Cartoon santa

Cartoon Santa Step by Step

Cartoon Santa drawing might seem harder than it really is, but have no fear as soon as you finish this tutorial you'll know that there isn't really all that much to him.

As usual, we'll break him down to simple shapes and build on those shapes to create a very jolly, very fat cartoon Santa.

One last note - remember to draw lightly when making your first lines on the page. I know I say this with every lesson but some of my students don't seem to listen to this important steps and when it is time to finish the drawing they always have problems erasing because they drew too hard in the beginning.

Got your pencil and eraser handy? Let's do it!

Step 1:
Draw two overlapping circles. The smaller one will be the head, the larger one will be the main part of the body. Note that the larger circle is squashed a little so it is not a perfect circle. Looks strange right? Keep reading and we'll flesh him out.

Since this is an intermediate tutorial I'm going to cover quite a few things in each of the following steps. If your drawing isn't looking right go back and read over the step carefully.

Step 2:
Add another circle shape behind the first two circles that you made. This will be the cartoon Santa's giant sac of toys.

First add in the lines to create the bottom of the coat. Notice that there is a little space between the middle of the coat at the bottom.

Add in shapes for the legs and boots. The foot on the left side of the drawing (Santa's right) is facing forward. The foot on the other side of the drawing is facing to the side. Draw a line to separate where the pant leg and the boot meet.

Step 3:
Let's add some details to his face. I've included a version of the face with the old circle still there so you can have reference of where some of these new lines are being drawn.

Cut off the top of the head circle and create the white band at the bottom of the cartoon Santa's hat.

Draw lines down from the bottom of the hat to make the beard. It should be curved along the bottom in a similar shape to the original head circle - only bigger.

Draw in the nose with a simple 'U' shape, and then connect another line down from the hat to the nose to make the inside of the beard.

Draw a smile in the beard - it's just another 'U' shape with a line on top.

To make the eyes, make one line, and then, under the line make a little black circle. Add in some happy looking eyebrows. If you want your cartoon Santa to have a different expression the shape of the mouth and the eyebrows can be changed.

Next, draw in the curved lines for his belt. For now don't worry about the belt buckle - we'll add that in the next step. Just draw lightly so that you can erase these lines later.

Last part of this step, I promise! Add in the bottom white part of his coat. Notice how these parts connect with the bottom of the belt. That was a long one - I hope you're not getting discouraged! Let's keep going - we're almost finished the cartoon Santa.

Step 4:
Finish off the head by adding in the top of his hat and the little white pom-pom circle at the end.

Add in the belt buckle with two rectangular shapes one smaller than the other. Make the line on the very top of the belt a little longer to show that Santa's fat belly is trying to poke over his belt.

Add in the arms with simple curved shapes. His left arm is shown more from the side and will be holding his sac. His other arm is shown from the front and will be holding a cup of hot chocolate. Because he is wearing mittens these hand shapes are really simple to draw. If you are having problems drawing them, I suggest looking at your own hand.

Make a fist and notice the outline shape of your fist from the front and also from the side. Use this outline as a reference, but remember that if you were wearing mittens that the shape wouldn't be as clear as just looking at your hand. Make the outline shape a little softer and more curvy and you should have a pretty good looking hand to work with.

Step 5:
Let's finish off this cartoon Santa with a few last details.

Add in the little cup of hot chocolate, and some steam rising out from it. The cup is kind of like a square, but it has a rounded top and bottom to show that it's a cylinder shape. The steam is just a random bubbly shape. Draw it however you wish. If you think of it more simply, it's just a bunch of circles lumped together.

Add in the lines for the sac of toys going from just past his shoulder down to his hand. These lines should come together as they move toward his hand to show that the sac is being held tightly. Add a little shape to the bottom of the sac-holding hand to show the end of the sac.

I cut a little pointed shape out of the beard to make it more interesting. Feel free to do the same. Near the cut in the beard I also started the two lines that would make the center of this cartoon Santa's coat. These lines should travel down from the beard to where the belt buckle is.

The last details I added were on the feet. I added a little bulge to his right leg to make the area where the pants meet the boots a little more interesting. I also added a detail line to the foot here to indicate the toe of his boot. Notice the thin line along the bottom of the boot? This is the bottom of the boot. On his left leg, I cut out a little area to separate the heel and the toe of the boot.

