Gathering Your Supplies
Essential Tools
Before we begin, let’s make sure you have everything you need. Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of expensive materials to bring your Thanksgiving turkey to life. This is a project that celebrates simplicity and accessibility.
The most essential tool is a humble **pencil**. A standard HB or #2 pencil works perfectly well. These pencils are great because they’re versatile, offering a range of shades from light to dark, making them excellent for creating outlines and adding shading.
Next, a good **eraser** is essential. Even the most experienced artists make mistakes. A clean eraser will allow you to gently correct any lines and refine your drawing as you go. A kneaded eraser can be especially handy as you can shape it to erase specific areas or remove lighter marks.
The canvas for your masterpiece will be a piece of **paper**. A simple sketchbook or even a regular sheet of printer paper will suffice. Feel free to experiment with different paper textures, but a smooth surface will usually be best for beginners as it allows the pencil to glide easily.
Finally, and this is optional, you might want to consider some **coloring supplies**. This is where you can really let your creativity shine! Color pencils, markers, crayons, or even watercolors can all be used to bring your turkey to life with vibrant hues. The choice is entirely yours – use whatever coloring medium you enjoy the most.
Creating the Turkey’s Body: Shaping the Foundation
Let’s start building our Thanksgiving turkey! The foundation of our drawing is the body, and we’ll begin with a simple shape. This step is all about creating the basic form, and we’ll refine the details later.
Begin by gently drawing a large oval shape. Don’t worry about making it perfect; the slight imperfections give character. Think of it as a slightly tilted egg shape, wider at the bottom and tapering towards the top. This will be the turkey’s main body. The angle you choose will determine the pose of your turkey. The more you tilt the oval, the more dynamic your turkey will appear. Don’t press down too hard with your pencil at this stage; we want light guidelines that we can erase later.
Once you are comfortable with your oval, take your eraser and try to refine it a little. Imagine the turkey filling out the shape, and smooth out any rough edges. This oval forms the base upon which the entire turkey will be built. Take your time and make any adjustments needed.
Forming the Head: Adding a Focus Point
Now, let’s add the turkey’s head. This is where our turkey will start to gain some personality.
On the top of the oval, slightly towards one side, draw a smaller circle. This will represent the turkey’s head. Position the circle so it overlaps slightly with the top of the oval. The overlap helps to create a sense of volume and connection between the body and the head. The position you choose for the head will also affect the look of the turkey. You might place the head more on the center if you want the turkey to look directly at the viewer, or more to the side, if you want a more dynamic look.
The size of the head compared to the body will also shape the turkey’s overall appearance. A slightly larger head might give your turkey a cuter look, while a smaller head might make it appear more realistic.
Adding the Beak: The Turkey’s Smiling Feature
With the head in place, we can add the beak. This simple element will give your turkey its distinctive character and personality.
Below the circle representing the head, draw a small, downward-pointing triangle. This is the beak. It can be a classic triangle shape. The point of the triangle should be directed downwards, giving the turkey a friendly and cheerful appearance. The size of the beak should be proportional to the head; a smaller beak usually gives the turkey a slightly more cartoonish look.
Take a moment to make sure the beak is properly aligned.
Giving It Some Flair: The Wattle
Next, let’s add the wattle, that bright red, fleshy appendage that hangs down from the turkey’s neck. This is a great way to inject some color and fun into your drawing.
From the bottom of the beak, draw a shape that resembles a teardrop or a slightly wiggly line hanging downwards. This is the wattle. Feel free to get creative with the shape. Some artists draw a simple teardrop, while others prefer a more elongated or curvy shape. The wattle adds a touch of realism.
Don’t be afraid to add some texture. A slightly rough or uneven line will make the wattle look more lifelike.
Focusing on the Eye: Adding Expression
Now it’s time to bring your turkey to life with an eye. The eye is the window to the soul, even for a Thanksgiving turkey!
Near the head circle, but not touching the beak, draw a small dot or a very tiny circle. This will be the turkey’s eye. The placement of the eye is essential. If you want your turkey to appear to be looking at the viewer, place the eye in the center of the head. A slightly off-center placement can create a more dynamic or curious expression. The size of the eye will also impact the expression. A larger eye can make the turkey look more playful, while a smaller eye can give it a more serious look.
Building the Base: The Legs and Feet
Let’s add the legs and feet, which will give your turkey a stable foundation.
From the bottom of the body oval, draw two parallel lines downwards. These will be the turkey’s legs. Make sure the legs are roughly the same length and that they are positioned evenly apart. The distance between the legs can affect the stance of the turkey. Wider legs suggest a more stable, grounded posture, while closer legs might make the turkey appear a bit more timid.
At the end of each line, draw a three-pronged foot. These can be simple, rounded shapes. Each foot will consist of three short, stubby lines, representing the turkey’s toes. Make sure the feet are large enough to support the body.
Adding Wings: Giving Your Turkey More Details
We will add the wings to your turkey drawing, helping to add detail to your drawing.
On either side of the oval-shaped body, draw the wings. For this step, we’ll draw curved shapes, similar to the letter “C,” to give the impression of the wings. These are simple shapes and should be placed where they won’t affect the other parts of your drawing. You can create one wing slightly higher than the other for a more dynamic look.
Don’t worry about too much detail here; we’ll keep it simple.
Creating the Tail Feathers: A Fan of Colors
The tail feathers are the signature feature of a turkey, and they add a lot of visual interest to your drawing.
At the back of the body oval, draw a series of curved lines or fan-like shapes. These are the tail feathers. Imagine that the feathers are fanned out, creating a beautiful display. The shape of the tail feathers can vary. Some artists draw them with rounded tips, while others make them more pointed. The number of feathers you draw is up to you. A greater number of feathers can give your turkey a fuller appearance.
Refining Your Creation: Erasing and Polishing
Now that you’ve completed the basic outline, it’s time to erase and refine. This is a crucial step to transforming your drawing into a finished piece of art.
First, gently erase any of the guidelines that are no longer needed. This includes the initial oval shape of the body, any construction lines, and any overlapping marks. The goal is to create a clean and polished look. You can use your eraser to slightly soften the lines.
Next, take a good look at your turkey and see if any lines need refining. You might want to slightly adjust the shape of the body, the head, or the tail feathers. Think of this as fine-tuning your drawing. You can also add a few small details, such as the texture of the feathers.
Adding Color to Your Turkey: Bringing It to Life
Coloring your turkey is the fun part, where you can really express your creativity and make your turkey unique.
There are no hard and fast rules here. But traditional turkey colors include browns, reds, oranges, and yellows for the body and feathers. You can use a variety of shades for a realistic look. For example, use a darker brown for the shading and lighter brown for the body. For the wattle, red is the way to go. The beak can be a mix of yellow and orange, and the eye can be black or brown.
Feel free to experiment.
Thanksgiving Variations: Making it Unique
One of the great things about drawing is that you can adapt it to your own ideas.
To give your drawing a Thanksgiving theme, consider adding elements to the scene. You could include a cornucopia, a pumpkin, or perhaps a celebratory message. You could make it a happy turkey that’s gobbling, you could change the environment for the turkey, or you could make the turkey wearing a hat! Be creative and have fun with it!
Wrapping Up: A Final Word
Congratulations! You’ve just completed your step-by-step guide to drawing a Thanksgiving turkey. This simple guide can be used to make other drawings using your creativity. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t be discouraged if your first drawing isn’t perfect. You can always try again, or maybe you want to start with a more simple drawing.
We hope you have enjoyed this guide. Now, go ahead and share your artwork with friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving and happy drawing!
