10 Easy Ways to Draw and Paint a Turkey
Drawing a turkey is a delightful activity for kids and adults alike, especially during the fall season. For that matter, painting a turkey, creating a turkey collage, or just any artful activity involving a turkey is fun during this time of year.
Whether you’re a teacher looking for an engaging classroom project, a parent planning a fun craft session, or a teaching artist seeking inspiration, learning how to draw easy turkeys can spark creativity and bring joy. In this post, we’ll explore step-by-step instructions and ideas for creating simple drawings of turkeys, ensuring anyone can pick up a pencil and create their very own masterpiece.
Let’s dive into these fun and approachable turkey drawing techniques that even beginners can master.
Why Draw Turkeys?
Turkeys are iconic symbols of the fall season, gratitude, and the autumn season. Incorporating turkey drawings into your art projects or classroom lessons can make learning fun and festive. They’re also a wonderful way to encourage creativity while teaching kids about the significance of the season and even animal science.
From crafting cards to decorating classrooms, an easy drawing of a turkey can be used in countless creative ways. Plus, these drawing techniques are beginner-friendly, making it simple for anyone to draw an easy turkey. And, of course, if they can draw it, they can paint it!
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Draw an Easy Turkey
Let’s start with a simple, classic turkey drawing. This guide is perfect for kids and adults who want to create an adorable turkey without too much fuss. Starting with this lesson is a great way to teach line and shape as elements of visual art.
Materials Needed:
Pencil
Eraser
Paper
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Step 1: Draw the Body
Begin by drawing a large oval in the center of your paper. This will be the turkey's body. Keep it simple—no need for perfect lines.
Step 2: Add the Head
Draw a smaller circle or oval at the top of the body, overlapping slightly. This will form the turkey’s head.
Step 3: Create the Beak
In the middle of the head, draw a small triangle pointing downward. This is the turkey’s beak.
Step 4: Add the Wattle
Turkeys have a wattle—a dangling piece of skin near their beak. To draw this, make a squiggly shape hanging from one side of the beak.
Step 5: Draw the Eyes
Above the beak, draw two circles for the eyes. Add a smaller circle inside each eye and fill it in to create pupils. You can make your turkey look cute by drawing large, expressive eyes.
Step 6: Add the Tail Feathers
Behind the body, draw a series of tall, curved lines that fan out like a rainbow. These will be the turkey’s tail feathers. Keep them simple, as we’ll add detail later.
Step 7: Add Wings and Legs
Draw two small, curved lines on each side of the body for wings. Then, add two straight lines with three toes at the bottom of the body to create legs.
Step 8: Decorate the Tail Feathers
Within each tail feather, draw smaller curved lines to add texture. You can also use different colors to make the feathers vibrant and festive.
More Creative Ideas for Easy Turkey Drawings
1. Handprint Turkey Drawing
One of the easiest turkeys to draw is the classic handprint turkey. Trace your hand on a piece of paper and transform it into a turkey by adding details:
Draw a face on the thumb.
Add tail feathers to each finger.
Color the feathers in fall tones like red, orange, yellow, and brown.
This technique is perfect for young children and can be used to create adorable keepsakes.
For a fun spin on the cut out handprint turkey, paint the students’ hands and have them stamp a piece of paper. Once it dries, have them cut it out and glue to a piece of scrapbook paper. (I LOVE this pack of scrapbook paper for this project.) Then, they can add googly eyes and a construction paper beak. 👇🏻 See the pic below!
This handprint turkey was done on scrapbook paper. We added to a scrappy cardboard mat and washi/masking tape.
2. Cartoon Turkey
For a playful approach, draw a cartoon-style turkey:
Make the body and head exaggerated in size.
Add a goofy expression with big, funny eyes and a silly smile.
Use bright, bold colors for the tail feathers to make it extra cheerful.
Cartoon turkeys are ideal for kids learning to draw because they encourage creativity and humor.
3. Minimalist Turkey Drawing
If you’re short on time, a minimalist turkey drawing is a great option:
Use simple shapes like circles and triangles for the body, head, and beak.
Add just a few lines for tail feathers.
Keep the design clean and uncluttered.
This type of drawing works well for greeting cards or simple table decorations.
4. Realistic Turkey
For older kids and adults who want more of a challenge, try a realistic turkey drawing:
Study pictures of real turkeys to observe their feather patterns and textures.
Use shading techniques to add depth and dimension to the feathers and body.
Experiment with colored pencils or watercolors to achieve a lifelike effect.
Tips for Drawing Easy Turkeys
Start with Basic Shapes
Break the turkey down into simple shapes like circles, ovals, and triangles. This makes it easier to sketch out the overall form before adding details. (Read this blog post for more info on drawing animals with basic shapes.)Keep It Fun
The goal is to enjoy the process, not to create a perfect drawing. Encourage kids to add their own creative touches, like hats, bow ties, or fun backgrounds.Use References
If you’re struggling to draw an easy turkey, look at reference images or tutorials. There are plenty of resources online to help you visualize the steps.Experiment with Colors
Turkeys are known for their colorful plumage, so don’t be afraid to get creative with your color choices. Use bright reds, oranges, and yellows to make your turkey pop.Practice Makes Perfect
The more you draw, the easier it will become. Practice drawing turkeys in different poses or styles to improve your skills and expand your creativity.
