How to Draw a Nutcracker: Easy Step-by-Step Art Lesson for Kids
Here you’ll find an easy step-by-step tutorial video for how to draw a Nutcracker Tutorial Video and Nutcracker Coloring Pages. Learn how to draw a simple, fancy, or giant version!
Nutcracker Drawing
Tips for Watching Videos on Art Projects for Kids
When you are on a page that has a video you want to see, click on the arrow to get it started. An initial ad will start to play. When the drawing tutorial begins, look for a STAY button that will show up after a minute in or so. Click on the STAY button to keep that video tutorial playing through to the end. The screenshot above shows what that button looks like. (Note: If you don’t click on the button, the player will proceed to the NEXT video.)
More about drawing a Nutcracker
The good news is that Nutcrackers make for good body drawing practice, as their soldier like pose makes them easy to see and match from one side to the other. Students can also review body proportions as in my experience, many tend to draw arms (on nutcrackers or people) a bit short. This nutcracker can remind them that the hands need to extend down well past the waist and hips.
The Nutcracker Ballet greatly popularized the nutcracker back in the early 1950s, at which point they pretty much became synonymous with Christmas. Their colorful look can add a lot to the festivities, so it’s no wonder they are so popular.
Why Draw with Guides?
You may have noticed that all of the tutorials on this website have a dashed vertical line and horizontal line running through each step. If students make their own centered lines on their own paper, before drawing, they will have an easy reference to follow. All they need to do is fold their sheet of paper in half both ways, and make a crease. The best part is, by the time the drawing is done, the creases will have disappeared!
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Student Nutcracker Drawings
6 to 9 year-olds creating a 10 ft tall Nutcracker drawing 
Lions Gate Community Centre in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Nutcracker Coloring Page
Materials for a Nutcracker Drawing
- Drawing Paper. This is the good stuff you can buy in bulk for a good price.
- Pencils. I like how this brand always makes nice dark lines.
- Black Marker. A permanent marker will give you a dark black color.
- Crayons. The larger packs are nice for more color choices.
- Note: All of the above are Amazon affiliate links.
Watch a fun short video of a Nutcracker Drawing
Step by Step Directions to Draw a Nutcracker
Time needed: 1 hour
Easy Nutcracker Drawing Instructions
- Draw a belt.
- Start the jacket above it.
- Add the head and hair.
- Draw a hat on the head.
- Continue the jacket as shown.
- Draw the arms with sleeves.
- Add the legs with boots.
- Draw the cane and background.
- Trace with marker and color.
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How to Draw an Easy Nutcracker
Nutcracker Coloring Page
How to Draw a Fancy Nutcracker
How to Draw a Giant Christmas Nutcracker
Making a giant nutcracker drawing, step by step, is so much easier when you can follow a diagram that shows you how to fill any size paper you might have.
Hand drawn decorations can add a special touch to any event during the holidays, but giant ones that line a hall with lots of festive color? And cost just pennies? Those can be truly special.
Now, even if you’re not the artsy type, you can sketch out a giant nutcracker drawing, no matter what size of paper you have, with the help of my downloadable diagram. It turns out that the key to drawing a well proportioned nutcracker is to first fold your paper to create lots of guidelines to follow. Then, if sketch to make your nutcracker’s shoulders, belt and knees all fall on those specified guidelines, your nutcracker is bound to have a nicely proportioned body.
Sketch your nutcracker lightly in pencil, trace it with a thick black marker, and then start coloring. My samples shown here took about one 45 minute class to color, with about 6 students working on each.
Materials
- Scissors
- White Kraft Paper, 36″ wide
- Black marker, thick chisel tip
- Crayons
Directions
1. Cut a sheet of white kraft paper 60“ long.
2. Crease the sheet in half lengthwise and cut to make a panel that is 18” x 60”.
3. Fold one of the new sheets in half lengthwise. Fold it in half three times, the long way and the crease edges. Unfold so that you end up with a grid that is 2 panels wide by 8 panels tall.
4. Sketch the nutcracker according to the diagram. The fold lines will help you make a well proportioned body.
5. Trace the drawing with a thick marker and color heavily with crayons.
