How to Draw a Turtle – Easy Step by Step Drawing

It’s drawing time!

Today, we’re going to learn how to draw a super cute turtle in just a few easy steps. This turtle drawing tutorial is simple and fun, perfect for kids, beginners, or anyone who loves drawing animals in a cartoon style.

Turtles are gentle creatures with big round shells, tiny legs, and adorable little faces and today, we’ll draw one with a happy smile and a patterned shell.

In just 6 simple steps, you’ll create a happy little turtle with a smiling face, patterned shell, and tiny tail. By the end, you can download a free printable worksheet at the end to help you follow along or practice again later.

What You’ll Need:

• Plain paper
• Pencil or black marker
• Eraser (just in case)
• Coloring tools (crayons, markers, or colored pencils)
• Our printable step-by-step guide (download it at the end!)

Let’s Start Drawing Your Turtle

Step 1: Draw the Turtle’s Head

Start by drawing a small oval near the top left side of your paper. The oval should be slightly sideways, like a jellybean lying down. This is going to be the turtle’s head.

Pro Tip: Leave space behind the head, that’s where we’ll draw the shell.

Step 2: Add a Friendly Face

Inside the head, draw two small circles for eyes. Add a tiny circle inside each eye and color it in for a shiny, cartoon look.
Then, draw a curved line for a smile, make it big and cheerful. You can even add tiny ovals on each cheek for blush marks.

Step 3: Draw the Turtle’s Big Shell

Behind the head, draw a large oval or egg shape that tilts sideways a bit. This is the turtle’s shell. It should be much bigger than the head.

Step 4: Add a Pattern to the Shell

Inside the big oval, draw a rainbow-shaped curve at the top and some crisscrossing lines or hexagon shapes underneath. This gives your turtle a patterned shell that looks like real turtle armor.

Step 5: Draw the Legs and Tiny Tail

Draw four stubby legs under the shell, two near the front and two at the back. Then, add a tiny triangle at the back for the tail.

Step 6: Connect the Head and Add Details

Draw two short lines from the head to the shell to make the neck. You can also add toes, extra lines, or even little bubbles around the turtle for fun.

Time to Color

Use greens, browns, or get creative with rainbow colors. Turtles don’t mind being colorful. Add a blue background if you want your turtle to look like it’s swimming in the sea.

Turtle Fun Facts

Want to learn more about turtles? Check out these fun facts:

• Turtles can live for over 100 years! Some species live even longer than that.
• They carry their homes on their backs. Their shell is part of their skeleton and protects them.
• Turtles can live on land or in water. Some turtles are amazing swimmers and can hold their breath for a long time.
• They are super slow walkers — but that’s okay, slow and steady wins the race!
• Baby turtles are called hatchlings, and they are super tiny and adorable.

Isn’t that cool? Maybe your drawing is just the start of a whole turtle adventure!

Gallery Time: Share Your Turtle Drawing

We’d love to see your adorable turtle artwork. Ask a parent, teacher, or grown-up to share your drawing with us.

Tag @drawtwist on social media or email it to us to be featured in our Turtle Artist Gallery.
Your drawing might inspire another young artist and brighten someone’s day. We can’t wait to see your turtle.

Want to Practice Again?

You can download our free turtle drawing printable below. It includes:

• Step-by-step drawing boxes
• Space to trace and draw
• A cute turtle to color in your own way

Click the link below to download and keep creating!