Turtle Painting Instructions

Welcome to the Turtle Painting Instructions page, where you'll learn to create a serene underwater masterpiece! Immerse yourself in the art of painting as you follow step-by-step guidance to recreate this charming turtle-themed artwork.

Feel free to adapt these instructions as needed during your painting session. Change up the colours, add extra details, anything you’d like! Have fun exploring different techniques and creating your turtle masterpiece! 🐢🎨

After following our artist set up guide, you’ll need these paint colours

STEP 1: Mapping

To map out the turtle shell, sketch a circle in the middle of the canvas. This circle’s width should be about a third of the width of the canvas.

Then, Mark points on each side, and top of bottom of the circle. Use these points to extend the shell into a diamond shape.

TIP: use thin, watered down paint for this step, so you can make mistakes and change up the shape, without the markings coming through in the final painting :)

STEP 2: Background

It’s all about blending!

Fill in your watery background with a combination of white and blue, with long brushstrokes. I highly recommend using watered-down, thin paint. This reduces drying time, helps you get between blending, and gives an apt watery-effect.

Paint in the lower side more blue and the top more white some parts white. Using a clean brush, gently and quickly brush over the borders between the different colours. You should begin to see a subtle gradient forming.

OPTIONAL STEP: add some yellow/green streaks to add some more depth and life

STEP 3: Colouring the Shell

Fill the oval shape with a mix of brown, white, and yellow paint.

Try to create a textured surface to mimic the rocky texture of the turtle's back. For those feeling adventurous, add some white highlights by blending in white paint.

For painting anything natural, I recommend letting the edges and lines be beautifully imperfect. In particular here, letting the edges of the shell be rocky and wonky. It’ll give your turtle character and life. A tip here is that I find my lines are rockier and wonkier when I go slow with my brushstrokes, my hand can’t stay steady for that long, so it creates wonderful organic forms :)

STEP 4: Legs and Head

Draw squares to start off the legs and head of the turtle. Then, draw triangles on top of the squares. Then, colour in these body parts.

Add texture by mixing in yellow and brown paints, and using a thick amount of paint to get that paint texture coming through.

If you’d like to add extra detail, blend in some blue paint to the parts of the arms and legs that connect to the shell, to create some extra depth.

STEP 5: Bubbles

Draw circles of varying sizes across the canvas, with thin, watery paint. Then to bring the bubbles to life, add a thick dash of white over these circles. They can overlap over the turtle.

To create the small dots, use the very back of your paintbrush to stamp perfect circles

Congratulations on completing your turtle painting! We hope you enjoyed exploring different techniques and bringing your creative vision to life. Remember, art is all about having fun and expressing yourself. Keep practicing and experimenting with colors and textures to enhance your skills.

Thank you for joining us today at Josie's Paint and Sip. We appreciate your enthusiasm and creativity. We look forward to seeing you again for more fun-filled painting sessions.

Don't forget to share your masterpiece on social media and tag us @JosiesPaintAndSip.

Happy painting! 🎨🐢