinders to build the silhouette of Santa Claus, including his large belly and thick limbs.

Building Santa Claus’s body with rounded geometric shapes

Step 3: Outline beard and clothing

Outline Santa’s hat and draw the beard. Then sketch the contours of his coat, pants, sleeves, and gift bag. The beard should be approximately as long as the head.

Outlining Santa Claus’s hat, beard, coat, and gift bag

Step 4: Draw Santa’s facial features

Draw Santa Claus’s small eyes, eyebrows, and nose. You can use the facial guidelines to position these features correctly. Add the locks of hair above the eyes and refine the outline of the hat and beard.

Drawing Santa Claus’s eyes, eyebrows, nose, hair, and beard

Step 5: Refine coat and belt

Use dark, clean lines to refine Santa Claus’s coat and belt. Outline the collar, the fur trim along the coat, and the large rectangular buckle.

Refining Santa Claus’s coat, fur trim, belt, and buckle

Step 6: Refine arms and bag

Outline Santa Claus’s arms and small hands with dark, clean lines. Add folds to the sleeves and gift bag, then erase the unnecessary guidelines from the arms and upper body.

Refining Santa Claus’s sleeves, hands, and large gift bag

Step 7: Detail pants and boots

Outline Santa Claus’s legs with dark, clean lines and erase the remaining guidelines. Add the following details:

Folds on the pants;
Buckles on the boots;
The soles.

Detailing Santa Claus’s pants, boot buckles, folds, and soles

Step 8: Add hatching and shadows

Add shadows to the gift bag, sleeves, coat, pants, and beard. Use classic hatching, placing the strokes closely together in the darkest areas and more sparsely in the lighter areas.