Finished drawing of a turtle hiding in its shell

Watch it draw itself · tap to replay

How to Draw a Turtle Hiding in Its Shell

13 steps · Medium · about 10 min

Draw a turtle hiding in its shell in 13 easy steps, about 10 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: big dome shell.

Step 1: Big dome shell
In the middle of your paper draw a big wide dome, like an upside-down bowl.
Tip Make it wider than it is tall.
Step 2: Round doorway
Low on the left draw a big circle with a smaller circle inside. Inside that, draw a head peeking up.
Tip Rub out the dome line inside the big circle.
Step 3: Peeking eyes
On the head draw 2 big oval eyes with black dots, and a little smile under them.
Tip Leave a tiny white shine in each eye.
Step 4: The rim
Start behind the doorway. Draw a band along the bottom of the dome, with a round end at the back.
Tip The band pokes out a little past the dome.
Step 5: Tummy plate
Rule the ground line. Under the rim draw the flat tummy, sitting on the ground.
Step 6: Toes peeking out
Under the rim draw 2 stubby feet standing on the ground. Add 2 toe lines on each.
Tip Only the feet show. The legs are tucked inside.
Step 7: Tail tip
At the back, under the rim, draw a small pointy tail tip.
Tip Fat at the rim, pointy at the tip.
Step 8: One hexagon
In the middle of the dome draw a hexagon standing on a point, like a honeycomb cell.
Tip A hexagon has 6 sides.
Step 9: Shell plates
From each of the 6 corners draw a straight line out to the edge of the dome.
Tip Stop each line at the dome, the rim or the doorway.
Step 10: Green and cream
Colour the face, the 2 feet and the tail light green. Colour the tummy plate cream.
Tip Leave the eyes white.
Step 11: Tan rim
Colour the rim and the ring round the doorway tan.
Step 12: Brown shell
Colour the whole dome brown.
Step 13: Dark doorway
Colour the doorway dark grey around the face. Your turtle is hiding inside!