Easy Reindeer Painting Tutorial for Beginners

Updated at: 19/05/2025

Christmas is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than by creating your own festive artwork? This easy reindeer painting tutorial is perfect for beginners, requiring no prior painting experience! Whether you're looking for a fun family activity, a unique holiday decoration, or simply a relaxing creative outlet, this guide will walk you through the process of painting an adorable reindeer, step-by-step. You'll be surprised at how easily you can bring this charming creature to life on canvas, even if you think you lack artistic talent.

Forget complicated techniques and expensive supplies; this tutorial uses simple materials and straightforward instructions to achieve a delightful result. We'll cover everything from choosing the right colors and brushes to mastering basic shapes and adding those quintessential reindeer details like antlers and a bright red nose. Ready to get started on your festive masterpiece? Let's dive into the step-by-step painting process now!

Preparation and Safety Guidelines

Tools Needed
  • Number 10 flat brush
  • Number 10 round brush
  • Number 4 round brush
  • Number 1 round brush (optional)
  • 1-inch flat brush
  • Acrylic paints (blue, white, brown, yellow, red, black, green)
  • Rag
  • Cup of water
Safety Guidelines
  • Always supervise children when using paints and brushes. Keep paints out of reach of small children.
  • Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling paint fumes.
  • Cover your work surface with newspaper or a drop cloth to protect it from paint spills.

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Background

    • Paint the background with stripes of blue and white, blending the colors for a textured look.
    Paint the background with stripes of blue and white, blending the colors for a textured look.
    Prepare the Background

  2. Sketch the Reindeer

    • Sketch the reindeer outline using white paint and simple shapes (smiley and frowny faces for the body, curved lines for antlers).
    Sketch the reindeer outline using white paint and simple shapes (smiley and frowny faces for the body, curved lines for antlers).
    Sketch the Reindeer

  3. Paint the Reindeer's Body

    • Fill in the reindeer's body with a lighter brown (mix of brown, yellow, and white).
    Fill in the reindeer's body with a lighter brown (mix of brown, yellow, and white).
    Paint the Reindeer's Body

  4. Paint the Antlers

    • Outline the antlers with dark brown, adding highlights with white paint.
    Outline the antlers with dark brown, adding highlights with white paint.
    Paint the Antlers

  5. Add Hands and Nose Bridge

    • Add small arches for the reindeer's hands.
    • Create a darker brown line for the nose bridge using the 'lay down and pull' technique for a textured effect.
    Create a darker brown line for the nose bridge using the 'lay down and pull' technique for a textured effect.Create a darker brown line for the nose bridge using the 'lay down and pull' technique for a textured effect.
    Add Hands and Nose Bridge

  6. Add Highlights and Details

    • Add white highlights inside the ears and on the paws.
    Add white highlights inside the ears and on the paws.
    Add Highlights and Details

  7. Add Eyes, Nose, and Hooves

    • Use black paint for hooves, using finger painting for eyes and nose.
    Use black paint for hooves, using finger painting for eyes and nose.
    Add Eyes, Nose, and Hooves

  8. Add Ornaments

    • Add ornaments to the antlers using finger painting for circles or stripes.
    Add ornaments to the antlers using finger painting for circles or stripes.
    Add Ornaments

  9. Add Final Details

    • Add final details such as a smirk line, eyebrows, and snowflakes using watered-down black and brown paints.
    Add final details such as a smirk line, eyebrows, and snowflakes using watered-down black and brown paints.
    Add Final Details

  10. Add Ornament Highlights

    • Add highlights to antlers and ornaments with white paint.
    Add highlights to antlers and ornaments with white paint.
    Add Ornament Highlights

  11. Add Ornament Hangers

    • Add small rectangles and hanging lines for the ornaments' tops.
    Add small rectangles and hanging lines for the ornaments' tops.
    Add Ornament Hangers

  12. Sign Your Artwork

    • Sign your artwork.
    Sign your artwork.
    Sign Your Artwork

Read more: Reverse Silhouette Painting: Underwater Scene Masterclass

Tips

  • Use the 'lay down and pull' technique for creating textured lines.
  • Water down black paint for finer details.
  • Use finger painting for creating smooth shapes for eyes and nose.
  • Add highlights to enhance the 3D effect.
  • Experiment with different ornament designs (circles, stripes, polka dots).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Uneven Brown Tones

Reason: Using only one shade of brown makes the reindeer look flat and unrealistic.
Solution: Mix different shades of brown, including lighter and darker tones, to create depth and dimension.

2. Proportion Issues

Reason: Incorrectly sizing the body parts (head, antlers, legs) results in a distorted reindeer.
Solution: Use light sketches to map out the proportions before applying paint, ensuring the body parts are realistically sized in relation to each other.

3. Overly Dark or Heavy Antlers

Reason: Antlers that are too dark or heavily painted can overwhelm the rest of the reindeer.
Solution: Use lighter, more delicate brushstrokes for the antlers, focusing on creating texture rather than heavy coverage.

FAQs

What kind of paint should I use for this tutorial?
Acrylic paints are recommended for beginners because they are easy to clean up and dry quickly. Watercolors would also work, but might require more layering.
I don't have a lot of art supplies. Can I still do this?
Absolutely! This tutorial focuses on simplicity. You'll only need a few basic brushes, acrylic paints (brown, white, black, red), a canvas or paper, and a palette or plate.