Flying Santa Claus with gifts

This lesson I intend to draw a very nice New Year postcard.

Let’s start! For the beginning create a new file of 600×800 px and 72 dpi resolution.
Select next Blending Options and apply here the Gradient Overlay selection with the next parameters:

So we have done the background of the future postcard:

Next take the Pen Tool (P) with the color #FFFFFF to represent a snow hillock as below:

Try to make one more hillock behind the previous one:

Fill 0% on the layer and choose also Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Try to draw next another snow drift behind the earlier made ones:

Select now Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Getting a more harmonious composition is possible if creating the last snow drift:

Set the same gradient’s parameters as the previous element, but this time change the element’s inclination level on 180 degrees.

The snow drifts are already made. It’s time to picture several small fir trees. Select for this operation the Pen Tool (P) to draw the bottom part of the fir tree:

Choose Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Next we’ll make a copy on this layer and will process it as it is shown below:

Apply for the layer Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Next we’ll represent the top of the fir tree. In this case we have to make a copy of the layer and make it look exactly as in the picture from below:

Select Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Represent now the shadows under the tree’s top and the middle part of the tree. Select the Pen Tool (P) for this manipulation:

Insert also the shadow under the fir tree itself:

Make several copies of our fir tree, placing the copies as it is demonstrated next picture:

We have to introduce also the snowflakes falling from the sky for getting a better New Year mood. Select out of the Custom Shape Tool (U) the appropriate three types of snowflakes’ shapes and situate them on the picture the way indicated next image:

Choose for all the snowflakes next selection: Blending Options>Outer Glow with the parameters from below:

It’s time to introduce a character on the picture – Santa Clause. Begin by representing the character’s head by selecting the Ellipse Tool (U).

Apply for the layer Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Selecting the same Ellipse Tool (U), we can represent another white ellipse. Hold on Alt button to get another ellipse and make the necessary corrections on it as it is shown next picture. I have introduced one more point there with the Add Anchor Point Tool.

Apply now Blending Options>Drop Shadow, setting the parameters demonstrated next image:

Make a copy of the layer and select Free Transform > Flip horizontal option to turn the copy horizontally and place it as the way from below:

We have got at this stage the Santa’s moustache. Next we have to make the eyes. In this case we have to make also an ellipse and then hold on Alt button to get the other one, making the corrections on the elements’ shapes the way shown next picture:

Make a copy of the eye and place it close to the first one:

Now we’ll represent the big red nose, choosing for this operation the Ellipse Tool (U) too.

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Try to represent now two highlights on the nose, composed of two white ellipses, the way you may see below:

Using the same instrument, try to make two more ellipses, reserved for the eyebrows:

Select Blending Options>Drop Shadow

Now we’ll picture the Santa’s cap. In this case we’ll use again the method of subtraction one ellipse out of the other one. Create for the beginning the first element of our cap:

Let’s divert the attention from the cap and start drawing the hair locks, bristling out of the cap. Make a copy of the eyebrow’s layer and set the necessary points to get the same result from below:

Get back to the cap and choose the Pen Tool (P) with the color #E92225 to draw the top part of the cap:

The cap is finished. Pass to representing the Santa’s ears with the Ellipse Tool (U). Firstly we need to represent a small ellipse:

Choose for this layer Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Make a copy of the ear and place the copy the way demonstrated next image:

Select again the Pen Tool (P) to represent the character’s beard:

Next we’ll draw one more ellipse that is going to be the character’s mouth, placing the corresponding points of ellipse as next picture shows it:

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay

Using the method of subtraction one ellipse out of the other, make the last mouth’s element, having the color #D8D8D8.

Start representing Santa’s arms. Begin with the one, situated near to us. This is the hand that will keep also the presents’ sack. Let’s choose again the Ellipse Tool (U) with the color #E02126 and represent an oval which shape will be adapted to our needs. Press SHIFT button to represent a rectangle with round corners, selecting previously the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U) with the same color’s code mentioned above. Then we have to mark it out with Path Selection Tool and turn it over with Free Transform selection. Press Alt button to make two copies of it:

As you may see, we have made the mitten and a piece of the sack that Santa will keep in his hands. Continue representing his arm. Take after that the Pen Tool (P) to draw the basis of our mitten (the fur).

The Ellipse Tool (U) will be helpful when representing the elbow (the color - #D52027). Place the ellipse’s points as below:

Finally we have to finish the sack, having the color #CD2026

Start representing the other arm. Select the same Ellipse Tool (U), having the color #D12026 and represent an ellipse as the next picture indicates it.

Represent the Santa’s finger out of the same ellipse, having the color #C12026.

Use now the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U) to create the lowest part of the mitten, making the corrections on its shape the way demonstrated below:

Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Using the same instrument, try to represent the rest of the arm, colored with #CA2128

Using the Pen Tool (P), is possible to draw the character’s body, having the color #D32026

Using the same instrument, draw now the belt of Santa that is of black color.

Next step includes picturing the white buckle on the belt that is possible to make with the Rounded Rectangle Tool (U). Represent firstly the rectangle with rounded edges and hold on Alt button to represent inside the first one anther one as you may see on the next picture.

Next we’ll make the lowest part of the fur coat, choosing for this operation the known Ellipse Tool (U) and making the corresponding corrections on the element’s shape:

The body is finished. Start picturing the character’s legs. Take for the beginning the Ellipse Tool (U) of black color to represent an ellipse and press SHIFT button to get another one, which points should be placed the way demonstrated next image:

On the next stage we’ll represent another ellipse with the Ellipse Tool (U) and hold on Alt button to subtract out of it a rectangle with the Rectangle Tool (U).

Choose for the last layer Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

Make a copy of the leg and represent an oval element above the copy. Hold on Alt button to represent the second one the way demonstrated below:

Select for the layer Blending Options>Gradient Overlay:

The Pen Tool (P) will help us to represent the trousers for Santa, having the color from here: #ED2225

Santa Clause character is finished. We must only add a parachute he comes down from the sky with and the postcard is almost finished!

Begin by representing the parachute’s top element that is composed of a big oval element, made with Ellipse Tool (U), having the color #ED2225. Make the usual subtraction (holding on Alt button) of the ellipses out the other ones and represent a lot of small ellipses inside the biggest one the way shown below:

Select Blending Options>Pattern Overlay:

Blending Options>Stroke:

Next we’ll represent an ellipse of white color, making the necessary points’ corrections and after that hold on Alt button while clicking between the parachutes top’s layer and the recently made layer:

Draw now above the white layer another red ellipse which needs also to be corrected on its shape. Click finally between the layers while holding on Alt button.

Blending Options>Pattern Overlay:

Blending Options>Stroke:

Double the layers the parachute’s top consists of and merge them down. Make the new one smaller. Place it behind the main top and press CTRL+U, setting the lightness parameter on 30.