How to Draw a Dragon

May 5th, 2011

Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw a dragon? For some reason, many people have more trouble drawing creatures from fantasy than they do drawing realistic, everyday items like houses or people. However, you get a chance to let your imagination run wild, because unlike houses and people, you can draw it any way that you like, and add all kinds of fantastic details and no one can ever say that you did it wrong! Here, we’ve got instructions for a very simple, cartoonish dragon. Get this one down, and you’ll be well on your way to to drawing more fancy and frightening dragons on your own!

Step 1: Make the nostrils. Simply draw two upside down “u”s, one inside the other. Do this twice, right next to each other.

How to Draw a Dragon: Step 1
Step 2: Now you’ll start in on the rest of the nose. Make two slightly rounded lines right above where you made the nostrils. This is the dragons nose as we look at it from the front.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 2
Step 3: Make a sort of rectangle that will be the dragon’s top and bottom jaws. Put your pencil where the right nostril ends and go just about straight down. Hook it to the left, then come back up and join the line with the dragon’s left nostril. You’ve got some room for creativity here. It can be more boxy and rectangular, or it can be more rounded and organic looking. Finally, make the bottom jaw. Make the same rectangular shape as you did for the top jaw, but smaller.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 3
Step 4: Make the fangs. This is easy. Just draw two teeth the same as you would draw a vampire’s teeth, in a rectangular shape. The base of the teeth are on the top jaw, with the pointy tips extending below the bottom jaw. You’ll want to erase the part of the jaw that shows inside the teeth. If your dragon is friendly, you can tone down the teeth. If he’s ferocious, you could add dripping blood!
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 4
Step 5: Fill in the shape of the head. Once again, you start at about the same place on the right nostril where you started to draw the top jaw, except this time, you go upward. You’ll make an ear, and then curve the head left, and make another ear. The ears are another spot where you can give your dragon character. If you make them floppy, like a dog, it makes the dragon look friendlier – almost cuddly. If you make them pointy, it will give the dragon a more menacing look.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 5
Step 6 : Time for the horns and the eyes. The eyes are yet another area where you can personalize your dragon. Will they be cute? Scary? Angry? You decide! If you want to follow along with our drawing, we made an arc with a line across the bottom, with a simple dot as the pupil. To make the horns, simply do the same as you did for the teeth, but with the tips pointing upward. You could also give him eyebrows at this point, eyelashes to make the dragon female, or any other type of facial characteristic that strikes your fancy.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 6
Step 7: Let’s start on the body! You start a line under the dragon’s bottom jaw and make a teardrop shape. This will be his abdomen and tummy. Then, make ridges for him by simply drawing some curved lines across the teardrop shape that you made.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 7
Step 8: Now you’re well on your way to learning how to draw a dragon! We’re going to flesh out the dragon’s body. Make a long line starting at outside of the dragon’s lower jaw, but further our from where you started the teardrop shape. Follow the edge of the tear, a little ways out from it. When you get about halfway down the dragon’s body, you’ll make the dragon’s leg by creating a heart shape (well, a half-heart shape anyway). Do the same thing on the opposite side of the dragon’s body, but don’t join them since we still need to make the feet.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 8
(The heart is just to demonstrate the shape)
Step 9: Time for the feet. Take the heart shape out and down, and then make three toes. It might be easiest to look at the picture than to try to draw from our description since it’s kind of an amorphous shape. The Again, the shape is difficult to describe and it’s best to look at the picture. The heart veers away from the dragon and then down. There are three stubs for toes as the line goes back towards the dragon. Don’t forget to give him a bit of an arch on the bottom of his foot for a more realistic look. The line goes back up to meet his leg, but then arcs back to the bottom of his body. How to Draw a Dragon: Step 9
Step 10: A dragon has to have claws! Draw in the claws on the feet. Each nail is a curved triangle similar to the way that you drew his teeth and his horns.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 10
Step 11: Make the arms. This is yet another place where you can give your dragon character as you learn how to draw a dragon. In our picture, we gave him stubby, bony little arms to make him kind of cute. Once you get more comfortable with drawing dragons, you can put his arms into different poses and positions. You can make his arms fat, skinny, or muscular. To make the arms that we made, you simply draw a couple of parallel lins and round the joints.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 11
Step 12: Draw the fingers on his hands (sometimes known as “foreclaws”). You can give him as many claws as you want. We gave our dragon three on each hand.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 12
Step 13: Start the wings. First, you draw a curved line at a diagonal from his collarbones, and then angle the line in a more horizontal direction.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 13
Step 14: Position your pencil at the tip of the wing bones that you made in the previous step. Draw the rest of the wings in a webbed shape then curve them back toward the dragons body where the wing bones start.
Step 14: Wings
Step 15: Draw lines vertically on the wings to give the appearance of a skelatel support, much like what you would see on a bat.
Step 15: 'Wing Phalanges'
Step 16: What’s a dragon without a tail? Learning how to draw a dragon includes learning how to draw an awesome tail. Yet again, this is an opportunity for you to give your dragon some character. It can be fat, thin, pointy, scary, fluffy, hairy – just about anything that you want! In ths picture, we made it a kind of spade shape like a lion.
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 16
Step 17: Let’s add some color! Your options here are almost limitless. Most dragons are green, red, or metallic colored, but really, your imagination is the only limit here. You can also give the dragon a home by adding a background. It could be the sky with clouds as we have here, or it could be mountains or a cave filled with treasure!
How to Draw a Dragon: Step 17
If that didn’t whet your appetite for dragon drawing tutorials, here is a video showing you how to draw a much more complex, and scarier looking dragon.

