How to draw a reindeer

Draw along here, then watch it take a bow. Free, with no ads, no sign-up and nothing uploaded.

  1. Draw a tall oval
  2. A small oval inside
  3. A leaf on each side
  4. Two branching antlers
  5. A big red nose
  6. A body and four legs
  7. Color it brown

How to draw a reindeer in 8 steps

To draw a reindeer, draw an oval head with a smaller oval inside it for the muzzle, add two ears and two branching antlers, press on a big red nose, then draw a long body with four legs and color it brown. It takes eight steps, and the antlers are the only tricky part: each is one line with two short lines growing out of it.

You need brown, red and black crayons, and paper if you are away from the screen.

  1. Step 1 of drawing a reindeer: draw an oval head
    Step 1

    Draw an oval head

    Draw a tall oval in the top half of the page. Leave room above it, because the antlers go there.

  2. Step 2 of drawing a reindeer: draw the muzzle
    Step 2

    Draw the muzzle

    Draw a smaller oval inside the bottom of the head. This pale patch is the reindeer’s muzzle, and you will leave it uncolored.

  3. Step 3 of drawing a reindeer: add two ears
    Step 3

    Add two ears

    Draw a leaf shape sticking out sideways from each side of the head, about halfway up.

  4. Step 4 of drawing a reindeer: draw the antlers
    Step 4

    Draw the antlers

    Draw one line curving up and out from the top of the head on each side. Then add two short lines growing out of each one, like a small bare tree.

  5. Step 5 of drawing a reindeer: add a red nose and smile
    Step 5

    Add a red nose and smile

    Press down hard with a fat red crayon at the top of the muzzle for a big round nose. Draw a short line down from it and a small smile.

  6. Step 6 of drawing a reindeer: draw the body and legs
    Step 6

    Draw the body and legs

    Draw a long curved line down from each side of the head, then four straight legs and a black hoof at the bottom of each.

  7. Step 7 of drawing a reindeer: color it brown
    Step 7

    Color it brown

    Scribble brown over the head, the ears and the body with a fat crayon. Go around the muzzle so it stays pale.

  8. Step 8 of drawing a reindeer: give it eyes
    Step 8

    Give it eyes

    Draw two black dots above the muzzle, far apart. Wide-set eyes make any deer look friendly. On the screen, press Bring it to life, then tap twice and two googly eyes stick on.

Easier or harder, for any age

Most children can copy a circle at about three and a triangle at about five, so the shapes set the level. The sources are in our guide to what a child can draw at each age.

Ages 3 and 4
Draw only the head: a circle, two ears, two simple Y shapes for antlers and a red dot for the nose. A three-year-old can do the dot and the scribbling, while a grown-up draws the antlers.
Ages 5 and 6
Follow the steps as they are. Antlers are the hard part at this age, so start with one line and add the two short branches once it looks right. Drawing over the guide on the screen helps with where they go.
Ages 7 and 8
Turn the reindeer side-on so it can run, give it a harness of bells across the chest, and add a line of hoofprints in the snow behind it.

Make your reindeer your own

  • Hang ornaments from the antlers
  • Give it a scarf or a string of bells
  • Draw a second reindeer, smaller, beside it
  • Choose any color of nose you like
A crayon drawing of a reindeer cut out as a paper puppet with googly eyes, on a little lit stage

Then your reindeer takes the stage

Press Bring it to life and scissors go around the drawing. It lifts off the page as a paper puppet, gets two googly eyes and hops onto a little lit stage at the North Pole. From there every key or tap makes it jump, spin or sneeze while a sleigh crosses the moon, snow blows in and a present drops from above. The show is saved as a short video on your device.

Start drawing

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What to draw next

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Keep a drawing forever

A drawing that has just taken a bow can be stitched in real thread or kept on a necklace. From the grown-up gate it goes straight into the studio, and you see how it comes out before you order.

A painting of a ballerina held beside the sweatshirt it was stitched onto Drawing embroidery On a sweatshirt, hoodie, tee or tote, from $45 A gold pendant cut to the outline of a child’s ballerina drawing Drawing necklace Every line kept, from $59

Questions about drawing a reindeer

Anything else, write to hello@thecuriousthing.com.

How do you draw reindeer antlers?

Draw one curved line up and out from the head, then two shorter lines branching off it, pointing up. Do the other side to match. Thinking of each antler as a small tree with no leaves makes it far easier for children than trying to copy the whole shape at once.

Should a reindeer drawing be side-on or front-on?

Start front-on, as these steps do: the head is an oval, the two sides match, and the face is easy to see. A side-on reindeer needs a long body and four legs at different angles, which suits a child of about seven or older.

Is this drawing website free, with no ads and no sign-up?

Yes. There is nothing to pay, no ads, no account and no email to give. It runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or computer. Nothing a child draws is uploaded: the drawing, the puppet and the show stay on your device. Read the children’s privacy notice.

Can we do it on real paper instead?

Yes. Every step is written out on this page with a picture. If you draw it on paper, tap the cross on the page, choose Upload a drawing and take a photo. The paper is removed on your device, and the reindeer still goes on the stage.