See how to draw gnomes step by step and then the added decorations after in this full video tutorial!
How To Draw Gnomes with Christmas Flair! Gnomes made Easy!
Ever since I learned how to draw gnomes I have been painting them on stones! Our very first gnome paintings were just basic red and green hats for Christmas. For these Christmas gnomes we are adding a bit more flair!
If you love gnomes as much as we do you might be crafting them all year! Our gnomes have gotten ready for so many holidays! We start with a simple gnome drawing and then add the fun holiday designs in their hats!
We paint Christmas gnomes on rocks to hide around town as random acts of kindness. You could use them for stocking stuffers and/or gifts! You may like them so much you can’t let them go, so you can add them to your holiday decor! They look really cute mixed into greenery on your mantle.
Not into rock painting? This tutorial can be moved onto any surface! Draw gnomes on wood or use on card-stock for handmade holiday cards!
Supplies to Paint and Draw Gnomes
To draw these gnomes I used the black from this extra fine tip 12-pack from Posca. I also used the colors for all of the hat decoration. However, the 12 pack doesn’t come with the cream for the face. These are water-based paint pens and work on just about any surface you can think of! I did use acrylic paint and a brush for the beards in the video tutorial below, but you can use your paint pens for that as well. The cream I did use was from the 3M Natural Colors pack from Posca.
How to Draw Gnomes Step-by-Step
Below you will find step by step images on how to create this design. There is a full video tutorial after if you are looking for more details or tips!
We are going to start with how to draw gnomes! First, I just want to say that you can decide whether or not you want to see any eyes. It is a the creators choice. Place down an oval for your nose. You’ll want a big noses. Create a couple of horizontal lines the width you want the hat about halfway up your nose. Then if you want to see eyes create an arch for the bottom edge of the hat. If you don’t want eyes skip this step. Next, give them a nice big beard.
When adding your hats you can make them point straight up or have a bend to the side. At this point fill in your gnomes. Any color of hats you want. The beard can be white or you can add in a touch of gray. Again, these are your gnome take the lead. You can have shoe popping out, I do this in some designs, or even a hand showing from out of the beard holding an item!
How to Paint a Christmas Gnome – All Tangled Up!
Here at Ruffles and Rain Boots, I answer nearly all of my own emails even though I have a team of people who help me out (immeasurably). That’s why you might get an email at 2 in the morning from me – I have to fit it in when I can.
Each week, I have at least one email asking me how to paint gnomes (see, it’s not just me who loves these cuties). I often send those requests to my Christmas gnome rock painting tutorial or, if it’s spring, the tutorial I made on how to restore a garden gnome.
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That said, I get many emails back asking for an actual scene. Friends, I am NOT a painter – really. I like to doodle, both with pen and paper and digitally, but I’m not trained in any of this stuff. So as one amateur to another, let’s get get to painting, step by step.
Love This Adorable Holiday Gnome Painting? Save or Share It for Others
It’s no secret that this website grows from your shares and I would be grateful if you saved this to a DIY pin board or shared it on Facebook. Friends, family, and perfect strangers might find it helpful for a holiday craft idea.
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Tips for Making This Easy Holiday Craft
- Don’t have a wooden tag on hand? No problem – any blank will do. Paint on rocks (I love sharing rock painting ideas) a canvas, wood blocks, cups, tumblers… The possibilities are endless and are probably in your craft stash.
- In this tutorial, I used chalk and acrylic paints. That said, all chalk or all acrylic can be used – I just used what I had on hand and you can, too.
- Do not skip the white paint step! It’s going to be the reason acrylic paint colors POP on wood or canvas.
- This shape, when kept to about 8-ish inches, can be done in under an hour. That said, you can break this up into different stages except for the parts in which you’re adding highlights and shadows (the paint should be wet).
- When making this holiday gnome, I used both a Posca pen in black and acrylic paint with a fine-liner brush. Use one, use both – it doesn’t matter because they are interchangeable.
- Do not skip on the sealant because it protects your hard work AND it can really change the look of the piece. Be sure to watch the video and you’ll see the difference.
If you want to use my drawing as a reference, screen shot this or keep it open on your phone:
