Santa close-up portrait for cards

A bright, cinematic close-up portrait of Santa designed for social posts and greeting cards frames him on the left side of the image from chest up, rendered in a modern, stylized 3D-illustration hybrid with smooth surfaces and soft, rounded shapes. He leans toward the viewer with excited energy, eyes wide and sparkling as he looks straight into the camera, mouth open mid-exclamation, both hands raised near his face in a big “ta-da” gesture with fingers spread and palms partly facing forward, as though he has just revealed some surprising holiday news. His classic red suit and hat are simplified and graphic, with dense, plush white fur that catches soft highlights, while his gloves are a deep, muted green that harmonizes with the overall palette. The right side and upper area of the canvas are dedicated to copy space: a large, uncluttered background made of a smooth diagonal gradient from creamy white at the top-left to a muted teal at the bottom-right, with only a few very soft, oversized bokeh circles in the distance to hint at festive lights. A gentle warm key light from the upper right shapes Santa’s face and hands, contrasted by a subtle cooler ambient fill from the left, ensuring his silhouette is clear without harsh shadows or strong rim lighting. The background remains slightly desaturated and minimal, with no decorations, text, or symbols, making the open right half and upper band perfect for flexible headlines and messages while keeping all surfaces completely unlettered.