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Python Turtle Heart

Beginner · Shapes · 38 lines · draws in about 7 seconds

Two straight lines and two curves of 200 degrees make the heart, and a fill paints the inside crimson.

Python Turtle Heart: the finished drawing
import turtle
screen = turtle.Screen()
screen.bgcolor("mistyrose")
screen.title("Heart")
t = turtle.Turtle()
t.speed(4)
t.pensize(4)
t.color("darkred", "crimson")
# Start at the bottom tip of the heart
t.penup()
t.goto(0, -190)
t.pendown()
t.begin_fill()
# Left side: a straight line up, then a curve over the top
t.left(140)
t.forward(246)
t.circle(-125, 200)
# Right side: turn, the same curve, then a straight line back down
t.left(120)
t.circle(-125, 200)
t.forward(246)
t.end_fill()
# A message in the middle
t.penup()
t.goto(0, 20)
t.color("white")
t.write("I love Python", align="center", font=("Arial", 26, "bold"))
t.hideturtle()
turtle.done()
Open in the editor

How the code works

Start at the bottom tip

The turtle lifts its pen with penup(), moves to (0, -190) and puts the pen down again. The point of the heart goes here, which keeps the finished heart in the middle of the screen.

# Start at the bottom tip of the heart
t.penup()
t.goto(0, -190)
t.pendown()

The left side

left(140) points the turtle up and to the left, and forward(246) draws the straight edge. circle(-125, 200) draws 200 degrees of a circle; the minus sign makes it curve to the right, over the top of the left bump.

# Left side: a straight line up, then a curve over the top
t.left(140)
t.forward(246)
t.circle(-125, 200)

The right side mirrors it

After left(120) the turtle draws the same curve again, then a straight line that ends where it started. The outline is closed, so end_fill() can paint the inside.

# Right side: turn, the same curve, then a straight line back down
t.left(120)
t.circle(-125, 200)
t.forward(246)

t.end_fill()

Write a message

write() puts text at the turtle's position. align="center" centres it on that point, and font sets the typeface, the size and the style.

# A message in the middle
t.penup()
t.goto(0, 20)
t.color("white")
t.write("I love Python", align="center", font=("Arial", 26, "bold"))

Make it yours

Change the code above and press Run. Some ideas:

  • Change "I love Python" in t.write() to a friend's name.
  • Change t.color("darkred", "crimson") to t.color("purple", "violet") for a purple heart.
  • Change screen.bgcolor("mistyrose") to screen.bgcolor("black") so the heart stands out against the dark.

What it uses

  • begin_fill and end_fill
  • circle with an extent
  • left turns
  • write

Every turtle command the site supports is listed on Python turtle online.