Easy How to Draw a Nutcracker Tutorial and Nutcracker Coloring Page

Below you'll find an easy step-by-step tutorial for how to draw a Nutcracker and a Nutcracker Coloring Page. There's even an extra easy version shared below.

Nutcracker Drawing

The good news is that there are many, many different ways to learn how to draw a nutcracker. Students that are interested in the fancier version are welcome to try this one out, and those that need to just try a basic one, can scroll down below.

The good news is that they 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.

Pin me to your Pinterest Board

Use the Button below to Download a PDF Tutorial

A step by step tutorial for how to draw an easy Nutcracker, also available as a free download.

Coloring Page

Materials for a Nutcracker Drawing

  • Pencil. The Ticonderoga brand are the most reliable, make nice dark lines when you need them, and are the easiest to erase. Buying the pre-sharpened ones will save busy teachers a lot of time.
  • Eraser. Large ones you can hold in your hand do a much better job than just the pencil tip erasers, especially when erasing leftover pencil lines after tracing.
  • Black Sharpie Marker. These fine point permanent marker pens make nice black outlines, have a good tip for coloring, and never bleed when they get wet. Use them with good ventilation and add extra paper underneath to protect your tables.
  • Prang Crayons. These are a bit softer than other crayons so they sometimes look like oil pastels. They also have a some nice brown shades that Crayola does not have unless you buy their larger boxes.
  • Crayola Crayons. The reliable brand that always works well. The 24 pack has some of my favorite golden orange and yellow colors that seem a bit richer and warmer than the ones Prang has.

Directions to Draw a Nutcracker Step by Step

Time needed:45 minutes.

Easy Nutcracker Drawing Instructions

  1. Draw a belt.

  2. Start the jacket above it.

  3. Add the head and hair.

  4. Draw a hat on the head.

  5. Continue the jacket as shown.

  6. Draw the arms with sleeves.

  7. Add the legs with boots.

  8. Draw the cane and background.

  9. Trace with marker and color.

How to Draw an Easy Nutcracker

Coloring Page

An easy Nutcracker Coloring Page, available as a free download