How to Draw a Cooked Turkey: A Step-by-Step Guide

Cooking up a perfect turkey is a cherished tradition for many families on Thanksgiving and other holidays. If you want to capture the feast on paper, learning how to draw a cooked turkey can be a fun artistic challenge. With some simple steps, you can sketch a juicy roasted turkey that looks good enough to eat!

Supplies You’ll Need

Drawing a detailed turkey requires just a few basic art supplies

• Paper – Use thicker drawing paper or mixed media paper that can handle pencil, colored pencils or markers, and perhaps some light watercolor paints

• Pencils – An HB (#2) pencil for sketching lightly, and some colored pencils for adding color and details.

• Eraser – Both a pencil eraser and a larger kneaded eraser to lift graphite lines and fix small mistakes.

• Drawing Tortillons – These paper blending stumps help smooth out shading for a blended look.

• Ruler – Helpful for proportioning the turkey body accurately.

• Art markers or pens (optional) – Add darker lines and coloring with felt tip pens or markers.

• Watercolor paints (optional) – For colorful backgrounds or light washes on the turkey itself.

Step 1: Sketch the Basic Shape

First, lightly sketch the basic shape of the roasted turkey:

• Draw a large horizontal oval for the body using a light touch so you can erase lines later.

• Add a small circle at the top for the head. Leave room on the left to add the wattle later.

• Attach an upside down pear-like shape to the main body for the turkey breast.

• Draw a long, flat triangle coming off the rear for the tail area.

• Use a ruler to ensure the proportions look accurate if needed.

Step 2: Define the Details

Next, begin refining your sketch by adding the distinctive details of a cooked turkey:

• Draw the neck cavity opening under the head.

• Add an oval eye and small beak shape.

• Sketch the legs angling down from the bottom of the body, erasing overlap lines.

• Draw a series of U-shaped feathers all over the body and tail. Vary lengths and sizes.

• Add wrinkles and folds in the skin, especially around the neck cavity.

Step 3: Darken Key Lines

Once you have the basic turkey sketched, reinforce the key lines:

• Go over the main body outline and major feather markings with smooth, dark lines using your pencil or a pen/marker.

• Use hatching or cross-hatching to shade the darker shadowed areas like the cavity openings and under feathers.

• Darken and refine details like the eye, beak, legs, and any skin folds/wrinkles.

Step 4: Start Adding Color

Time to bring your turkey sketch to life with color!

• Use brown, golden tan, and cream colored pencils to fill in the main body and feathers. Mix colors to add variation.

• Choose red, pink, and flesh tones for the wattle, head, and neck cavity.

• Add darker shading to the entrance of body cavities, under feathers, etc. Blend with a tortillon.

• Color the legs brown, accenting the “drumstick” areas. Leave highlights.

• Use orange and yellow on the beak and blue or black for the eye.

Step 5: Finish With Details & Background

Finally, put on finishing touches to complete your turkey art:

• With a thin gray pencil, draw subtle feather details so each one isn’t outlined heavily.

• Use a kneaded eraser to lighten pressure lines and lift any unintended graphite smudges.

• Paint light watercolor washes in the background or add Fall leaves, vegetables, etc.

• Sign your turkey drawing and add festive touches like berries or autumn flowers.

Turkey Drawing Inspiration

Here are a few fun ideas to try on your next turkey illustration:

• Draw a turkey on a platter, ready to be carved for dinner. Include roasted vegetables surrounding it.

• Depict a proud turkey strutting around with tail feathers fanned out.

• Show turkeys eating corn or peeking over a fence with brilliant fall foliage behind them.

• Sketch a silly pilgrim-dressed turkey playing musical instruments or doing the Charleston dance.

• Portray a nervous turkey spying a hatchet leaning on a tree stump.

With the basics of drawing a cooked turkey down, you can get creative and draw all kinds of fun turkey scenarios perfect for Thanksgiving or any time of year. Gobble up some artistic inspiration!