How to Draw a Candy Cane
Using only several easy curved strokes, you’ll learn how to draw a candy cane, one of the main symbols of Christmas.
In this lesson, you will learn how to sketch a simple candy cane step by step. You’ve probably seen this object more than once, and it brings to mind Christmas.
Often such a candy cane becomes a decoration for the Christmas tree or a gift for Christmas. To draw a candy of this shape, you need to be able to draw straight and curved lines.
In this lesson you will first outline the candy cane, then add elements inside it, and after that, you will learn how to color this object.
Prepare the drawing materials listed below. Get to work, follow my step-by-step instructions carefully and have fun drawing.
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 15 minutes
How to draw a candy cane step by step
- Outline one side of the cane.
To begin the candy cane drawing, outline a single diagonal line that will form one side of the stick. This first stroke defines the direction and overall length of your drawing. If you draw lightly, you’ll be able to make small corrections later without leaving visible marks.
- Add the parallel line and bottom curve.
Next, illustrate another line running parallel to the first one. Connect the lower ends of these two lines with a rounded curve to create the bottom of the candy cane. This gives the shape its tube-like form. These lines should be spaced evenly apart.
- Create the upper curved section.
Now form the hook of the candy cane by adding a long, rounded curve at the top. This part is crucial for giving the candy cane drawing its familiar shape. The curve should start from one of the upper ends and loop gently to the left.
- Draw the inner curve of the candy cane.
Close the shape by drawing the inner line of the curved section. This line should follow the contour of the outer curve while keeping the same distance between them, just like you did for the straight section. The goal is to make the candy cane look tubular and even in thickness from top to bottom.
- Begin drawing the stripes.
Now that the main shape is ready, start adding the characteristic diagonal stripes. Draw smooth curved lines wrapping around the stick, spacing them evenly along the surface. These lines should slant consistently in one direction, usually from upper left to lower right. Keep each stripe the same width.
- Draw more stripes on the candy cane.
Continue adding curved lines along the entire shape, including the hook. The spacing should remain steady, and the curves should follow the candy cane’s round form. Adjust the angle slightly as you reach the curved top so the stripes naturally wrap around the bend.
- Add red and white stripes.
Finally, fill in the alternating stripes, using red for every other section, leaving the remaining ones white. This classic red-and-white pattern is what makes a candy cane really recognizable. But this is just an example of a color scheme, so you can color the candy cane stripes green, blue, or any other color.
This step-by-step drawing guide has come to an end. Now you can draw this drawing object when doing any Christmas illustrations or cards. Don’t forget to download the PDF file that contains the short version of this lesson.
