Looking for a unique and imaginative holiday art project? Combine the festive joy of Christmas with the bold creativity of Pablo Picasso in this Picasso Santa craft and art activity!
Printable Picasso Santa Craft
This is the perfect blend of art history and holiday spirit, allowing kids to express themselves in colorful and unexpected ways. Let’s turn Santa into an abstract masterpiece!
Supplies Needed:
While the printable templates are a fantastic starting point, there are so many ways to personalize this project! Gather some or all of these materials:
Note: This project can easily be done with a winter theme, not just Christmas. Focus on the hat and encourage fun designs or zentangles to create a unique winter foocus.
- Printable Templates: Includes Santa’s face, hat, beard, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
- Construction Paper: For the background or custom shapes.
- Scissors & Glue Stick: Essential tools for cutting and assembling.
- Markers or Crayons: To add bold colors and details.
- Optional Creative Supplies:
- Textured Papers (glitter, tissue, scrapbook)
- Foam Sheets for a 3D effect
- Googly Eyes for a fun twist
- Pom-Poms for Santa’s hat or accents
- Cotton Balls for a fluffy beard
- Feathers for quirky details
- Glitter Glue for festive sparkle
- Yarn for textured hair or trim
- Watercolors for soft, abstract backgrounds
Picasso Santa Craft Instructions
Download and Print Templates Below: Use the templates as a starting point.
Color Freely: Encourage kids to color the pieces in vibrant hues—Santa doesn’t have to wear just red and white!
Cut It Out: Carefully cut out each piece, or let younger kids practice their scissor skills.
Assemble with Imagination: Glue the pieces onto construction paper, but don’t just copy the example! Let kids play with angles, layers, and placements to create their own abstract Santa.
Add Final Touches: Use extra supplies like glitter, googly eyes, or textured paper to make Santa pop.
It’s About Creativity, Not Copying!
This activity is more than just following a pattern. The done for you template is a jumping-off point to inspire creativity, not rules to follow. Kids can mix and match, redesign shapes, or invent their own features entirely.
Encourage them to think outside the box—what would Santa look like in Picasso’s world? By focusing on individual expression, each creation becomes a unique masterpiece that reflects their imagination and personal style.
Tips for Success:
- Layer for Depth: Overlap shapes for a dynamic, 3D look.
- Encourage Risk: Let kids make “mistakes” or experiment—Picasso thrived on breaking the rules!
- Show Examples Sparingly: Display a variety of possibilities to inspire rather than dictate.
Free Picasso Santa Template Here!
Primary Elements of Art in This Activity
This Picasso-inspired Santa Claus activity focuses on a few key elements of art:
💡Learn more about the 7 Elements of Art [here] with free activities.
Space: How kids arrange and layer the shapes on the background paper shows their understanding of space, balance, and composition.
Shape: The templates are full of geometric and organic shapes like circles, triangles, and ovals, which come together to create Santa’s abstract features.
Line: From the outlines of the templates to the details kids can add, lines play an important role in defining shapes and adding patterns.
Color: Bold and vibrant colors make each Santa unique, allowing kids to experiment with their creativity.
Who Is Pablo Picasso?
Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) was a Spanish artist famous for his groundbreaking creativity and the invention of Cubism. His art was all about rethinking shapes, colors, and perspectives to create something entirely new and exciting. Picasso reminds us that art is about imagination, not perfection, which makes his style perfect for this holiday project.
Picasso Santa Craft Extension Activities:
More Picasso Activities
💡Find more famous artists and artist inspired projects here.
Christmas Art Projects
💡 FInd more famous artist Christmas projects here.
Printable Winter Holiday Art Projects Pack
Celebrate the Winter season with themed art!
Everything you need is included. Just add art supplies! Perfect for kids of all ages to enjoy with a variety of techniques. Whether in the classroom, at home, or with groups, there is a fantastic variety of art activities to try!
Find all the instructions and templates necessary for over 40 art projects this Winter.
Snowflakes, Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year, and Valentine’s Day
Explore process art, STEAM, and even famous artists with these very doable art activities that won’t break the budget or the time you have available!
I’ve tried sending this free Picasso Santa template but it is not being sent to my email
please email me sarah@littlebinsforlittlehands.com