Fun Turkey Drawing Activities for Kids
Turkey Coloring Pages
Print out simple outlines of turkeys for kids to color. These can serve as inspiration for their own drawings or as a fun standalone activity. You can get a turkey coloring page with my Turkey Dice Roll Game.
Turkey Drawing Contest
Host a friendly drawing competition where kids (or adults!) create their best turkey designs. Offer prizes for categories like “Most Creative” or “Silliest Turkey.”
Collaborative Turkey Mural
On a large sheet of paper, draw a giant turkey outline and let everyone add their own feathers, patterns, and colors. This activity works well for classrooms or family gatherings. (The Turkey Collage Art project below would be amazing as a collaborative turkey mural!)
Turkey Collage Art: A Creative Twist on Turkey Drawings
If you’re looking to take your turkey art project to the next level, try creating a turkey collage! This project combines drawing, painting, and collage techniques for a truly dynamic and textured artwork. It’s an excellent way to explore mixed media with students while celebrating the colors and textures of turkeys in a unique way.
Here’s how we made this vibrant turkey collage:
Materials Needed
Tempera paints in white, pink, turquoise, yellow, peach, and brown (Read this for everything you need to know about tempera paint.)
Paintbrushes (Larger, coarse paintbrushes like the ones linked are best for this.)
Scissors
Googly eyes
Glue
Printed photos of turkey feathers (or a downloadable freebie - Coming Soon!)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Turkey Collage
Create the Background
Start by preparing the background for the collage. Mix white and bright tempera paints, such as pink, turquoise, and yellow, to create a fun and colorful palette. Using bubble wrap as a stamp, press the paint onto the white tagboard to form a textured, vibrant background. Let the background dry completely before moving on.Draw and Paint the Turkey
While the background is drying, have students draw the turkey’s head and body separately on another piece of paper. Encourage them to make the shapes large enough to stand out against the colorful background.Use tempera paint to bring the turkey to life.
Mix peach and brown paints for the body, allowing students to experiment with blending to achieve a soft, natural tone.
Paint the head in a contrasting color for a striking effect.
Outline and Cut Out the Turkey
Once the painted turkey pieces are dry, outline them with black permanent markers. The bold black lines help define the shapes and make the design pop. Carefully cut out the head and body pieces.Assemble the Turkey
Attach the turkey’s head to its body using glue, and add googly eyes to the face. Googly eyes are a playful addition that brings a touch of whimsy to the project—they’re always a hit with students!Create Collage Feathers
This is the highlight of the project! Instead of drawing or painting tail feathers, use photos of actual turkey feathers. I printed photos I found online and gave them to the students to tear or cut into feather shapes.Encourage a mix of neat cutting and organic tearing to create variety in the shapes.
Glue these feather pieces in a fan shape behind the turkey’s body, overlapping them slightly for depth and texture.
Finish the Collage
Once all the elements are ready, glue the turkey onto the colorful bubble wrap-stamped background. The combination of textures, colors, and real feather images makes the finished piece visually stunning and full of personality.
Why I Love This Project
This turkey collage art project goes beyond traditional drawing and painting. It gives students the chance to explore mixed media techniques, work with textures, and experiment with composition. Plus, the use of photos of real turkey feathers adds an unexpected element that ties the artwork to real-life details.
And let’s not forget the googly eyes—they bring a sense of fun and playfulness that kids absolutely adore!
Coming Soon: Turkey Feather Freebie
⭐️ To make this project even easier for you, I’m working on creating a free downloadable set of turkey feather images. These high-quality feather photos will be perfect for tearing and cutting into shapes for your collages. Keep an eye out for the freebie—it’ll be available soon on Party in the Art Room!
Frequently Asked Questions About Drawing Turkeys
Q: How can I teach and draw a turkey easy for kids? -Whit S.
A: This is a great question. Thank you for asking, Whit. Here are my thoughts: Stick to simple shapes like ovals, circles, and lines. Focus on creating a recognizable outline and let kids have fun decorating with colorful feathers and details. Check out the 5 Best Ways to Draw Simple Animals for more info.
Q: Are there easy turkeys to draw for beginners? -B.Carnathan
A: Absolutely! This is a great question, B. Start with the basic steps outlined above, and don’t worry about making it perfect. Even the simplest turkey drawing can be cute and festive. I like to use this lesson to help students draw turkeys. The prompts just make is so easy to teach!
Q: What’s the easiest way to add personality to a turkey drawing? -Riley V.
A: Play with facial expressions and accessories. Add a pilgrim hat, a scarf, or even a speech bubble with a funny thankful message. Adding patterns as a design element is a really fun way to jazz up a work of art. Read about how I do it, here.
Q: Can I turn my turkey drawing into a craft? -Penny K.
A: Yes! Penny, cut out your drawing and use it as part of a card, garland, or decoration. You can also combine it with other materials like construction paper, googly eyes, and glitter. Here’s a helpful read about art vs crafts to help you better understand the context for this question.
Conclusion
Drawing a turkey doesn’t have to be complicated. With these easy steps and creative ideas, you can create simple drawings of turkeys that are festive and fun. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, the key is to enjoy the process and let your imagination take flight.
So grab your pencils, paper, and coloring supplies, and try out these easy turkey drawings today!
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Amanda Koonlaba, Ed.S.
Hi! I’m Amanda. Teaching children to be creative thinkers is my greatest joy. I’m here to help you bring that same joy to your classroom.
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