How to Draw a Dragon’s Head

May 1st, 2011

This is what the finished full-size dragon looks like:

Anybody can draw a dragon head with a few simple lines. This is what the final drawing looks like.

how to draw a dragon  
   
draw a dragon Step 1 The first step of how to draw a dragon. The first arc down makes the spines of the dragon’s head. The dip of the stroke is the dragon’s forehead (think of a horse’s forehead and nose). The last bit is the hook of the dragon’s nose, or beak – think of a hawk’s beak.
   
draw a dragon head Step 2 This makes the jaw of the dragon’s head.
   
draw dragon Step 3. This is the bottom jaw. Adding a little hook, like the top part of the jaw, adds a nice touch
   
how to draw a dragon in 5 steps Step 4. Making the other spikes from the dragon’s head.
   
draw dragon head Step 5. Adding the eye. Dragon eyes seem to look better if they’re sharp and slanted instead of being round like human eyes.
   
how to draw dragons Step 6. The bottom of the eye. Fill it in for better definition against the rest of the image.

This dragon drawing shows the head at an angle.

Step 1:
Draw one long line.
The top curve or arc of the line is the side spike of the dragon’s head. The tighter curve in the middle is the eye socket. The end of the line hooks down to make the dragon’s nose.
Step 2
The second line forms the far side of the dragon’s head.
The upward curve in the middle is the far eye socket.
Step 3

Draw diamonds for the eyes.
Don’t make the far eye too wide or it will look weird. You can shade the eyes to make them look round, or leave them solid for contrast.

Step 4.
The jaw of the dragon.
Take a look at Arab horses for how to make a sleek jawbone.
Step 5
The bottom part of the jaw.
I like the hooked look for the bottom jaw as well – kind of hawk like.
Step 6
Filling in the jaw so it looks three dimensional.
You could also add a forked tongue if you wanted.
Step 7
Adding the spikes on the back of the head.
This dragon has five spikes, but it could certainly have three or seven spikes. One spike doesn’t look quite as good unless you draw the jaw differently.
Step 8.
The finished head. With the neck drawn in. You could add spikes along the back of the neck, too. And, of course, you could give your dragon visible nostrils.

How to Draw a Full-Size Dragon

The first step. Drawing the dragon’s spine.

And the belly of the dragon.

The top of the head.

The bottom of the head.

The dragon’s jaw.

The dragon’s wing.

Some bone definition in the wing.

The spines of the wing.

The talons of the wing.

The webbings of the wing.

Erasing the spine behind the wing.

The back leg hip.

The back leg toes.

The front leg.

Draw a Dragon in 3 Steps

July 14th, 2011

Draw a DragonThere are many ways that you can use to draw a dragon and often times people wonder how that is done, well I am here to show the easiest way that you will be able to make that happen. So what we will do for the next few minutes is to show you the ways that you can sure draw a cartoon dragon and also the ways that you can draw a Chinese one too.

Drawing Dragons

The first thing that you do is that you draw a triangle that has 90 degrees on both sides and that will be the start. Then you also need to draw three more triangles that will be for the nose the ear and for the bottom. Then what you do next is that you draw the mouth and then the eyes. The mouth should be wide open and then the teeth would be really small and of the same length. At no time should any of the teeth be longer than the next. Then what you do next is that you draw the nostrils of the dragon and the best way that it needs to be done is that you use two half loops which are adjacent to each other and that should give you the nostrils.

Then comes the muzzle and also the lower section of the jaw. In doing that we need to ensure that you start with a rectangle and then you go from there to go to the nostrils. Then below the nuzzle what you need to do is that you will need to draw another rectangle and that would be for the lower jaw and the thing about this one is that it will be lesser in size compared to the other rectangle. Then comes on to the portion over the eyes that should be lumped and that is achieved when you slightly erase the dragon.

