How to Draw a Baby Turtle Hatching (Easy Step by Step)
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A baby turtle next to its broken eggshell tells a whole story in one picture. It is built from simple shapes: a dome for the shell, a circle for the head, and curvy flippers. Even a beginner can finish it with a smile.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a baby turtle hatching step by step
How to Draw a Baby Turtle Hatching · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The shell dome
Draw a big rounded hill, like half an egg lying on its side. Close the bottom with a gently wavy line from one end of the hill to the other.
Step 3: The round head
Draw a circle on the right end of the shell, tucked a little behind the dome so they touch. This is your turtle's head.
Step 4: Two flippers
On the right, under the head, draw a small leaf shape hanging down from the shell, with a short curved line inside it. On the left, draw a long curved line that swoops down from the bottom edge of the shell.
Step 5: Top of shell pattern
Draw a short straight line down from the top of the dome. Then draw an upside-down V shape with a bend, like the top half of a stop sign, with a short leg on each side.
Step 6: Face and shell lines
Add two dots for eyes and a little smile on the head. Finish the six-sided shape in the middle of the shell, then draw lines from its corners out to the edge of the shell, plus a short line pointing down. Fill in the back flipper on the left with a rounded foot.
Step 7: The eggshell
On the left, draw a rounded cup shape like a bowl. Make the top edge zigzag up and down like a little crown of points.
Step 8: The crack
Inside the eggshell, draw a short zigzag line like a little lightning bolt to show where the egg broke open.
Step 9: The sandy ground
Draw one long wavy line across the bottom, under the egg and the turtle. Let it touch the bottom of the eggshell and the flipper.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your baby turtle hatching? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a marine biologist or how to draw a lighthouse keeper next.
Tips for drawing a baby turtle hatching
- Draw the shell dome big and let the bottom line be a little wavy. It does not need to be perfect, and a wobbly shell looks cute.
- Tuck the head circle against the end of the shell so the two shapes touch. If you draw the shell first, the head will fit right in.
- The shell pattern is a six-sided shape like a stop sign. Draw its top half first, then finish the bottom half and add the lines out to the shell edge.
Free baby turtle hatching coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this baby turtle hatching coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your baby turtle hatching drawing
Try a green shell with lighter green flippers and head, and a pale cream eggshell. For a creative twist, color the ground like a sunny beach and add a bright blue sea behind it.
Baby turtle hatching fun fact for kids
Sea turtle hatchlings dig out of their nests together and scramble toward the ocean, and most of them hatch at night.
Questions about drawing a baby turtle hatching
What shapes do I need to draw a baby turtle?
You need a half circle for the shell, a full circle for the head, and curved shapes for the flippers. A six-sided shape on the shell makes the pattern.
How do I make my turtle look cuter?
Give it two round eyes and a small smile on its round head. Wavy lines on the shell and a cracked egg beside it make it look like a brand-new baby.
How do I draw a broken eggshell?
Draw a rounded cup, then make the top edge zigzag like a crown. A little lightning bolt line inside shows the crack.
