How to Draw Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Easy Fan Art for Kids)
Draw along step by step with a pencil and eraser. It takes about 15 minutes and works for ages 5 and up. Follow the steps below, or draw along with the video.
- Step-by-step drawing
- Ages 5+
- Grades K–2
- Easy
- About 15 min with the video
You’ll need
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper, or the printed page
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
You’ll practice
- Breaking a drawing into simple shapes
- Following steps in order
- Adding your own details
Free Video: How to Draw Michelangelo from TMNT
Ready to draw your favorite nunchuck-swinging turtle? In today’s free video tutorial, I’m showing you how to draw Michelangelo—yes, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle himself. If your kid’s into pizza-loving, sewer-dwelling heroes, they’re going to love this one.
This drawing is totally kid-friendly and drawn in my usual silly cartoon style. I walk you through every step slowly and clearly, making it easy for young artists to follow along.
And while Michelangelo isn’t one of the characters in my Draw by Grid: Mutant Animals book, this video fits right in with the kind of weird, wild, and wonderfully mutated animals you’ll find inside the pages of that book. After all, what are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles if not the original mutant animal cartoon crew?
About the Book: Draw by Grid – Mutant Animals
Draw by Grid: Mutant Animals is one of my weirdest and funniest books—and that’s saying something. Every drawing in the book uses a simple grid system to help kids create their own versions of hilarious mutant creatures, one square at a time.
These aren’t your average animals. This book is packed with:
- A sheep with 4 arms
- A cycloptic pig
- A horse/bird hybrid
- A 6-armed cat creature
- …and dozens more strange and silly animal mashups
It’s a great companion to this free video, where we walk through how to draw Michelangelo, because the focus in both is the same—drawing funny characters with personality.
Kids who love the Turtles will get a kick out of this book because it taps into that same kind of energy: action, humor, and creative design all mashed together.
What Makes the “Draw by Grid” Series Different?
This series is all about making drawing fun and accessible for kids. Each page features a goofy character broken down into a simple grid format. That means your child doesn’t have to worry about getting everything “right” all at once. Instead, they can focus on one square at a time, slowly building their drawing in a way that feels easy and achievable.
Draw by Grid: Mutant Animals is especially fun because it breaks all the rules of the animal kingdom. In this book, anything goes. Extra limbs? Go for it. Eye patches? Absolutely. Wings, horns, weird fur patterns, teeth where they shouldn’t be—yes, yes, and yes.
If your kid had fun learning how to draw Michelangelo in the video, they’re going to love drawing these ridiculous animal hybrids too.
Why Drawing Mutant Animals Is a Hit With Kids
There’s something super satisfying about drawing weird creatures. Kids don’t have to follow the same old rules, and that opens the door to real creativity.
In this book, I’ve designed each character to look wild and funny, but not complicated. They’re goofy and expressive, not overly detailed or intimidating. That balance makes it perfect for young artists who want to create cool things without getting overwhelmed.
Plus, mutant animals spark storytelling. Your kid might start with the drawing, but don’t be surprised if they end up naming their creature, giving it a backstory, and imagining whole worlds where these characters live. It all starts with putting pencil to paper.
And after they try this video and learn how to draw Michelangelo, you may find them inventing their own turtle-like creatures—maybe even a pizza-loving platypus with a shell?
Designed for Kids Ages 6 and Up (But Fun for Everyone)
The Draw by Grid format works well for artists of all skill levels, but it really shines for kids ages 6 and up. The gridded pages help build spatial awareness, improve focus, and teach kids how to translate what they see into what they draw.
It also teaches patience—something every artist needs. Completing one of these pages feels like a mini achievement, and the results always bring a smile.
Even if your kid is just starting out, they’ll feel successful working through this book. And the more they draw, the more their confidence grows.
Drawing at Home, in Classrooms, or on the Go
This series is designed to be used anywhere. All you need is a pencil and a flat surface. There’s no mess, no apps, no batteries required—just good, creative fun.
