Drawing Santa Claus in a playful cartoon style is a great way to capture the holiday spirit. Let me guide you step-by-step through creating this cheerful version of Santa with his classic red suit and a bag full of gifts. Grab your drawing tools, and let’s begin this festive Santa Claus drawing project!

Santa Claus in a Fun Cartoon Design

To recreate Santa Claus in this style, focus on these key details:

• Santa Hat: A red hat with a fluffy white pom-pom and trim.
• Red Outfit: A classic red coat, pants, and gloves, all accented with white fur trim.
• Black Accessories: Boots and a belt with a golden buckle.
• Gift Bag: A large brown sack filled with colorful presents.
• Cheerful Expression: Large eyes and a warm smile with his iconic white beard and mustache.

After finishing this piece, you might enjoy drawing reindeer or other festive characters like a Snowman with a broomstick, or with a bird on its hand, to complement Santa Claus. If you’re looking for Santa drawing guides that are even easier, check these full body and face tutorials for this Christmas character.

Key Details to Follow for the Drawing

Here’s how the steps in this tutorial are organized to keep things clear:

• Red Color: Represents the lines to focus on in the current step.
• Black Color: Shows the lines you’ve already completed.
• Grey Color: Indicates basic sketch lines to guide proportions and structure.

Keep this color code in mind to make the drawing process smooth and straightforward.

Step 1: Draw a rough proportion sketch. Start by drawing a circle for the head. Below it, add a simple shape to form the coat’s base (body).

Step 2: Inside the circle, draw vertical and horizontal lines crossing each other to center the face and indicate its direction. Add basic lines and shapes for the arms and legs as shown in the image.

Step 3: Draw two black circles or ovals with small blank highlights inside them for the eyes. Add an incomplete circle just between the eyes to outline the nose.

Step 4: Add the mustache. Use a series of curved lines to form a bushy, cartoonish mustache below the nose.

Step 5: Begin outlining the face. Add the side of the head and draw multiple curved lines across the forehead area for the trim of the hat.

Step 6: Sketch the beard outline. Add a wavy shape for the beard below the mustache and outline one ear on the side of the head.

Step 7: Draw the eyebrows as simple small fluffy shapes. Add a small curve to connect the area under the mustache for the mouth. Outline the second ear and add a line inside the first ear for detail.

Step 8: Add the trim outline for the hat. Extend the curved lines drawn earlier to define the base of the hat.

Step 9: Draw the hat shape. Extend the lines upward and on the side into a soft triangle for the hat and finish with a pompom at the top.

Step 10: Draw the right-hand glove, adding a curved line extending from its top to represent the beginning of the bag.

Step 11: Add fur trim to the glove and outline the arm. Use wavy lines to detail the fur texture on the glove.

Step 12: Sketch the coat down to the belt area. Draw a rectangle with soft corners for the outer outline of the belt buckle.

Step 13: Draw the belt across the waist and add the lower part of the coat along with its fur trim using wavy lines.

Step 14: Sketch the left hand, making it appear as though Santa is waving. Use simple shapes to form the arm and glove.

Step 15: Draw the pants. Extend two lines downward from the coat, adding fur trim at the bottom edges.

Step 16: Add outlines for the boots but leave out the soles for now. Keep the shape simple and rounded.

Step 17: Draw the soles for the boots and add a few lines where the shoelaces would be.

Step 18: Outline the bag of gifts. Make it large and rounded to appear as though it’s resting on Santa’s back.

Step 19: Draw visible gifts popping out of the bag. Include simple shapes like a candy cane, a box, or any other small items.

Step 20: Add final details to the sketch. Draw texture lines in the beard, details on the belt buckle, a button on the coat, and a patch on the bag for extra character.

Step 21: Examine the finished sketch. Fix any mistakes, erase basic sketch lines, or consider inking the sketch to make it cleaner.

Step 22: Begin coloring. Use red for the coat, hat, gloves, and pants; gray or brown for the belt; yellow or gold for the buckle; black for the boots; and choose any colors for the bag and gifts.

Step 23: Optional shading. Add shadows to enhance the depth of your drawing. Use the reference image to place shading effectively.

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Once you finish your Santa Claus cartoon drawing, share your artwork in the comments section of our pinned Pinterest post. Show off your work and see what others have created!

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Happy holidays and enjoy drawing!