Draw Your OC In A Christmas Outfit #DTIYS
Draw your original character wearing a Christmas outfit, experiment with colors, patterns, and textures, and share your festive illustration and design choices.
Step-by-step guide to draw your OC in a Christmas outfit
Step 1
Pick a Christmas theme for your OC like cozy Santa festive elf or winter wonderland.
Step 2
Choose a pose that will show off the outfit you want to design.
Step 3
Make two or three tiny thumbnail sketches exploring different outfit ideas in your chosen pose.
Step 4
Pick the thumbnail you like best to turn into a full drawing.
Step 5
Lightly sketch the full-size body of your OC on your paper using simple shapes.
Step 6
Draw the main clothing shapes on your character to create the Christmas outfit.
Step 7
Add festive details and textures such as fur trim knit lines bells candy-cane stripes or embroidery marks.
Step 8
Ink over your final lines with a black pen or darker pencil to make the drawing clear.
Step 9
Erase any extra pencil lines once the ink is dry so your lines look clean.
Step 10
Make three quick color swatches on scrap paper and choose one color palette to use.
Step 11
Color the base areas of your character and outfit using the chosen palette.
Step 12
Add shading highlights and small pattern details to show texture and light.
Step 13
Write two short notes explaining your color choices patterns and textures.
Step 14
Share your finished festive OC illustration and your design notes on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of a black pen if I don't have one for inking?
If you don't have a black pen for the 'Ink over your final lines' step, trace your final lines with a dark 2B/4B pencil or a fine-tipped permanent marker, testing the marker on scrap paper first.
My lines look messy after inking and erasing—how do I prevent that?
To prevent smudging when you 'Ink over your final lines' and then 'Erase any extra pencil lines', wait until the ink is completely dry, test your pen on scrap paper, and use a kneaded eraser to gently lift remaining pencil marks.
How can I adapt this Draw Your OC activity for different age groups?
For younger kids simplify the steps by skipping thumbnail variety and doing one big 'lightly sketch the full-size body' with crayons or stickers, while older kids can make multiple 'color swatches', add complex 'shading, highlights, and patterns', or color digitally.
How can we extend or personalize the finished festive OC beyond the basic instructions?
Enhance the project by designing a back view and accessory sheet, gluing small fabric swatches or glitter to the 'festive details and textures' step, and adding extra design notes before you share on DIY.org.
Watch videos on how to draw your OC in a Christmas outfit
How to design Outfits for characters | Tutorial | DrawlikeaSir
3 Videos
How to design Outfits for characters | Tutorial | DrawlikeaSir
Use these tips to design MEMORABLE outfits for your OC
What Are You Wearing for Christmas 2024? | Holiday Outfits & Accessories | What to Wear
Facts about character design and illustration
✨ Simple texture tricks—short strokes for fur, crosshatching for wool, and tiny highlights for sequins—help fabrics read clearly in illustrations.
👗 Adding small accessories—mittens, belts, bells, scarves—can instantly sell a festive outfit and tell a character story.
🎨 Many character designers create 20+ quick thumbnail sketches to explore silhouettes before settling on a final look.
🌈 Red and green are traditional complementary colors for holiday palettes; changing their value or saturation keeps them pleasant to the eye.
🎄 The jolly red-and-white Santa image was popularized by 19th-century illustrators and reinforced by 20th-century media.
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