How to Draw a Duck and a Turtle (Easy Step by Step)
A duck riding on a turtle's back is a sweet, silly scene, and it is built from simple shapes. The duck has a round head, a little beak and a bump of a tail, and the turtle has a wide shell, a round head and two stubby feet. Drawing one animal on top of the other is a good way to practice overlapping shapes.
- Medium
- 15 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 duck and a turtle step by step
How to Draw a Duck and a Turtle · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 3 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The duck's outline
Start at the beak on the left and draw a little pointed beak, then curve up and over for a round head. Go down the back and add a small rounded bump for the tail on the right, then draw the front of the body down the left side, leaving the bottom open.
Step 3: The turtle's shell
Below the duck, draw a short curved line across for the top of the shell. Then draw a long curved band underneath it that sweeps out to the right and ends in a rounded tip.
Step 4: The turtle's head
On the left, draw a big round head that tucks in beside the shell. Let the line dip into a small bump at the bottom for a chin.
Step 5: The turtle's feet
Under the shell, draw two soft rounded feet, one near the front and one near the back. Join them with a short flat line between them.
Step 6: Shell sections
Draw a few short lines going up and down across the shell to split it into sections. Put some in the middle and some toward the right side.
Step 7: The duck's wing
Inside the duck's body, draw a curved smile shape for the wing. Finish it with a little hook at the top right end.
Step 8: The duck's eye
Near the beak, draw a small round dot for the eye. Color it in completely.
Step 9: The turtle's face
Draw a small round dot for the turtle's eye on its head. Near the left edge below it, add a tiny short line for a smile.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your duck and a turtle? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a duck and a turtle
- Draw the duck first, then draw the shell so its top edge tucks up under the duck's belly. That makes the duck look like it is sitting on the turtle.
- Keep the turtle's shell wide and low. If it comes out too tall, it will look more like a snail.
- Make the two turtle feet soft, rounded bumps. Simple shapes look cuter than feet with lots of detail.
Free duck and a turtle coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this duck and a turtle 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 duck and a turtle drawing
Try a bright yellow duck with an orange beak and wing, and a green turtle with a lighter green band around the shell. For a creative twist, give the shell sections different shades of green.
Duck and a turtle fun fact for kids
A turtle's shell is part of its skeleton. It is joined to the turtle's backbone and ribs, so a turtle can never climb out of it.
Questions about drawing a duck and a turtle
What shapes do I need to draw a duck and a turtle?
You need a rounded outline for the duck's head and body, a curved band for the turtle's shell, and a big circle for the turtle's head. Small bumps make the beak, tail and feet.
How do I make my duck and turtle look cuter?
Keep the eyes small and simple, and give the turtle a tiny smile. Round, soft shapes look friendlier than pointy ones.
How do I draw one animal sitting on top of another?
Draw the top animal first, then draw the lower animal so its top edge starts just under the first one. The top animal will look like it is resting on the other.