Try the free video where I show you how to draw Michelangelo, then grab a copy of Draw by Grid: Mutant Animals and keep the momentum going. Whether your child is working at the kitchen table, on a road trip, or in an art class, this book is easy to bring along and hard to put down.
Try the Video, Then Dive Into the Book
I always love sharing these video freebies because they give you a real taste of what drawing with me is like. If your child enjoys drawing Michelangelo, they’re going to love the mutant animal madness waiting inside the book.
The grid system in Draw by Grid: Mutant Animals makes it easy for kids to follow along, and the silly characters make it irresistible to keep going. This isn’t just drawing—it’s play, imagination, and storytelling all rolled into one.
So give the video a try. See what your kid thinks. And if they love learning how to draw Michelangelo, they’re absolutely going to love drawing their own army of mutant animals next.
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw the character’s favorite place.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
One morning, everything there had…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Write a new adventure for Michelangelo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 8 Minutes. Where do they go, and who do they meet?
Print a draw-and-write sheet: a box for the drawing and lines for the story. Primary lines (K–2) · Regular lines (grades 2–5)
Want to make it a whole story? Try the comic story starter or fold a mini-book in Story Studio.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- It doesn’t look like the character.
- Look at the colors and the one or two famous details (the hat, the ears, the mask) and get those right first.
- The proportions are off.
- Compare the head to the body on the example and match that size before adding details.
- It feels copied, not yours.
- After the lesson, draw the character doing something new: that’s the fun part of fan art.
- Pressing hard from the very first step.
- Use light, sketchy lines first. You can erase them easily and go over the lines you keep at the end.
More in 10 common drawing mistakes kids make.
Talk about it
For the grown-up: ask one or two of these while your child draws. There are no wrong answers.
- What do you like most about this character?
- If you could add yourself to their world, what would you be?
- What name fits this character?
- Which step was the trickiest? What did you do to get past it?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this michelangelo from the teenage mutant ninja turtles in 8 minutes drawing lesson for?
Ages 5 and up (about grades K to 2). Younger kids can follow along with a grown-up, one step at a time.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes, including time to pause the video. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
Pencil and eraser; paper, or the printed page; crayons, markers or colored pencils.
What size does it print?
Nothing needs printing: draw along on any paper, Letter or A4.
Can kids draw the michelangelo from the teenage mutant ninja turtles in 8 minutes without printing the page?
Yes. Draw on any paper and copy one step at a time from the screen, or pause the video after each step.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades K–2, about 15 minutes. Step-by-step drawing, easy level. The video does the teaching: press play and let students draw along.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students build drawing skills by following a sequence of steps.
- VA:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work: students add their own details, expressions and color to finish the character.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. More in the teacher resources, the Fan Art hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Christmas Drawing Pack
10 printable Christmas pages to draw, trace, color and decorate, sent with your welcome email. After that, Kevin’s newsletter brings new free pages and book news.
Take the idea into a book
Want more characters to draw, trace or color? Explore these related books and see which approach fits your next creative session.
Draw by Grid: Mutant Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Trace Then Color: Mutant Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Mutant Animals
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 9 free Ninja Turtles drawing lessons and pages →
Another idea to try
Free activitiesFree Video Drawing Tutorial: How to Draw Donatello from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Learn How to Draw Donatello from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles If your child is a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (I know I am), there's a…
Free activitiesDrawing Michelangelo from Ninja Turtles in my Crusty Goobers Style
Drawing Michelangelo in My Crusty Goobers Style In this post, I’m sharing a new timelapse drawing video where I draw Michelangelo from Teenage Mutant…
Free activitiesDrawing Baxter Stockman from Ninja Turtles in My Crusty Goobers Style
Video: Drawing Baxter Stockman in My Crusty Goobers Style In this post, I’m sharing a new timelapse drawing video where I draw Baxter Stockman…