DrawBrighton

Christmas Photo-set Special: Santa Claus

Added 2023-12-22 10:00:02 +0000 UTC

In this festive, themed photo-set we wanted to explore some of the most common poses adopted by the man in red, particularly to provide illustration reference for anybody who needs to draw him in action. Taking inspiration Clement Clarke Moore's poem 'A Visit from St Nicholas' (below) and Ramond Brigg's book 'Father Christmas' we picked out some of the key actions of looking into his sack, crouching to get into a fire place, tapping the side of his nose and relaxing after a long night of deliveries. We hope you enjoy them and we're looking forward to seeing all of the drawings you make with them!

A Visit from St Nicholas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer,

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

by Clement Clarke Moore

About the model

You can follow Doug on Instagram HERE
Doug is an actor & writer and annually dons the red-and-white for the delight of Brighton residents, and now - us!

About the photos

Thank you to Lance for making the props for this photoshoot!
This photoset was shot by Justyna Neryng - you can buy or commission photosets from her directly HERE
You can follow Justyna on Instagram HERE
For the full list of winter release dates, have a look at our teaser photo-set HERE

Use the Draw Patreon Navigator to find any of our past photosets and take a look at our blogs on how to gather, manipulate and translate photo reference.

Guidelines for using the photographs

Please do:

Download these pictures to your own computers and devices, downloading the Zip files for all images, or saving individual photos.
Use the pictures to draw, paint, print and sculpt from, being as realistic or creative as you like
Share the artwork you’ve made with us and the world - in books, in exhibitions, on social media, or on your fridge
Tag us in work you make (@drawbrighton / #drawbrighton) – you don’t have to, but we love to see what you’ve made!
Edit the photo files as reference for your own drawings - you can change the contrasts, colours and backgrounds to provide more tailored reference for yourself.

Please don't: