Fun & Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Art Project for Kids

A Perfect Fall Break Activity You Can Do at Home. Make your very own Thanksgiving Turkey!

Looking for a simple, creative, no-stress activity your kids can enjoy during Fall Break? This adorable Thanksgiving turkey art project for kids. Turkey Art Project is perfect for Thanksgiving week! Kids can draw, paint, color, and decorate their way to a festive turkey masterpiece using supplies you probably already have at home.

Inspired by our Viridian Art tutorial, this project is fun, engaging, great for fine motor skills, and completely customizable. Whether your child uses acrylic paint, watercolor, crayons, or colored pencils. This turkey turns out cute every time.

Supplies You’ll Need for a Thanksgiving turkey art project for kids

The best part? No fancy materials required.

• Pencil & eraser

• Paper (any size!)

• Black marker or Sharpie for outlining

• Something to color with:

  • Watercolors

  • Acrylic paint

  • Crayons

  • Oil pastels

  • Colored pencils

• Brush + water (if using paint)

Use whatever you have at home. Everything works!

Step-by-Step: How to Draw & Paint Your Thanksgiving Turkey

1. Start With the Turkey Body

Begin right in the middle of your paper and sketch a large circle, about the size of an orange. Draw lightly at first so you can erase if needed.

2. Add the Head and Neck

Draw a smaller circle at the top that overlaps the larger one halfway, this becomes the turkey’s head. Erase the inside lines, then add a slender neck connecting the head to the body.

3. Give Your Turkey a Face

• Draw a small arched triangle for the beak.

• Add two large eyes.

• Sketch the iconic wattle (the red floppy part) dangling over the beak.

4. Draw the Turkey Legs

From the bottom half of the body, draw two straight lines down.Add the feet using a simple V-shape with one small line pointing backward.

5. Add the Feathers (Kids’ Favorite Part!)

Starting at the top of the turkey’s head, begin drawing big rounded feathers that fan all the way around the body. You can draw as many feathers as you like, but remember: every feather must be colored in!

Add smaller feathers behind the first row for extra fullness.

Time to Outline & Add Details

Once the pencil sketch is done, outline everything with a black marker or Sharpie.

Inside each feather, draw little V-shaped sections, these create color stripes that make the turkey look extra festive.

Add Color: Paint, Crayons, or Pastels

This is where kids can be as creative as they want. They can follow our Viridian tutorial colors or make their own wild turkey!

Coloring the Face & Body

Start with yellow in the center of the head → blend into orange → then blend into red. Continue the same gradient down the neck and into the body.

Using crayons or colored pencils? Kids can layer colors to create a similar fade.

Color Each Feather

Each stripe on the feather gets its own color.Kids can:

• Use a repeating pattern (yellow → orange → red)

• Make each feather a rainbow

• Use fall colors

• Or totally freestyle it!

This step is relaxing, time-consuming, and perfect for keeping kids happily focused during Fall Break.

Add a Background

Choose any background style:

• A solid watercolor wash

• A blue sky

• A ground + horizon line

• Falling leaves

• Polka dots or patterns

Anything goes!

A Perfect Thanksgiving Week Activity

Your Thanksgiving turkey art project for kids is a great project you can do at home with your kids. Once the paint dries, you’ll have a bright, cheerful turkey that’s perfect for:

Thanksgiving decorations, Hanging on the fridge, Sending to relatives, Displaying at the dinner table. Thanksgiving turkey art project for kids is simple, fun, and keeps kids creatively engaged while home for Fall Break. It’s ideal for a quiet afternoon activity, without screens!