Perhaps it’s my sweet tooth or my love of the holiday season, but the thought of a gingerbread house warms my heart. Around the holidays, I love to draw gingerbread houses. Drawing a house from my imagination takes away the limits of my materials and the laws of physics. I can get really creative with the structure of the house and add in all my own delicious details.
This blog post includes a step by step guide to drawing your own creative gingerbread house with guides that allow for lots of individual freedom, creativity, and mix ‘n matching! Here is a guided video tutorial as well to follow along with this lesson.
*Updated* If you would like to purchase these drawing guides along with a grading rubric, please see below.
Materials list:
This drawing can be created with a variety of art materials. Some suggestions include:
- Colored pencil on drawing paper
- Pen/ink and watercolor on watercolor paper
- Pen/ink and white charcoal/colored pencil on brown Kraft paper.
- Graphite on drawing paper
- Digital drawing
Step one // House style
Use pencil to lightly sketch the architectural style of your gingerbread house. Be sure to fill the majority of the page so you have lots of space to add intricate details later. You may choose one of the house styles provided, or mix and match to create your own creative gingerbread house! You may choose a flat 2d view or challenge yourself to show a 3d view of your house using perspective.
Need extra help on drawing the house? Follow these 4 easy steps to draw a 3d gingerbread house. *recommended for elementary*
For older, more advanced students, they could explore 1 point and 2 point perspective. Here is a cool guided video by Art with Trista.
1 point perspective house:
2 point perspective house:
Step two // Doors & Windows
Use pencil to sketch in your choice of windows and doors. Use some of these ideas for inspiration or mix ‘n match to put your own touch on it!
Step three // Sweets & Candy!
Now, the fun part! Add in a variety of delicious details to decorate your gingerbread house. Explore size variations, repetition and pattern to make your house eye catching! The more sugar, the better.
Step four // Miscellaneous details
Consider adding some final details in and around the house (such as frosting swirls, snowflakes, roof shingles and more!).
Step five // Ink and color!
The last step is to finalize your pencil drawing of the gingerbread house. I suggest outlining it with a black marker or pen. Then, you may use a medium of choice to add final marks. Suggestions include but are not limited to: colored pencil, shaded graphite, charcoal on brown paper, and watercolor or paint.
Video Tutorial:
Art Education Connections for Teachers:
Some of the key terminology that can connect with this lesson includes form, texture, variety, proportion, space, perspective, culinary art.
What is the origin of gingerbread houses? The tradition of decorating gingerbread began in Germany in the 1800’s, and became highly popularized by that eerie witches house made of sweets from the classic Brother’s Grimm tale Hansel and Gretel. Check out this quote below…
“When they came nearer they saw that the house was built of bread, and roofed with cakes, and the window was of transparent sugar.”
-Hansel and Gretel, Brothers Grimm
How about gingerbread men and women? Where did that tradition come from? According to the this PBS blog post The History of Gingerbread by writer Tori Avey, “Queen Elizabeth I is credited with the idea of decorating the cookies in this fashion, after she had some made to resemble the dignitaries visiting her court.” The article explains that the classic tale of Brother’s Grimm
Looking for a contemporary art connection? Check out the art of Swedish artist Caroline Erikkson who builds some really awe-inspiring sculptures using gingerbread as her medium!
Click below to purchase a downloadable of this 8 page .pdf document including these seven gingerbread house drawing guides along with a gingerbread house drawing grading rubric.
Thanks for checking out this blog post. If you use this lesson, please include an attribution and link back to this page. I appreciate your help and support!
I would love to see your creation if you use these steps to make a creative gingerbread house drawing of your own. Feel free to tag me on Instagram and possibly get featured in this site! Also, please follow Make a Mark Studios on Facebook to keep up with the latest posts! Thanks in advance!
–Stephanie Villiotis, creator of Make a Mark Studios
Love this fun holiday activity!! Finished product would look beautiful framed as a decoration during the holidays. Really like the way you added some historical facts, as well. Can’t wait to try this with my grandchildren… so happy I won’t have to worry about the sugary walls collapsing! 😉 thanks for all your great ideas!