Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles in My Crusty Goobers Style
In this post, I’m sharing a timelapse drawing video where I draw Splinter from the classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon in my Crusty Goobers style. Just like with the other drawings in this series, there’s no sketching beforehand and no erasing. I start directly with a pen, commit to every line, and let the drawing take shape as it goes.
That’s how Crusty Goobers characters are always created. I don’t plan everything out ahead of time. Whatever happens on the page becomes part of the character. Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles this way keeps the process loose, fun, and unpredictable, which is exactly what I want kids to see when they draw along.
Why Drawing This Way Helps Kids Relax
One of the main reasons I make videos like this is to encourage kids to draw without pressure. Watching Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles happen with no sketch underneath shows that you don’t need to plan every detail before you start.
When kids draw along, they learn that:
- It’s okay to start right away
- Mistakes don’t ruin a drawing
- Lines don’t have to be perfect
- You can adapt as you go
- Drawing can be fun instead of stressful
That mindset makes a huge difference, especially for kids who think they “aren’t good at drawing.” Seeing the process unfold in pen helps remove that fear.
How Splinter Fits the Crusty Goobers Style
Splinter isn’t a character you’ll find in my Crusty Goobers books, but Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles in this style is a great example of how the process works. Taking a well-known character and drawing them loosely helps show how flexible this approach can be.
The Crusty Goobers characters in my books are all original, but they’re created with the same mindset you see here. They’re drawn quickly, directly, and without worrying about perfection. That’s what gives them their charm.
If you imagine swapping Splinter out for one of the Goobers from the books, the drawing process would look almost identical.
Using Familiar Characters as Creative Warm-Ups
I really like using familiar characters as drawing warm-ups, and Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles is a great example. When you already know who the character is, you don’t have to spend time figuring out what to draw. You can just start drawing.
That makes it easier to relax and enjoy the process. Kids often find that after drawing along with a video like this, they feel more confident creating their own characters afterward.
It’s a great way to ease into original character design without the pressure of starting from a blank idea.
Pen First, Markers Second
This drawing follows the same process I use for Crusty Goobers characters. I start with pen and let the lines land where they land. There’s no erasing and no fixing later. Every mark stays.
After that, I color the drawing with markers. Marker coloring keeps things playful and bold. It also reinforces the idea that drawings don’t need to be perfect to look good. Watching Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles go from simple linework to a fully colored character shows how much personality color can add, even when applied loosely.
Kids love this part, especially because markers feel immediate and fun to use.
How This Video Connects to the Crusty Goobers Books
The Crusty Goobers art books are built around the same ideas you see in this video: start drawing, keep going, and don’t stress about mistakes. While the books focus on original characters, the drawing process is exactly the same.
If you enjoy watching Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles unfold this way, you’ll recognize that same energy when flipping through the Crusty Goobers books. They encourage kids to:
- Draw freely
- Commit to their lines
- Adapt when things go off-plan
- Have fun with imperfect results
That freedom helps kids stick with drawing and enjoy it long term.
An Active Way to Use Screen Time
Videos like this work well as an active kind of screen time. Instead of just watching, kids are encouraged to grab paper and draw along. Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles becomes a prompt to create, not just something to passively view.
Parents often tell me they like pairing videos like this with drawing books. Watch a drawing happen, try it yourself, then keep drawing offline.
About the Timelapse Drawing Video
In the video, you’re watching Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles from start to finish, sped up into a timelapse. There’s no pencil sketch underneath and no cleanup phase later. Every line you see is drawn straight in pen.
Watch The Video:
If a line curves the wrong way or a shape ends up bigger than expected, I don’t stop. I adjust and keep going. That’s a big part of this style. The drawing evolves as I work, and sometimes the unexpected details are what give the character the most personality.
Once the linework is finished, I color the drawing with markers. Marker coloring fits perfectly with this approach because it keeps things moving. There’s no second-guessing and no overworking—just bold color choices that bring the character to life.
Final Thoughts
This timelapse video of Drawing Splinter from Ninja Turtles is meant to show that drawing doesn’t need to be planned or perfect. Sometimes the best drawings come from starting with a pen, accepting mistakes, and letting the character develop naturally.
If that approach sounds fun to you or your kids, the Crusty Goobers art books are built around that exact mindset. They’re about drawing freely, experimenting, and enjoying the process without overthinking it.
Kevin Coulston is an accomplished cartoonist, animator, and writer. He is the author and illustrator of over 80 (and still counting) children’s drawing books available here on FirstArtBooks.com. Kevin has also authored numerous kid-friendly comic book series, including “Dylan McVillain: A Super Villain with the Best Intentions” and “The Adventures of a 4th Grade Space Captain,” along with the Children’s Picture Book series “Alexis and the T-Rexes.”
