Portrait Of Santa (1961)

[Music] la hello my name is Ralph huet welcome to my  studio well the time of the year again is upon us when we all become aware of a fellow with  a white beard and wearing a red suit from head to toe since his spirit is so much a part of our  Lives during this season I thought you would be interested in getting better acquainted with  him now to the children he means one thing and to the parents quite another but to everyone  he represents the spirit of kindliness and generosity if you will come with me to the easel  I have set up we'll get started with with his portrait while I'm sketching in his head and figure I'd like to tell you  something about his family tree a long long time ago about 300 ad there  lived a good and kindly Man by the name of Nicholas he was born in patara which was a town  in Asia Minor when he became an adult he was made the bishop of a town close by called Myra  he was credited with many miracles of healing but because of his strong Christian beliefs he  was thrown into jail for a short time there's one story that is told that on three successive  nights he tossed bags of gold Through the Windows of three maidens who did not have the money for  a dowy without this gold they would not be able to marry this story it is believed started  the custom of giving gifts at Christmas time the Dutch also adapted the custom of the eve  of St Nicholas which was a time for secretly giving gifts to loved ones and friends there  was also another tradition in Holland that if a boy or girl had not been good during  the year Canta Claus would only leave a bundle of sticks in their shoes Canta  Claus by the way is a Dutch word for St Nicholas incidentally I'd like to explain  to you how Canta Claus or St Nicholas got his American name when the Dutch came to  America and founded New Amsterdam which is now New York City they brought with them many  Traditions including their Christmas tradition of Canta Claus all the english- speaking children  tried to pronounce the Dutch name for the saint but they said it so quickly and excitedly  that Santa Claus changed to Santa Claus or Santa [Music] in other countries St Nicholas  has taken other forms in England for example many of the children Believe In Father Christmas  who brings them gifts to them he is a gentleman dressed in a long tail coat and a square beaver  hat German children speak of Chris kingle and in France he is known as per Noel or father  Christmas but to all children in Christian lands he stands for the kindly spirit that the  Christ child brought into the world [Music] uh-oh Santa doesn't look very happy it's my fault  Santa I must have been paying more attention to talking about about you than drawing you can  you look just a little happier come on now smile Ah that's much better now if you  could do a little jig or something with a bounce we would have a much happier jollier  [Applause] [Music] portrait that's great now if you'll do that routine once more  and when I say stop you hold that pose now get ready to stop that's perfect just hold  still and I'll make some paint for the [Music] background you notice that I'm painting the  background with a warm gray color the main reason I chose this color is to give Santa the  best possible chance to look bright and gay also the more simple the background the easier it will  be to see Santa if we can remember that in art as in other walks of life Simplicity and honesty are  of the utmost importance later on when I paint His Brilliant red coat and his white beard he should  stand out from the background and be full of life now that the background is nearly completed  let's start thinking about that red coat first I'll dip the brush into some cadmium red and  add just a pinch of white to lighten the Hue or color this red will be used for the main  areas of his hat and coat I suppose we all have wondered why red and white are the  accepted colors for Santa Claus well many years ago when St Nick was very young these  two colors were associated with the Bishops of the church that's a good enough reason I'm  sure but I to think that the red represents the gay happy feeling of life itself red is also  a color with a lot of Vitality maybe that's the reason so many people like it of course the  spirit of this little character is the essence of warmth fun Vitality love and generosity  all wrapped up in a one round little package next I'll mix a darker shade of red for the  shadows and wrinkles in his costume this color will help give us the form in our round  little fellow I mentioned that it would be used to suggest form or roundness well this is my  opportunity to give him a round little belly that shakes when he lasts like a bowl full  of jelly next we'll have to paint your boots an elf like yourself can't go sliding down  chimneys where wearing white [Music] boots well Santa you've been very patient shall I  paint your head next I guess you've noticed that Santa doesn't talk very much of course  when you're posing for a portrait you should be very quiet aside from that though Santa is  the kind of person who spends so much of his time working and doing nice things for other  people that he has very little time to talk now we're ready to paint your features  Mr Claus eyes first then nose and mouth let's see how does that go oh yes his  eyes they must twinkle his dimples be merry and his cheeks are like roses and  his nose like a cherry his Dro little mouth is drawn up like a bow and the  beard on his chin is as white as the snow just a few more touches and we'll be  through Santa and I'll bet you'll be happy about that uh-oh I didn't paint the fur trim  on your coat or the tassel on your cap just a second and I'll get that done then we'll really  be finished and ready for fun hold very still now now we are finished there you are does the  result make you [Music] happy oh boy you really are happy to be freed from that canvas hey  Santa Santa come on back it seems to me that the least you could do is give us a little act  or something to show your appreciation [Music] [Music] a [Applause] Jee Merry Christmas [Music] Merry Christmas [Music]