Reindeer Crafts and Christmas Cards Using Reindeer Art from Major Art Museums

Reindeer crafts and Christmas cards are easy to make when you get reindeer art. These are fine art images of reindeer from 4 major art museums plus ideas for how to get and use them.

Reindeer Art from the British Art Museum: Go prehistoric with your reindeer crafts and Christmas cards. This sculpture of two swimming reindeer is 13,000 years old and carved from the tip of a mammoth tusk. It was found in a rock shelter in Montastruc, Tarn et Garonne, France. Placed one behind the other, these deer are obviously swimming with their legs extended, noses pointed up, and antlers tilted back. Intricately detailed, it doesn't appear to have any practical use so it probably had a spiritual meaning.

Reindeer Art from the US National Gallery of Art: For a Pennsylvania German look, use Carousel Reindeer for your Christmas cards. This watercolor by Michael Riccitelli (1939) shows a gently rearing reindeer with a red blanket and saddle and a sparkly bridle ornament.

Reindeer Art from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art: If you prefer your folk art Hungarian style, there's a Textile Design of Couples, Houses, and Reindeer by Elza Sunderland (1903-1991). With red and green accents it's perfect for Christmas crafts, and the all-over print would look great as gift wrap and more.

Reindeer Art from the Metropolitan Museum of Art: For a beautiful work and intriguing legend, turn to St. Eustace by German artist Anselm Kiefer (1945). This watercolor is based on Saint Eustace, a second-century Christian martyr and former Roman soldier. While hunting, he encountered a stag with a crucifix between his antlers who addressed him in the name of Christ and converted him to Christianity. Here, Kiefer works from a photograph of a reindeer he took in Norway, and replaces the crucifix with a painter's palette.

Reindeer Crafts and Christmas Cards Using Reindeer Art: You can use a digital image or purchase a high-resolution image of almost anything in art museum collections from their websites or gift shops. Most art museums are much older than the Internet so there are many more images available than you see online. Curatorial departments may even photograph something for you upon request. With the images, you can make regular or email reindeer cards for Christmas, and reindeer crafts including Christmas tree ornaments, gift wrapping paper, and centerpieces.

By purchasing reindeer art you can support art museums and make beautiful reindeer crafts and reindeer cards for Christmas.