It’s become my own personal tradition that each year, I draw my daughter’s Christmas stocking: a record of all those gifts of chocolate, stationery and small toys that Santa brings. He’s a clever man, that Santa: each year, his choices seem to accord directly with my daughter’s changing fads and preferences.
In this, her 13th year, I can’t help noticing that colours are duller and much less exciting to draw: less hot pink, more black.
Click the image if you’d like to see it slightly larger.
In the ultimate mash-up of looking a gift-horse in the mouth and being a bad workman blaming my tools, I might also say that I got the most amazing box of watercolours for Christmas. They’re so good that the colours are deeper and more vibrant than I’m used to, and the whole picture came out a bit darker than I intended.
For comparison’s sake, here are previous years’ paintings:
Myfanwy Tristram 
That’s an amazing stocking, dreat drawing too! She is a lucky girl. Find myself eyeing those cactus erasers…
Thanks! Yes, she’s very lucky – I guess it comes from being an only child.
Cacti seem to be everywhere at the moment; they must be this month’s cool thing. These are the same brand, though different colours: https://www.justmustard.com/product/cool-cactus/
Your attention to detail is admirable! How long does it take for you to complete a coloured-in sketch of these?
Thanks! It’s hard to say for sure, since I kept coming back and doing a couple of hours here and there over the Christmas break, but I’d guess maybe 8 – 10 hours.