Then when it comes on to shading the dragon, all that needs to be done is that you will need to use a pencil to get the shade that you are looking for. So when you are thinking of the best way that can be used to draw a dragon then that’s what needs to be done and we suggest that you start with small isosceles triangle and that would be the horn and then from there you will be able to make them look proportional to the body. Then when you are thinking about drawing the cartoon dragon then what you need to do is to ensure that the legs and the horns are all attached and then all ensure that the horns on this one would be larger in size.

So there are many ways that can be used on how to draw a dragon and let me hope that this would have been very helpful in that regard.  

Want to Learn How to Draw a Dragon?

June 6th, 2011

If you are looking to learn how to draw a dragon, you have come to the right place! Drawing a dragon is must easier than you could ever imagine, as long as you know how to get started. People are interesting in drawing dragons for all kinds of reasons, but often, it is just for fun and to be creative. Some want to design their own logo or tattoo. Others want to get more heavily involved in illustration. In any case, there are several things to consider if you are going to learn how to draw a dragon.

How to Draw a Cartoon Dragon
First of all, you must decide what kind of dragon you would like to draw. A very common style of dragon is the Gothic medieval lizard you will see in Dungeons and Dragons games, and in fantasy and science fiction art. This type of dragon is usually very ornate. They are often limited to 1-3 different colors. This dragon likely looks very fierce, is breathing fire, and ready to take your head off.
Another style of dragon that you may want to learn how to draw is the Chinese-style dragon. This dragon doesn’t often have the characteristic pointed snout of the medieval dragon. Its face is rounder, and it can consist of many bright colors. This dragon looks more like a serpent than a lizard, and probably doesn’t have wings. This dragon sometimes looks a bit friendlier than its European counterpart. That is because, unlike the west, the eastern dragon is not evil, and is a symbol of prosperity and power. The are gentle and wise, whereas the western dragon is cunning and typically ready to wreak havoc on poor unsuspecting villagers.
A third style of dragon is the cute one that can be found in children’s fairy tales (think Puff). These dragons often have pastel colors, such as powdery blues, purples, and pinks. They are benevolent looking, with big eyes and soft-looking bodies.
When you are beginning to learn how to draw a dragon, also consider color. If you want a very colorful dragon, you will want to see out the Chinese dragons for inspiration, even if you don’t wish to use this style. If you want one which is less colorful and more uniform, obviously the western dragon color scheme will fit the bill. Most people, however, aren’t interested in plain green dragons. A little color is nice, even if you don’t want to be overwhelmed with it.
Finally, the proportion of body parts is an important thing to consider before you learn how to draw a dragon. Some dragons have long legs, while others are much shorter. Some are shorter in the front, but longer in the rear. Others have none at all! Additionally, the head can vary in size in proportion to the body. The Chinese dragon, for example, often has a head that seems large in comparison to the rest of it. In any case, once you have figured out the specifics, you can being to learn how to draw a dragon as creatively as you wish.

Drawing Dragons

May 10th, 2011

Black Dragon

Have You Ever Wanted to Draw Fantasy Creatures? To Learn How to Draw a Dragon?

Most people would love to draw images of creatures that they fantasize about such as dragons. If you are looking for some tips on how to draw a dragon, the information in this article will help you to accomplish this. First, you need to decide on the type of dragon you would like to draw. You have many dragons from which to choose such as the Eastern, European, animated, digitally enhanced, cartoon, Western and various other types. It is important to make this decision before getting started as this will determine the best materials to use, the right color combinations, settings and environments and more. This will also help when you want to know the amount of time to allot for this task and to add extra details to the finishing work.

Next, you can find images that you can use as models, which can be really helpful if you don’t have experience or background in drawing. Images, photos or any other visuals of dragons will help with the basic components and features of your drawing. In case you want to create a flying and fire breathing dragon, perhaps you could look for photos of flying dragons and then another one that is breathing fire. When you place the two photos next to each other, this will give you a clear image to create a flying and fire breathing dragon.After that, you can create a sketch for the background. It could be that you are imagining a dragon that is flying across several large mountains or gliding over the sea.

This is where you can get creative to put whatever you are visualizing on paper.At this point, you can start to draw the parts. Some people will start off by drawing the wings, while others will start with the body. But, if you are beginner who is just learning how to draw a dragon it’s best to start with the head. By doing this, you can get an accurate estimation of the amount space needed for each part.With all the details set for the dragon parts, you can now add additional details. This could be more details on the wings, scales on the body and claws that can really stand out.

At this point, you can tone down certain parts as well, like the mouth. The details for the fire breathing can be adjusted at this stage.The final step when you are learning how to draw a dragon will be to add the final touches. Keep in mind that you might not have to go through this step if you are not adding more details or modifying parts of the dragon. But, this will give you an opportunity to review the drawing for any disparity and incorrect details.

How Do You Draw a Dragon?

