Looking for a fast art project to do with your students? This cute Christmas car is quick (two sessions at 45 minutes each) and full of art techniques: symmetrical drawing, tints, reflections and perspective.
Make sure to use a black oil pastel and not a black crayon when drawing the car or else the lines may not transfer.
Quick & Easy Video Tutorial
Click the yellow box below to download the Christmas Car drawing guide. Add you name and email below, and we’ll send it straight to you!
What You’ll Need:
– 12″ x 18″ white drawing paper (sulphite)
– Cake tempera paint (I like Faber-Castell’s Connector Paints)
– Black oil pastel
– Medium round tip brush
– Metallic and/or colored oil pastels (optional)
Drawing Steps
Begin by folding the paper in half vertically. Use a black oil pastel to draw (not a black crayon). The oil pastel will transfer the color better than using a crayon.
On one side of the paper, draw a narrow rectangle. This is the fender of the truck.
Below the rectangle, draw a wheel. It is shapes like a slightly curved rectangle.
Draw a circle for the head light.
Draw a rounded corner rectangle for the grill.
Draw the side of the car.
Draw the roof of the car.
Tracing Steps
Fold the paper over and press with the palm of your hand. Rub the back side of the paper to transfer the black oil pastel markings to the opposite side.
Open up your paper to reveal a faint tracing. Trace over the lines with the black oil pastel.
Painting Steps
Use cake tempera paints to paint a background and the details on the car.
Cake tempera is much like watercolor paints but are more vibrant and intense. I like them better for this project because the paint will not cover up the lines like liquid tempera will.
Select ONE color of paint and mix with white. This will create a TINT.
The tint allows the details in the car to stand out. While children should choose their own color, discuss what colors will work with the drawing so that the Christmas car will be the focus.
Once the background is complete, the children can begin painting the car, tree and decorations.
This is the time to let children go wild! They can pick their own colors, dream up a fancy car color and add festive details to the top of the roof.
Once the tempera paint has dried, it helps to trace over any lines that are hard to see. This is also a great time to use colored oil pastels to add details. I used metallic gold and silver pastels to add stripes on the gift packaging.
Children may want to add a string of Christmas lights, etc.
I can’t wait to see each of your students personalized Christmas car!
Click the yellow box below to download the Christmas Car drawing guide. Add you name and email below, and we’ll send it straight to you!
Enjoyed this holiday art lesson? Here are a few more holiday lessons to also check out:
Paper Menorah Paper Art Project
Ted Harrison Inspired Landscape and Polar Bear
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You are a genius and a life saver. I am a substitute teacher and having a bag of these quick projects have saved my sanity on more than one occasion.
Love this! Got to have for the grand kids.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
CUTE!!!! LOVE IT!!!
Wonderful project. This could be used for any season with
just a few changes. January – snowman with snowflakes, April – flowers
thanks
SO ADORABLE!! Great fill in project before break!!
THANK YOU!!!
Oh how I love this whimscal drawing, thank you for sharing and I showed my 5th graders and they are so excited to draw this!
This is a fun and different take on Christmas art that boys especially will love doing. Well thought out and the folding teaches them symmetry. I like it very much. Can’t wait to try it out!
I LOVE this project! Hopefully the older boys, especially, will enjoy doing a Christmas Project related to cars/trucks.
thanks for sharing
Oh, totally. A cool old ford pickup or a futuristic car with a modern tree…possibilities are endless. 🙂
Wow! My students saw this on my computer and are so excited to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome!
I love it
Beautiful little paintings! Great for gift giving!
Thanks so much for sharing! Another wonderful, colorful, creative project that turns everyone into an amazing artist!
Art teacher in Budapest Hungary…so…I need things that are going to work even if the translation or materials are not the same as where i taught for many years in the states. success!!! thank you
Carolynn Peters, I teach art in Budapest Hungary too 😉 small world!
Love it! Thank you!
Those are so cute!
Awesome! So cool.
send please
cute, thanks!
So excited to do this next week! Thank you!
Thanks for this great project! Will have to try next week!
Thank you!
I love this lesson! I can’t wait to do it with my students. They are going to love it! Thanks!
I love this car lesson. Please email me the hand out.
Thanks,
love it!thank you!
Thank you, Patti.
You understand the pressure teachers are under and your lovely little projects, like this one are such gems. With so much learning shared for great lessons to use when the brain is fried. I so appreciate it, as a new teacher wanting to the best for my students and art is not part of my curriculum, but I believe it is such a valuable medium for learning.
Thank you Suzi! I don’t know if you are a member of our free Facebook group, but many teachers are posting their easy holiday lessons there. Check it out: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DSSstudents/?ref=bookmarks
Love it!
What a fantastic resource your site is! I’m a retired science teacher. Students were required to draw quite a bit in my classes especially if they weren’t able to express themselves clearly in words. I love the way you give directions, so clearly and concisely. Can’t wait to give this a try with my family! Thanks a million!
Thank you so much! Having taught art long enough helps you to understand what to say and not to say!
I would be interested in pdf of this drawing lesson.
Just click the yellow box in the image above, enter your name and email and we’ll email it to you. 🙂
thanks
Very cute and perfect for a greeting card for the parents. I love the symmetry fold technique.
Now can you do an old red pick up truck -side profile please.,complete with wood railing. ?
