21 Christmas Drawing Ideas
The holiday season brings out the artist in everyone. Whether you’re doodling on scrap paper while sipping cocoa, teaching your kids festive art, or creating professional holiday cards, Christmas drawings capture the warmth and magic of the season.
If you’re stuck staring at a blank page with your pencil twirling nervously in your fingers, don’t worry—I’ve got your back.
1. Christmas Tree
The Christmas tree is the poster child of holiday drawings. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a skilled artist—trees are forgiving because their triangular shape gives you an easy starting point.
Start with a tall triangle and then build it with stacked “zigzag” lines to represent branches. Add ornaments (simple circles) and a star on top. A pro tip: vary the size of your ornaments so it doesn’t look flat. Add shading to give the tree some depth.
2. Santa Claus
Drawing Santa Claus can feel intimidating, but break him down into parts: a round belly, a fluffy beard, a cheerful face, and a sack full of toys. Start with big circles and ovals for his body and head, then build the details.
The fun part is his beard—you can make it as curly, straight, or puffy as you like. If you want personality, play with expressions: a wink, a jolly laugh, or Santa caught nibbling cookies.
Personal tip: As a kid, I once drew Santa with a surfboard instead of a sleigh because I lived near the coast. Don’t be afraid to mix in humor!
3. Snowflakes
Snowflakes look delicate, but they’re surprisingly easy to draw. Begin with a simple six-pointed star (like spokes of a wheel), then add repeating patterns along each line. The symmetry is what makes it look real.
Scientists say no two snowflakes are identical, and that’s your permission slip to experiment. Create heart-shaped flakes, diamond-shaped flakes, or even snowflakes shaped like Christmas bells.
These are fantastic for filling up empty spaces in your holiday drawings, like margins or borders.
4. Reindeer
The reindeer is a holiday favorite, especially Rudolph with his shiny red nose. Start with an oval for the body and a circle for the head. The trickiest part? The antlers. Think of them like tree branches that split off.
Want to make your drawing lively? Show a group of reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh. Or sketch a close-up portrait of Rudolph with a playful smile.
Did you know? The reindeer’s nose really does glow in science terms—it has densely packed blood vessels that help them handle cold temperatures. So that red nose isn’t too far-fetched!
5. Christmas Stocking
A Christmas stocking is one of the easiest yet most charming items to draw. Its basic boot shape is simple, and you can go wild with decorations—snowflakes, candy canes, stripes, or even names written across the cuff.
Here’s an idea: draw a stocking overflowing with little gifts—tiny teddy bears, candy sticks, and wrapped presents peeking out. It instantly looks more festive.
As a kid, I drew stockings with ridiculously long toes because I thought it meant more candy fit inside. You might want to try that too—it makes for a quirky twist.
6. Gingerbread House
A gingerbread house is a drawing playground. Start with a simple square for the base and a triangle roof. Then go crazy with candy details: gumdrop shingles, candy cane borders, and icing swirls.
According to Statista, in 2022 Americans spent over $2.7 billion on holiday cookies and baking products—a chunk of that went to gingerbread kits.
Pro tip: use curved lines to mimic the flow of icing, and don’t forget little smoke swirls from the chimney for extra coziness.
7. Candy Canes
The candy cane is simple yet iconic. Start with a hook shape, then add alternating stripes. The trick is to curve the stripes naturally along the hook.
You can also create bundles tied with ribbons or candy canes shaped into a heart. These little sketches work great as fillers on greeting cards.
Fun tidbit: Candy canes were originally solid white until the red stripes were added in the early 1900s. So, if you want a vintage look, leave out the stripes.
8. Christmas Wreath
A wreath is essentially a circle packed with holiday spirit. Start with two concentric circles (like a donut), then layer overlapping leaf shapes around it. Add berries, bows, and ornaments for detail.
The bow at the bottom is the star of the show. Make it big and bold so the wreath looks balanced.
These also make amazing centerpiece drawings—think of it as a frame for your artwork. You could even draw Santa’s face peeking out from the center.
9. Snowman
Few things scream Christmas like a snowman. Start with three stacked circles—big, medium, small. Add a carrot nose, stick arms, and a scarf.
Want to make yours unique? Add earmuffs, a pipe, or even sunglasses. Give him a personality: maybe grumpy, sleepy, or laughing.
Here’s a personal memory: one winter, I drew my snowman with a crown and called him “King Frost.” It turned into a family tradition to crown our snowmen with random objects.
