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PlayOwl
A smiling green turtle walking to the right, with a dark green dome shell, a light green six-sided pattern, a round head, two stubby legs and a pointed tail.
The finished drawing.

How to draw

How to Draw a Turtle

  • Easy (level 2 of 5)
  • 12 min
  • 8 steps
  • Ages 5–9 (a guide, not a rule)
Start Drawing Draw on Screen Print

Draw on paper: Paper, Pencil. Optional: Eraser, Light and dark green crayons or markers.

Draw it on the screen

A turtle starts with its shell: a big dome sitting on a long flat band. A six-sided shape and a few straight lines make the shell pattern. The head, legs and tail come out from under the shell, so each one starts right at the shell's edge. This is a first step toward drawing animals with parts in front of other parts.

Rather color it? Print the turtle coloring page.

Step by step

  • New lines: purple, thick and glowing
  • Lines you already drew: gray
  1. Step 1 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 1 of 8 Draw a big dome for the shell, like half a circle.
  2. Step 2 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 2 of 8 Draw a long, flat band under the dome for the edge of the shell.
  3. Step 3 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 3 of 8 Draw a six-sided shape in the middle of the shell.
  4. Step 4 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 4 of 8 Draw short lines from its corners out to the edge of the shell.
  5. Step 5 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 5 of 8 Draw the neck and a round head coming out from the front of the shell.
  6. Step 6 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 6 of 8 Add a dot for the eye and a little smile.
  7. Step 7 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 7 of 8 Draw two short legs under the shell. Start each one at the bottom of the band.
  8. Step 8 diagram, with the new lines highlighted
    Step 8 of 8 Draw a little pointed tail at the back.
A smiling green turtle walking to the right, with a dark green dome shell, a light green six-sided pattern, a round head, two stubby legs and a pointed tail.

You did it!

Your drawing does not have to look like this one. Every artist draws a little differently.

Color it on screen Print a practice sheet

Tips for this drawing

Helpful hints

  • Start the dome a little left of the middle of your paper. The head needs room on the right.
  • Make the band a little longer than the dome on both ends.
  • Want a turtle hiding in its shell? Skip the head and legs and draw just the shell.

Common mistakes

  • The legs are drawn through the shell, up to the top. Start each leg at the bottom of the band. The top of the leg is hidden under the shell.
  • The shell is flat like a pancake. Make the dome tall: about half as tall as it is wide.

Make it simpler

Draw the dome, the band, a round head and two legs. Leave out the shell pattern.

Overlap

The shell is in front of the turtle's body. The head, legs and tail start at the edge of the shell, because the rest of them is hidden under it.