Sometimes it is tough for artists to paint up to an object. My thought would be to paint the paper with the sky BEFORE drawing the car. Another strategy could be to use water colors for the sky before the car is drawn.
Is there a video that goes with this?
It’s on my Facebook Page but I also added it to my post 🙂 We do a Facebook Live on the DSS Facebook Fan page every Thursdays @ 3:30pm/PT
Love it
Totally loved it! Thank you so much. Merry Christmas !!
Would love a copy
Need something for the last few days before break
Just click the yellow box in the image above, enter your name and email and we’ll email it to you. 🙂
Adorable!
Love this lesson
Car
Love this project!
i love it!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!
Hi Patty,
I absolutely love this! Although I don’t celebrate the holidays, I figured I can modify this project for summer and draw suitcases on top of the car for a summer vacation trip. So cool!
Cue idea! I may use it before summer break….’Where’s ur family traveling this summer? Or… where would u like tp go? ‘ since not all my students get to go on vacations, except in their imaginations!
Can’t wait to try these!!
Love this project.
I am so excited and can’t wait to introduce our Christmas Art Project to those students participating in the 2018 Christmas Art Academy at Mt. Zion Baptist Church! Thank you so very much for sharing your ideas and art. I will also use this image for our art project for the children who will remain patients at the hospital (Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center) during the holidays!
It is an answer to my prayers as to what will be the primary basis of our Christmas card this year. Thank you once again!
Sincerely, Cheryl-Octavia Robinson (5th and 6th Grade Sunday School Teacher)
this is so cute! Can’t wait to try this with my students!
Love this so much! Thanks for sharing!
How did you create the snow falling in the black car image? I have done the flicking with tempera or acrylic before, but looking at a 2nd to 3rd grade age range for this, so not sure I trust them for that yet, haha.
Definitely trust them! It’s so fun…one trick I have is to show the children to hover their paintbrush about 2-3″ above their art work…then tap, tap, tap with the other hand. The close proximately to the paper reduces the massive mess. It helps to demon the proper strategy for them.
Clicking the link above doesn’t do anything?? Help
Click the box and add you name and email. Then, we email you the link. Check your spam or junk mail folder. If you’re still having trouble, you can contact support at support@deepsdpacesparkle.com
car
this is great!!
Thank you!
Did this last year and my students LUVED IT! I was so pleased with their enthusiasm and creativity. They really ran with it!
Awesome Holiday lesson!
A terrific resource Patty, appropriate for so many different occasions, school, grandkids, etc. I love it and it’s very much appreciated.
Thanks!
How do i access the full teaching video on the Christmas car lesson? I remember seeing it last year and you walked us through it but i cant find it now. I only see the quick one that is put to music.
Thanks! Love your lessons and great ideas!! You really are a genius!!
Hi Terri!! This was a FB LIVE video you can find it here:
https://www.facebook.com/DeepSpaceSparklePage/videos/10155959350684100/
Fantastic way to draw. Half the shapes then transfer. Love it.
How do I access the 45 min tutorial for the car with packages on top. I have been trying Unsuccessfully for 30 min. ?
Hi Shari!! try this link: https://www.facebook.com/DeepSpaceSparklePage/videos/10155959350684100/
If you’re still having trouble let me know -Hannah (Team Sparkle)
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Thank you for sharing this awesome lesson.
I can hardly wait to try this with my 3rd grade classes!
Thanks for all you do! This is very much appreciated!!
Great art project!
This is by far my favorite Christmas art project that I have done with my students! Thanks so much!
Thank you so much! I love it and decorated one bag of my class’ advent calender with it. It looks amazing and thanks to your simple instructions I found it really easy to create. Have a lovely Christmas time! 🎁🎄
when I click on the “Freebie Car ” it says Page could not be found
Thanks for the head’s up, Gillian…all fixed now.
Hi Patty
Unfortunately I still can’t click on the link, maybe its from my side, not too sure, could you please email me the Christmas Car Handout. Appreciated. I tried searching it on your Facebook feed but can’t seem to find it.
Thank You so much . I work with students who attend continuation high school and we sometimes do not have supplies for Art. I love your ideas. I am very excited to try these lessons with my students.
Thank You so much . I work with students who attend continuation high school and we sometimes do not have supplies for Art. I love your ideas. I am very excited to try these lessons with my students.
This is so cute. Looking forward to trying this lesson with my kids
ty
I watched another teacher complete this with her students years ago. It turned out beautifully! I am excited to do it with my students now.
I LOVE the Christmas car!
Love this idea so festive
I love this!
Just LOVE the Christmas car activity. Simply brilliant.
This activity will be a hit
Looking forward to trying this activity.
I love it. I would like to get Christmas car for my students. Thanks
Hi Elizabeth! I’m sorry you’re having trouble with the link. We have found that both the Chrome or Safari browsers work best so be sure to try using one of those. I just tested the link and everything worked. If you click the download button and add your email address we will send the lesson directly to your inbox. Be sure to check your Spam or Junk folders to make sure it didn’t end up there. When you receive the email scroll to the bottom and click to download packet. If you continue to have trouble you can email support@deepspacesparkle.com
I loved it!! Thank you an Merry Chritmas to you and yours.
I can’t wait to do this next week, right before winter break!