10. Christmas Bells
Bells are surprisingly fun to draw. Begin with a U-shape, then add a curved bottom and a clapper inside. Decorate with ribbons, holly, or even little sparkles around them to suggest sound.
You can pair bells with candles or wreaths for extra flair. If you’re feeling adventurous, draw two bells crossing like they’re ringing in unison.
11. Gift Boxes
Gift boxes are versatile. Start with a cube or rectangle, then top it with a big ribbon bow. Play with different wrapping patterns—polka dots, stripes, stars, or even personalized tags.
Pro tip: Add shading under the ribbon to make it pop. A 3D bow can instantly upgrade your drawing.
Stats show that in 2023, the average American planned to spend around $975 on holiday gifts (National Retail Federation). That’s a lot of potential gift box sketches!
12. Christmas Lights
String lights can brighten up any drawing. Sketch a wavy line, then add small bulb shapes along it. You can go classic with teardrop bulbs or modern with round fairy lights.
The fun part is how you place them: around a tree, across a house, or simply floating like magical fireflies. Add tiny glow lines around the bulbs to make them “shine.”
13. Fireplace and Stockings
Drawing a fireplace is cozy perfection. Start with a rectangle, then add a brick pattern inside. Sketch a flickering flame with flowing curves. Hang stockings on top for that classic look.
You can add family names to each stocking or decorate the mantle with garlands. The glow of the fire can be shaded in oranges and yellows for extra warmth.
14. Nutcracker
The Nutcracker soldier is a staple of Christmas art. Start with a tall rectangle for the body, then add blocky legs and a head topped with a hat. His mustache and teeth are his trademarks—don’t skip them.
They might look complex, but break them down into geometric shapes. Add bold colors like red, blue, and gold for authenticity.
15. Holly and Mistletoe
Holly leaves are jagged ovals with clusters of red berries. Mistletoe, on the other hand, has smoother leaves with white berries.
These are perfect for corners of drawings, borders, or even as stand-alone decorations. A ribbon tied around mistletoe makes it instantly recognizable.
16. Christmas Village
A Christmas village drawing lets you tell a whole story. Imagine snowy rooftops, tiny houses, smoke curling from chimneys, and lampposts glowing.
Start with simple house shapes—squares and triangles—then add snowy rooftops. Populate the scene with little people skating or sledding.
Fun stat: In 2020, Department 56 (a famous Christmas village brand) reported sales increases of nearly 30% as people built cozy holiday displays at home. That nostalgia makes village drawings extra magical.
17. Sleigh
Santa’s sleigh is elegant and curvy. Start with a long swooping shape (like half a banana), then add runners at the bottom. Decorate it with swirls, holly, or even glowing lights.
You can fill it with gift boxes, or sketch it mid-flight with reindeer pulling it across the sky.
18. Christmas Cookies
Drawing cookies is a tasty idea—stars, snowflakes, gingerbread men, or tree shapes. Add icing designs, sprinkles, and tiny details like smiling faces.
Cookies work great as fillers around other main drawings like hot cocoa mugs or stockings.
Fun stat: Nearly 2 billion cookies are consumed in the U.S. during December alone. No wonder they deserve a spot in art too!
19. Hot Cocoa Mug
A steaming mug of hot cocoa feels like a hug in sketch form. Start with a simple cup shape, add steam curls above, and marshmallows floating inside.
Decorate the mug with holiday patterns—snowflakes, candy stripes, or even a tiny reindeer.
Personal tip: When I drew one last year, I added a candy cane as a stirrer—it made the drawing instantly festive.
20. Christmas Ornaments
Ornaments are great practice for shading because they’re spheres. Start with circles, add a little cap on top, and then design patterns—stars, stripes, or snowflakes.
To make them look shiny, leave a small white spot unshaded to mimic reflection. Group multiple ornaments together for variety.
21. Christmas Star
The Christmas star shines brightest over all. Draw a large star with long rays, then add smaller sparkles around it. Place it at the top of a tree, above a village, or floating in the night sky.
Stars are symbolic too—the Star of Bethlehem guided the wise men, making it a meaningful drawing choice.
Conclusion
Christmas drawings aren’t just doodles on paper—they’re snapshots of holiday spirit, captured in lines and curves.
From the classic Christmas tree to the magical star, each idea invites you to explore creativity, practice your skills, and maybe even start new traditions.
Even a crooked snowman or lopsided star can carry more warmth than the most polished piece.So grab that pencil, pour yourself some cocoa, and let your drawings become part of the holiday magic this year.
