All of the lessons above also include the free Printable Practice sheets that were included with this one.
Turkey Drawing
Today, let’s try Turkey Drawing! In this post you will find step by step instructions for creating an Easy Turkey drawing in just 7 steps. This fun lesson was scanned from a vintage children’s book in my collection. At the bottom of the post you will find a printable practice worksheet that you can print out, with some blank space included, so that you can practice right on the page. Practice drawing these and then create a whole flock of Turkeys if you like! You can print out as many of the worksheets as you want to share with your Family, Sunday School Class, Classroom, Creative friends meet up, Senior Center and more. Now let’s get drawing! For Non Commercial Use.
Kids or grown ups alike can follow these simple steps with this Turkey Drawing guide! I would recommend creating your drawing with a pencil, as you can erase if you have any mistakes. But you can always draw over it with an ink Pen or marker when you are done, to define it some more. You might find our Drawing Supplies for Beginners Post HERE useful. Have fun creating these simple sketches!
Turkey Drawing Step 1
Step 1: First let’s draw a circular guideline. (Make sure you draw the circle in pencil, as you will be erasing it later) You can use a lid from a jar, or other household container, and trace around it to get a perfect circle. Draw the Turkey’s eye towards the top of the circle and off to the left a bit.
Step 2
Step 2: Next add a curved line, that looks like a backwards “S”, for his head and neck.
Step 3
Step 3: Now you’ll sketch in another curved line to define his wing area and a second one to create the outside portion of his neck.
Step 4
Step 4: Sketch in a few more curves as shown above to further define his wings and body.
Step 5
Step 5: Now add a zig zag line for his tail feathers and draw in some feet.
Step 6
Step 6: We’re starting to add in more details now. Sketch in some lines to define the tail feathers and add his gobble. There are also a few more curved lines added to his wing to create more feathers there.
Step 7: At this point you can erase the circular guidelines. Then finish your drawing with the additional details as shown above. These extra marks will really give the feathers a more realistic look.
The only thing left to do now is to color in your beautiful Turkey! Go grab your markers, Crayola crayons, oil pastels or color pencils, or whatever you have on hand, and finish your artwork masterpiece! This one is colored in with natural wild Turkey colors, but you can let your creativity go wild and use whatever colors you like! You get to decide!
Turkey Drawing for Thanksgiving: A Step-by-Step Directed Lesson for Kids
Today, I am sharing step-by-step instructions on teaching a turkey directed drawing as a Thanksgiving art idea. In Canada, we celebrate in October and finished these cute turkeys last month. I just had to share it with you all so you can try them.
Those who know me and read my blog know I LOVE DIRECTED DRAWING! I love the results you get, and all my students feel successful when they see how to draw step-by-step. Below are the directions I gave my students; I love how they turned out!!
Turkey Directed Drawing Step-by-Step Guide
I used my large chart stand for this art activity, but you could use your projector or other technology to project the image large enough for all to see. You can grab the FREE instructions at the end of this post.
- Each person is given a large piece of white art paper and asked to turn it in portrait style. They can use a pencil and eraser (sparingly) to draw each step as I demo each step.
- Start with the head shape. I explained it should look like an upside-down V shape.
- Add a curved line across the upper part of the head.
- Add two circles close together for the eyes. I let them choose the direction the irises are pointing.
- Add the turkey waddle to the side of the head. I explain that it’s a squiggle line down and back up.
- Add a big circle for the body under the head.
7. Draw on two legs under the circle. They can go in whichever direction they choose.
8. Add two wings on the side of the body, like three fingers on a hand.
9. Draw the back feathers starting on top of the head, like upside-down U’s, and work their way around each side. Make sure to connect them with the body, not just the head!
Voila! They will LOVE their adorable and silly-looking turkey drawings!
Turkey Drawing Final Touches
With a Sharpie marker or skinny black felt, I have them carefully trace over all the pencil lines. I have also seen people trace using crayons with good results. They should erase the pencil lines with a good (white) eraser.
After, it’s time to paint with watercolors.
I give them a few color guidelines.
- Body: brown
- Waddle: red
- The rest was up to them.
- Then, I encouraged them to create colorful back feathers. I also had them use a background color they hadn’t used yet to create contrast.
This is one of my favorites (It looks like an evil ninja turkey)!
I created a “Turkey Time” bulletin board with watercolor turkeys and some Thanksgiving writing to display our adorable turkeys.
I love how they all look unique and different! Cute & colorful!
FREE Printable Turkey Drawing Directions
Grab the FREE printable instructions to teach kids how to draw their turkeys for Thanksgiving and fall.
Click the image below to grab a copy!
This Turkey Drawing is included in the Directed Drawing Mats.
Add directed drawings to your weekly lesson plans to help children follow directions and build drawing skills.
There are five different directed drawings included in each month of Drawing Mats!
Do you like this activity and want more directed drawings?
Directed drawing art activities help kids produce masterpieces and build confidence. This guide lists directed drawing resources, suggested materials, and FREE step-by-step tutorials.
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