Leonardo: A Slice of Turtle Power

Today on Onion Pixels, I’m excited to share a fun new illustration straight from my sketchpad — a bold, dynamic take on Leonardo, the blue-banded leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This piece was a blast to create, blending my love for expressive line art with that classic Saturday-morning-cartoon energy.

🐢 About the Drawing

In this illustration, Leonardo steps forward with one katana raised high, giving the impression that he’s just about to leap out of the frame. The pose is heroic and energetic, with the sword cutting right through the border for extra punch. The bright, saturated greens and blues capture that familiar TMNT palette while keeping the mood fun and lively.

The hand-inked outlines add a raw, comic-book feel — thick, intentionally uneven strokes that give Leo a gritty texture that contrasts nicely with the flat, bold colors. The background stays simple with a cool blue tone, letting Leonardo’s colors speak for themselves without distraction.

🎨 What Works Well

• Strong pose: The upward striking motion gives the drawing a sense of movement and power. It’s a great choice for Leonardo, who’s often portrayed as disciplined and ready for action.
• Breaking the frame: Having the katana extend past the border gives the artwork an extra dimension and adds personality.
• Color balance: The classic TMNT palette looks vibrant here. The contrast between the green skin, blue bandana, and yellow plastron works perfectly.
• Expressive line work: Your outlines convey attitude and help define the muscles and shell details cleanly.

📝 Constructive Critique

As with any illustration, there are areas that could be refined even further:

• Sword perspective: The katana has good presence, but the perspective could be pushed more to emphasize depth — either sharpening the foreshortening or adjusting the hilt to better match the blade angle.
• Anatomy rhythm: Leonardo’s torso and arms look solid, but tightening the connection between the shoulder, bicep, and forearm could give the figure stronger anatomical flow.
• Shell shading: Adding a bit more texture or shading on the shell would give it more weight and contrast, especially since Leonardo’s pose leans toward dynamic lighting.
• Typography: The hand-written “LEONARDO” header has charm, but exploring a more stylized or comic-inspired font might make the title pop even more.

🧅 Final Thoughts

This Leonardo illustration is full of energy, personality, and that unmistakable TMNT spirit. It showcases a confident evolution in your art style — bold colors, expressive lines, and a willingness to play with composition. With a few tweaks in anatomy and perspective, future pieces in this style could hit an even stronger professional polish.

A great addition to the Onion Pixels gallery — cowabunga! 🐢✨