Please PAUSE the "How to Draw an Alligator Snapping Turtle" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

Written step-by-step video tutorial:

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

Step 1: Draw a small circle near the right side of the paper as a guide for the alligator snapping turtle's head. First make four small marks to indicate the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. If you're struggling drawing the circle, trace the outer rim of a coin, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.

Step 2: On the top, right side of the head, draw a small arc as a guide for the top part of the open mouth. The arc should have a diagonal orientation. Pay attention to its size in relation to the head. On the lower, right side of the head, draw a slightly wider arc as a guide for the lower part of the turtle's open mouth.

Step 3: Draw a circle to the left of the head as a guide for the front part of the shell. Draw this circle the same way as the head. First make four small marks to indicate the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines to finish the shape of the circle. This circle should be around twice the size of the turtle's head, and their edges should touch.

Step 4: To the left, draw another circle that's slightly bigger than the head as a guide for the back portion of the shell. Don't draw the shell circles too far apart, otherwise the alligator snapping turtle's body will be too long.

Step 5: Draw two short, curved lines that connect the turtle's head to the body to create the guide for the neck. Draw two long, curved lines that connect the body circles to finish the guide for the shell. The line at the top should curve more than the line at the bottom.