How to Draw a Sleigh

Start in the middle of your page. Draw a long, flat U-shape. Come down, go across the bottom, then go back up. Rob says it looks like a bathtub, and that is the right idea. Keep the bottom wide and the sides short. Leave space above for the toy sack and below for the runners. This shape is the seat of Santa's sleigh.

The sleigh points to the left. At the top of the left side, draw a small sideways U and curl it down. Then go to the right side of the body. Draw a big curve that dips down, rises up and rolls over at the top like a wave. That tall curl is the back rest of Santa's sleigh. It is the fanciest part, so take it slowly.

Curl the top of the tall curve back in, then bring a line down to finish the back of the sleigh. It looks like the front scroll, only bigger. You can run it right into the bottom corner of the U or connect it a little higher. The outline of the sleigh is done now, and it already looks fancy.

Below the front of the sleigh, draw a big S-shaped swirl that curls in like a seashell. Let the end point toward the back. From there, draw a long straight line past the back of the sleigh. That is the runner, the part that slides on the snow. Rob turns his paper to keep the line straight. Let it stick out past the back.

Now fill the space between the sleigh and the runner with curls. Draw an upside down U, then follow the line next to it and swirl back up. Add a curved V and a few more swirls along the bottom of the sleigh. Each curl sits right next to the last one. These swirls turn a plain sled into Santa's sleigh. Take your time here.

Draw a small raindrop shape inside the front scroll and a bigger one inside the back scroll. Then draw a second line right inside the outside edge of the sleigh, all the way around. That border gives the sleigh a trim, like real painted wood. Extend the back of the runner and connect it. Turn your paper as you go around.

Above the sleigh, draw a small U, then two curved lines out and a wavy line across the top. That is the open end of the sack. Wrap a rope around it, add a circle for the knot and two small loops so it looks like a bow. Then draw a big curve down into the sleigh so the sack looks full of toys. Add wrinkle lines.

Behind the sack, draw a curved upside down V for the top of a little Christmas tree. Add a wavy line under it, then two more layers of branches, each one wider. Stop the lines where they hit the sack, so the tree sits behind it. That overlap makes the drawing look 3D. Finish with a short trunk down into the sleigh.

Draw small circles on the tree for round ornaments. Rob's daughter adds little hooks on hers, and then a star on top. You can decorate the tree any way you like. Rob also suggests filling the sleigh with other things, like wrapped presents. When the line drawing looks done to you, pick out your colors.

Now add color. They use orange, green, a light red and a dark red. Color the sleigh body red and the border trim green. Make the runners and swirls orange so they look like gold. Color the tree green with yellow ornaments, and make the sack red with a gold rope. Oil pastels give bold color, but markers or colored pencils work too.