How to Draw a Nutcracker (Easy Step by Step)
A nutcracker is a toy soldier with a tall hat, a big square head and a friendly smile. It is built almost entirely from boxes, circles and curved lines, so it is a great first character to draw. Once you can draw this one, you can make a whole nutcracker army.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a nutcracker step by step
How to Draw a Nutcracker · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The tall hat
Draw a tall box shape with a flat top and two straight sides, leaving the bottom open. Round the top corners a little. This is the nutcracker's hat.
Step 3: The head
Under the hat, draw a straight line across for the hat's bottom edge, a little wider than the hat. From each end, draw a line straight down, then curve the lines inward at the bottom to make a block-shaped head with an open chin.
Step 4: Face
Add two round dots for eyes in the middle of the head. Then draw a wide smile with a little bump in the middle, like a curly mustache.
Step 5: Hat stripe and badge
Draw a flat stripe across the lower part of the hat, sticking out a little on each side. Add a small circle in the middle of the hat above the stripe.
Step 6: The body
Under the head, draw a short flat line for the shoulders. From each end, draw a line straight down, then close the bottom with a flat line to make a box.
Step 7: The arms
On each side of the body, draw a curved arm that starts at the shoulder, bends out and then curls back in toward the body at the bottom.
Step 8: Buttons and belt
Draw two round dots, one above the other, down the middle of the coat. Add a small rounded square for the belt buckle, then draw a flat belt line across the body through it. Draw a short line across each arm, and a short line straight down from the middle of the belt.
Step 9: Legs and boots
Under the belt, draw two short straight legs, one on each side of the middle line. At the bottom, curve each one outward into a boot and join the boots with one flat line.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your nutcracker? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a sleigh or how to draw a candle next.
Tips for drawing a nutcracker
- Draw the hat and the head as two boxes first, and make the head a little wider than the hat so it looks like the hat sits on top.
- The curly smile is the trickiest part. Draw a gentle U shape first, then add a small bump in the middle.
- Start the arms at the shoulders and curve them out and back in, so both sides look the same size.
Free nutcracker coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this nutcracker coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your nutcracker drawing
Try a red coat, a blue hat and gold buttons and belt buckle. For a creative twist, give your nutcracker a rainbow stripe on the hat or draw a pile of nuts at its feet.
Nutcracker fun fact for kids
Nutcrackers started in Germany, where wooden figures with a movable jaw were made to crack open hard nuts. Today they are best known as Christmas decorations and from the ballet The Nutcracker.
Questions about drawing a nutcracker
What shapes do I need to draw a nutcracker?
You need a tall box for the hat, a rounded block for the head, a box for the body and a few circles for the eyes, buttons and the hat badge. The arms and boots are simple curved lines.
How do I make my nutcracker look cuter?
Make the head big and the body small, and keep the eyes round and wide apart. A big curly smile makes it look friendly right away.
How do I draw both arms the same size?
Draw one arm, then look at where it starts and ends on the body. Start the second arm at the same height and curve it the same way on the other side.