May 5th, 2011

How Do You Draw a Dragon?People stop by this site every day asking the question: “How do you draw a dragon?” Luckily for them, they’ve found one of the best spots on the web for learning how to draw a dragon! If you scroll down to the bottom of this post, you’ll find a video that I’ve embedded that will show you, once and for all, how to draw a dragon. I can’t promise that you’ll be making dragon drawings like the one off to the left your first day, but with daily practice, you should be able to make some pretty amazing drawings of dragons in much less time that you would expect!

If you’ve decided to learn how to draw dragons, then your first move should be to get yourself a quality drawing pencil as well as some drawing paper. Don’t be content with just an old number 2 pencil and some paper that you robbed out of your home printer. Drawing pencils and paper can be had very cheaply at just about any supermarket nowadays – even places like WalMart carry them.

Next, look for a drawing tutorial that includes instructions for how to draw a dragon step by step. We’ve actually got one on this site if you follow that link. Get comfortable at your kitchen table or desk, and follow along with the step by step instructions. It shouldn’t be difficult as long as you’ve chosen some instructions that are geared toward your ability level. Just start with step one. Don’t worry about getting each step perfect the first time. Just draw your dragon to the best of your ability at each step, and then move on. Like I said before, your first dragon might not be something that you’re ready to showcase in an art gallery, but it will definitely resemble a dragon, and will doubtlessly be something that you can be proud of regardless of your skill level.

After you’ve gone through the step by step tutorial, you can add some details to make the dragon drawing your own. You can customize his eyes and eyebrows to make him look friendly or fierce. You could even give the dragon eyelashes to make “he” into a “she”! You can add sinewy muscles, or you could customize the tail to have a tuft of fur at the end. The great thing about drawing dragons is that they are fictional, mythical beasts – and that means that you can never draw one incorrectly!

If you practice and try to make  one drawing of a dragon each and every day, then after a couple of weeks, you will be an expert, and will no longer have to wonder how to draw a dragon. That’s it for now – stop back soon for much more dragon drawing information!

How to Draw a Cartoon Dragon

May 5th, 2011

Dragon_Head_and_ShouldersWhile some people are interested  in learning how to draw a dragon as realistically as possible, other people want to learn how to draw a cartoon dragon.

There are some differences in these type of dragon drawings when compared to more traditional dragons, and especially when compared to other types of cartoon drawings. For starters, traditional dragons tend to be scary, like real dragons of legend. Look at the drawing off to the left. He looks terrifying, like he’s ready to breathe fire and eat you piece by piece! Cartoon dragons, on the other hand, are usually a bit more friendly. Some are still a little bit scary, but others look like they’re ready to be your pet! They’re often cuddly, sometimes furry, and always in bright, fun colors.

So if you’re interested specifically in learning how to draw a cartoon dragon, make sure that you find a drawing tutorial specifically suited and geared toward this type of drawing.

Another difference between cartoon dragons and more traditional dragons is the level of realism. There are some experts who’ve learned how to draw a dragon that can draw so realistically that you’d almost swear that you were looking at a picture of an actual beast. Some of these are detailed down to the dragon’s whiskers, eyelashes, sinewy muscles. Cartoon character dragons do not usually have this level of realism. Rather, they are like most cartoons that you see – they are more like a caricature of a dragon. There is usually no muscle definition on the beast, and no details like hair or fur. Whatsmore, the eyes are often more rounded to give a more friendly appearance, since children are often the ones who are the most interested in learning how to draw cartoon dragons, and they don’t like it when things are too scary.

My son started off by drawing cartoon dragons when he was just 4 years old. By the time he was 5, he could draw a cartoon dragon that looked as though a much older child had done it. All it takes it practice! And then when he got to be about 11 years old, he started learning to draw much more realistic dragons. His dragons now, at the age of 13, have striking details. They breathe fire, and sometimes they even have backgrounds that depict the dragon being in a cave filled with treasure or on a mountaintop fighting off a brave knight.

Meanwhile, there are also some similarities between drawings of cartoon dragons and drawings of more realistic dragons. After all, a dragon is still a dragon, right? Some similarities include the fact that all dragons have to have wings and a tail. They also have eyes, a nose, a mouth, and a body that is the same basic serpentine shape.

Whether you’re learning how to draw a dragon the traditional way or learning how to draw a cartoon dragon, don’t be afraid to experiment with different features and styles. After all, that’s how artists develop their own unique style and express themselves!

Welcome

May 5th, 2011

Hi and thanks for stopping by my site! I just wanted to throw up a quick post letting you know what this site is about and what to expect from it.

I started this site to teach people how to draw a dragon. I’ve gotten pretty good at it in recent years. I’ve taught my kids, my family, and some friends as well how to draw dragons. I’ll be posting different dragon drawing tutorials, and perhaps some other fantasy drawing tutorials as well. There are tons of ways to draw a dragon, and I intend to showcase quite a few of them.

So thanks for stopping by, and come back soon to learn everything that there is to know about how to draw a dragon!