How to Draw a Turkey Step by Step

As Thanksgiving approaches, many people look for fun crafts and art projects to get into the holiday spirit. Drawing a turkey is a classic activity that even beginning artists can master. With simple shapes and some key details, anyone can learn how to draw a cute turkey step by step.

Supplies You’ll Need

To draw a turkey, you’ll need just a few basic art supplies:

• Paper – Construction paper, drawing paper, or mixed media paper all work well.

• Pencil – Use a regular #2 pencil or a mechanical pencil. An eraser is also good to have on hand.

• Coloring supplies – Crayons, colored pencils, markers, or paint can be used.

Shaping the Body

Let’s start with the turkey’s body. Lightly sketch a large oval shape near the center of your paper. This will be the main body.

Next, draw a smaller oval behind the body. This will be the tail area. Connect the body and tail together with two slightly curved lines.

Once you have these basic shapes down, it will start to look like a turkey body!

Adding the Head and Neck

The turkey’s head and neck help give it some character. To draw the head, make a circle toward the front of the body oval.

Connect the head to the body with an S-shaped neck. Drawing the neck at an angle pointing upward gives the turkey a proud stance.

Drawing the Wings and Legs

A turkey wouldn’t be complete without its wings and legs!

For the wings, draw two wide curves coming off the sides of the body. Add an oval shape at the end of each wing.

The legs can be simple straight lines coming down from the body oval. Draw the feet as slightly curved lines or ovals at the bottom of the legs.

Add some basic triangle shapes for tail feathers behind the tail.

Finishing Touches

Now for the fun part – adding all the details that make your turkey come to life!

• Face – Draw a small triangle beak, two dots for eyes, and a wattle (the red flap under the beak).

• Feathers – Cover the body, wings, and tail with feather shapes. Make them in different sizes and angles.

• Fanned tail – Refine the tail feathers into a hand fan shape.

• Shading – Use your coloring supplies to shade the drawing. Add shadows and definition.

• Background – Draw autumn leaves, pumpkins, etc. in the background scene.

Sign your name and you’ll have a complete turkey drawing! With each step, you’re gradually transforming simple shapes into a cute character.

Tips for Turkey Drawing Success

Here are some helpful tips to make your turkey drawing turn out great:

• Start with light pencil lines until you have the main shapes placed. Darken them later.

• Look at turkey photos for inspiration on shapes, proportions, and details.

• Play around with different poses – standing, sitting, looking up, etc.

• Use cotton swabs or tissue to blend and soften colored pencil shading.

• Draw the basic shapes even if you plan to paint your turkey. It helps with placement.

• Make the neck thicker where it connects to the body. It will look more natural.

• Vary the sizes and angles of the feathers to make them look more realistic.

• Add some personality with expressive eyes, fun leg poses, or a scene.

• Take your time and enjoy the drawing process! Mistakes can be erased.

With a little practice, you’ll be amazed at the turkeys you can create. Grab some supplies and try this fun art activity. Before you know it, you’ll have a flock of turkeys drawn in your unique style!

Using Drawing Apps and Tutorials

If you want some extra guidance, there are great options for step-by-step lessons. Drawing apps for mobile devices make it easy to follow along.

For example, the Da Vinci Eye app lets you trace tutorials on your smartphone or tablet. As you follow each step, the turkey drawing comes together.

Online video tutorials are another great resource. Sites like YouTube offer in-depth lessons for how to draw cartoon turkeys, realistic turkeys, and more. Artists explain each part of the process so you can learn at your own pace.

Drawing along with an expert is a foolproof way to develop your skills. Apps and tutorials break down intimidating subjects like turkeys into straightforward steps. With a little help, anyone can learn to draw a turkey!

Creative Variations

Once you’ve mastered the basics, have fun with your turkey drawing and make it your own. Here are some creative variations to try:

Cartoon Turkey

Give your turkey an animated look by making the features more exaggerated. Use simple, geometric shapes and bright colors. Add details like sneakers or a pilgrim hat for a silly character.

Abstract Turkey

Ditch the realistic look and use bold shapes and colors to create a modern, abstract turkey.Emphasize interesting textures, patterns, and negative space instead of anatomical accuracy.

Wild Turkey

For a more lifelike look, pay close attention to the feather patterns and proportions of a wild turkey. Reference photos to capture the true appearance of these unique birds.

Turkey Portrait

Do a close-up drawing of just the turkey’s head. Focus on all the details of the eyes, beak, wattle, and surrounding feathers. Creating that texture will really make it look real.

The possibilities are endless when doodling turkeys. As you practice, you’ll develop a style all your own. Drawing turkeys is the perfect way to celebrate Thanksgiving in an artistic way. Gobble gobble and get creative!

turkey – 28
draw – 16
step – 15
shape – 7
detail – 6
wing – 5
tail – 5
feather – 5
body – 4
neck – 4
leg – 4
head – 4
color – 3
pencil – 3
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tutorial – 2