There is something wonderful about dipping a paintbrush into a pot of color and seeing a picture appear. Add an extra flair by allowing the paint to dry and adding layers of colorful patterns with crayons.
This Holiday Folk Art Santa is the perfect subject for this layering style. Grab some liquid tempera paint (I use Crayola Artista tempera paints as well as Faber-Castell) and some construction paper crayons and let’s get started!
Watch the art tutorial video below…
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel HERE.
Download this handy drawing guide before you get started:
Step One: Drawing the Santa
On a sheet of 12″ x 18″ blue or colored sulphite paper, draw a Folk Art Santa with a black oil pastel or crayon.
Use the Folk Art Santa drawing guide (scroll up to access PDF, or scroll to the bottom of the page) for instructions on how to draw this deceptively simple Santa.
Next, fill a paint palette with the following colors of paint:
Red, White, Blue, Purple, Flesh
Give each child a medium round brush or a medium flat brush.
Dip paintbrush into flesh color and paint face. Clean brush on placemat instead of water. Dip into white paint and paint beard.
Paint the background next. Dip brush into blue or purple and then into white. This is called double loading your brush. Learn about double-loading technique here.
Brush the paint all over the background and around the Santa.
Teacher Tip: Keep the brush dry and move in different directions. The background paper should poke through in places.
Clean brush on placemat instead of water. This helps to keep colors vibrant. Dip brush in red and paint Santa’s jacket and hat.
Allow painting to dry before moving onto next step.
Final Steps: Adding the Folk Art Decorations
Color in the boots and mitts with the black oil pastel or crayon.
Using the Construction paper Crayons, draw patterns over the hat and jacket. Refer to the Pattern Handout in November’s Freebie pack for ideas.
Add Santa’s face (eyes, nose and a mouth over his beard), trace over paint-covered lines with black oil pastel and for an extra touch, draw snowflakes with a white oil pastel or crayon.
I’d love to see what your students have created!
Click the yellow box below to receive the free DOWNLOAD for the November Art Pack. Add your name and email and we’ll send it to you! (NOTE: We recommend downloading the freebie using Chrome or Safari)
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I love all of your art projects!!! Thank you for sharing them.
awesome
I love all of your projects!
i loved the project
Excited to do this with my GT students this winter season.
We did “The Nutcracker” last year.
Connie
Well done.
I am unable to receive your freebie packets in my email
Hi Laureen. If you are having any problems please reach out to Shannon at support@deepspacesparkle.com and she will happily help you get to the bottom of it!
The email link doesn’t arrive in my inbox.
Can you help please
Hi Rachael. If you are having trouble with a download please email Shannon at Support@deepspacesparkle.com and she will help you.
i hate dahlia223 nose50
@soksandthedelbenes are really mean!
they are a rock band all dogs
I would love the freebie pack
oh wait thats me
absolutely fabulous. bright happy and fun !! can’t wait to try w my peeps!
this was SO fun! 😀
i hate you dahlia223 nose50
Well planned, excellent lesson, I gave to my kindergartner as a fun holiday activity. This holiday season we are using various art mediums. We love Deep Space Sparkle. So fun!! Perfect for this homeschooling family.
I taught this in my classroom last December, and my 4th graders did such a beautiful job! It’s a great memory. Yesterday, I taught this to my class remotely, and it was a great success. We’re coupling it with a creative Santa Story writing assignment. Such fun and creativity! 🙂
This link does not send an email
Hi Loretta! The November Freebie pack was just sent your way and should be in your inbox now! Enjoy!
I love your videos and Art hand outs! They are so helpful! We made the turkeys in my 2nd snd 3rd grade Art class and they came out so well! Thank you! You’ve made teaching Art so much fun!
I love your work!
This is fantastic. I don’t see the pdf link for the santa drawing directions?
Hi Nancy! If you scroll down, you should see a yellow download box. When you click that and add your name and email, we will send the pdf directly to your email. Enjoy
This is a great project to not only introduce media but also reinforce pattern.
The art projects are so engaging. I love them.
Wonderful!!!
LOVE your ideas and so do my kiddos!
thank you for sharing your great projects!
Can’t wait to have my first graders try this!
This looks so fun!
I am unable to get the free November pack. When I hover over it, nothing happens.
Hi Ann! Thanks so much for your interest in our lessons. Everything is working on our end. 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. We have found that the Firefox browser doesn’t work on our website and both the Chrome or Safari browsers work best so be sure to try using one of those. Enjoy.
That looks like to do with children. Thanks.
Always find inspiration here!
Thank you for the resouces!
thank you
Wow this is awesome .
Thank you so much for detailed drawing and the free download. This is kind
Blessings
Arlene Chi
I love the Santas!!
LOve it!! the kids are going to enjoy it sooo super much.
I love all of your projects! Amazing work!! Thank you for sharing so many ideas.
Love, Love, Love all that you share! Thank you so much!
Where do you buy the blue sulphite paper from?
Hi Dawn. Around the office we frequently use Tru-Ray Construction Paper. We’ve found that at Dick Blick but it’s also available on Amazon and other art stores. I hope that helps.
how do I get this? when I click the to download it doesnt work?
Hi Meredith! I just tested the link and it’s working for me. 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. We have found that the Firefox browser doesn’t work as well on our site but both Chrome & Safari browsers work so be sure to try using one of those. If you are on a school computer or at your school there may be a firewall in place preventing you from accessing the download. Enjoy.
Thank you for sharing!