Santa portrait for cards and backgrounds

A cozy, intimate Santa portrait designed for backgrounds and cards places him low and centered, cropped from just below the chest upward, rendered in a warm, semi-realistic 3D-illustration hybrid with smooth, rounded forms. He looks straight into the viewer’s eyes with a soft, listening expression, eyebrows slightly lifted and mouth gently closed as if he’s attentively hearing someone’s wish. Both hands are brought up close to his chest, fingers interlaced in a relaxed clasp, elbows tucked in, creating a compact, calm gesture that contrasts with his large, expressive eyes. His iconic red coat and white fur collar sit against a spacious, minimal backdrop that fills the upper third and side areas of the image: a simple vertical gradient from creamy white at the bottom to a muted, foggy green at the top, with faint, barely-there hints of soft circles suggesting distant lights. A warm, subtle key light from the upper right highlights his forehead, nose, and knuckles, while gentle, cool-toned shadows under his beard and hands keep the overall mood soothing and low-contrast. The ample negative space above and around him remains intentionally bare of decorations, logos, or lettering, offering a calm, flexible field for future copy while his attentive gaze creates a strong emotional connection with the viewer.