How to draw a turtle
A turtle carries its house on its back. Seven steps. Get a pencil and paper, and tap Next for each line.
Step 1 of 7. Draw a big dome for the shell.
All 7 steps
Here is every step at once. The blue lines are the new ones; the dark lines are already on your paper. Draw lightly at first, so you can rub out a line you don’t like.
1. Draw a big dome for the shell.
2. Draw a flat band along the bottom of the shell.
3. Draw a shape with six sides in the middle.
4. Join it to the edge of the shell with lines.
5. Draw a round head poking out at the front.
6. Add a dot eye and a smile.
7. Draw four short legs and a tiny pointy tail.
A tip for drawing a turtle
The shell is a dome like half a ball, sitting on a flat band. The pattern starts with one shape in the middle and lines out to the edge, like a spider web. The head and legs come out from under the band, so they look like they can pull back in.
Change it up
Once your turtle is down, make it yours:
- Colour every part of the shell a different colour.
- Draw it swimming, with flippers.
- Add a little snail racing it.
Draw another
More in animals, or see all 40 things to draw. Want to draw freehand instead? The Art Studio has crayons, paint and a fridge to hang it on.
How it was made: Peabody drew this turtle in code, line by line, from its own shapes; it is not traced from anyone’s lesson or picture, and it is nobody’s character. Checked 6 November 2026.