Christmas gift

True to the spirit of O. Henry's classic short story, we can hardly think of a Christmas without Gifts.
Christmas is a unique festival of merry making and gift-giving. The tradition of giving gifts in this season owes its origin to the Magi who came from the east of Jerusalem to greet the Babe in the manger with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The Magi were wise men and their gifts were emblematic of tribute, worship and death - of Christ considered as King, God and the sacrificial Victim.

Though Magi are associated more with the Feast of Epiphany on January 6, they can be regarded as the pioneer in gift-giving tradition following the birth of Jesus. In America gift giving has come to be associated with the Christmas not long ago. It came in with the introduction of St. Nicholas in America by the early Dutch settlers. But, giving gifts at New Year was a common practice, specially among the English and the French settlers. But the combined German and Dutch influences in time caused all gift-giving to be carried out at Christmas.

New York has had through the years a close association with X'mas gift giving tradition. This tradition was more inspired by many writers and artists who've had glorified the gift-giving culture along with the Santa. And it had been New York with which all their works could somehow be attributed. From Dr. Clement Clark Moore to cartoonist Thomas Nast, Washington Irving to O' Henry all happened to be a New Yorker. Even Charles Dickens read his "A Christmas Carol" in N.Y.

Gift Ideas

Gifts can be classic, gifts can be wacky, but loveable and memorable are the ones which are funny, clever, convenient and useful.

Christmas gifts embrace so much of variety, it's amazing to see their range and diversity.
With so many things to gift with, most of us turn into a confused lot pondering over. Which gift would be apt? Which one is to be given to the near and dear ones, to businesses and bosses, to clients and colleagues and..., well your head starts reeling.

So don't let ideas take over you. Keep your head cool. Chill out with some perky holiday music. Get a beverage, get your Christmas list ready, clear your head, and here you go!
We have worked on some gift ideas and idea-lines for the festive season of Christmas. Hope you will find them handy and nifty as well.

We also give some shopping links below, so you can shop from the comfort of your home. Please do use them to indulge in your season's shopping spree and help us serve you better.

As simple as a bunch of nice flowers, or a basket of season's fruits; a box of candy or a pack of chocolates; a piece of toy or a rare species of sprouting plant; an item of trivia or an object d'art; sheer utilities like a set of cutlery or something that pampers luxury like a box of jewelry...The list can go on and on. However, it ultimately rests on the tastes of both the gift-giver and the recipient's, the background of their relationship, along with their age and the social background. And also remember, gifts might not necessarily be rich and glamorous in their worldly possession, but make sure that they're rich at heart.

The idea bulb:
Take a pencil and a rough pad. Try to virtually out guess the receipt. Toy with every feasible liking of your gift-takers. Are they sport lovers or hikers? Keen on new dresses or shoes? Theater or movie buffs? Party hoppers or getaway seekers? Art lovers or cool on crafts? Connoisseurs of classical or contemporaries? Habitual readers or glossy pickers?
Still confused? Be more specific:

* whether they have any special hobby or interest.
* whether any of their relatives or friends could help me find more about them.
* whether there is an event, theater, etc... they would like to go
* whether they would like to visit or see something else e.g. the nature park, the local zoo, the museum.
* whether they would enjoy seeing any sports event.
* whether there is some sport they would like to try or do themselves.
* whether there is some special food item and of some special brand (if any) they would like have on the occasion.
* whether there is something special that they talk about, but never buy for themselves?
* whether they are growing. Do they need clothes? Shoes? Teddies and cuddly dolls? Learning toys? books?
* whether there is a magazine you could give as a gift. Yearly subscription?
* whether they have been asked to recommend gifts that they need or want? If no, ask.
* whether there is a personal item you could create, that they would enjoy having.
* whether you can help them purchase something that they need.

Well, Have you thought about these options? If yes, now you should have ideas abound. If you still are nail biting, a Gift Certificate is always an option.
Great is also the idea of gifting a ticket to a favorite sporting event - may be a football or baseball match to ride the crest of excitements; or an entertainment show - like a movie or concert and, of course, to a theater show, if it agrees with the receiver's choice and matches your affordability.

Well, to top it all, send and recommend this section of theHolidaySpot to your friend(s) anywhere on earth with a customized message of your own. Just to let them realize the way you do care for your friends and friendship.
Oh! Well, we've got yet another thing ready for you to surprise your friend in other parts of the world - pick up from Xmas cheer around the world & wish your friends in the language of the country they live. They will love it for sure.

And here's something for the next X-mas: Keep good records of gifts you've given to avoid duplication.