This folk art reindeer keeps things wonderfully simple. Elin Norrby painted its body as one flat forest green gouache shape on thin straight legs, topped with mustard ochre antlers. The eye is a small closed curve, the nose a dab of charcoal, and the whole animal looks content just standing there.
The brick red knitted scarf is where the warmth comes in. It wraps once around the neck, with a few stitch marks and a short fringe at the ends, and a handful of tiny snow white dots drift across the soft cream background. It is the kind of art at Christmas that feels handmade and quiet rather than loud.
It suits anyone who likes their holiday decorating gentle and a little Scandinavian, and it makes an easy gift for a friend who collects reindeer or prefers cozy, naive painting over glitter and tinsel.
As canvas wall art, it works as Christmas holiday wall art above an entry bench, in a kids' room, or on a kitchen wall from late November through January. The cream ground and muted greens sit comfortably with wood, linen and simple greenery.