Anyone can learn how to draw sea turtles with a few simple steps. With their gorgeous shells and big eyes, sea turtles make for an incredibly captivating subject—you don’t need to be an expert to begin! Before you know it, you’ll be able to recreate these gentle creatures on paper with ease.
First, start off by sketching the turtle’s head, with its realistic details and distinct point down the middle. Follow the outlines of the head with light, feathery strokes of your pencil—let the subtle textures flow naturally in the turtle’s features. Don’t forget to take your time while drawing the eye, ensuring it has two distinct and irregular shapes which will give your turtle its irresistibly sweet, sleepy expression.
Next, you’ll want to draw the body. Start by creating a curved line to form the top shell, adding a wavy line at the bottom to make it look more realistic. Then, draw washy lines around the turtle’s body, avoiding the round outlines you created for the top shell.
At this point, you’ll need to work on making your turtle look three-dimensional. Draft the details on the boundaries of the shells, keeping your hand steady and carefully following their rounded edges with your pencil. For extra effect, make the spine of the turtle a bit darker—it will help it stand out from the background and make your turtle look more realistic.
Now, your turtle is almost ready for coloring. Shade in the top shell and draw thin lines underneath the turtle as if to bring out the shine and texture of the shell. To make it look even more realistic, draw small points around the outlines of the turtle to give it a deeper feel.
Finally, your turtle is ready for coloring. Start by sketching in the basic head and shell outlines, then fill in the various shades of the sea turtle’s features. Use a mix of dark and light blues and greens to shape the contours of its back, making sure to make the belly of the turtle a bit whiter to show its distinct look. To make your project really come alive, include contrasting purple, orange and even yellow to add bright accents.
And you’re done! You’ve just drawn a beautiful sea turtle! With its realistic details, even an amateur-level artist can bring a scaly creature to life. Whether you’re drawing a sea turtle for pleasure or for a school project, you’re sure to find joy in creating an animal that is so unique.
Once you’ve perfected the steps to draw a sea turtle, try mixing it up and adding extra details like kelp in the background or its favorite snack placed in front of it. There’s no limit to what you can create when you put your imagination to work. Unleash the creative artist within you and make sure you have landed the best result you could’ve wished for.
Now that you know the basics, you can always go back and add extra changes to your turtle. For example, you can draw much bigger eyes, or place small bubbles around your turtle for a magical effect. With a bit of creativity, you can tweak and customize your sea turtle so it expresses your individual style, providing a perfect portrait of an aquatic friend.
Finally, with a few simple supplies, a bit of patience and some practice, you, too, can draw a stunningly realistic sea turtle! Gather your tools: a pencil, paper, eraser and some color pencils, and start exploring all the unique possibilities that come with bringing a sea turtle to life.
