Skateboarding Father Christmas

Gabriel decided to design his very own Christmas card. With his recent love for skateboarding and the inspiration from our visit to the Quentin Blake exhibition still fresh in his mind, he set out to create something uniquely his own—a skateboarding Father Christmas.

Using an iPad and the Paper.io app, Gabriel sketched out his idea with a mix of bold, playful lines that would make Quentin Blake proud. Father Christmas on Gabriel’s card was fully decked out, with his sack of toys slung across his back, teetering as he zoomed along on his skateboard.

A Creative Twist on Tradition

The result was a fresh take on the holiday classic, with all the quirk and charm of a handmade card. Gabriel captured the playful spirit of the season, and it was clear he’d channeled Blake’s energy through his lines. This Father Christmas was no jolly old soul content to stay in his sleigh; he was agile, daring, and ready to trade reindeer for wheels at any moment.

Digital Drawing Adventures

Creating on the iPad gave Gabriel a whole new level of freedom. With digital brushes and undo options at his fingertips, he could experiment with colours, styles, and details until he felt it was just right. And watching him take to digital art was inspiring for me as well—technology and creativity blending to produce something so personal and fun.

Sharing the Holiday Spirit

There’s something special about seeing a young artist take inspiration from their favourite hobbies and make something so joyfully original.