How to Draw a Dragon?

October 25, 2020
Posted by Dragon Ryujin
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Fantastic creatures may not be real, but that doesn't mean they can't be drawn realistically. If you want to learn how to draw a dragon , this tutorial will guide you step by step. You can also use this method to create the basics of your own dragon, with the details of your choice. Muscles, wings, claws, and scales—this tutorial has everything you need to create a dragon drawing worthy of your talent. 🐉

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To learn how to draw a dragon , you'll simply need a sheet of paper, a pencil, and your hand. This tutorial is quite detailed, so I recommend taking breaks between each step. To draw a realistic dragon , take your time and follow the instructions carefully, referring to the corresponding dragon drawing. We'll begin by sketching the different parts of the dragon's body.

Draw the silhouette of the dragon

Step 1 : It's nearly impossible to create a dragon drawing using only your imagination, without steps and a foundation. Therefore, try quickly sketching your ideas without emphasizing details. Creating a sketch will help you maintain a coherent drawing. Simply give your dragon the posture and general proportions, like the drawing below, without pressing too hard with your pencil.

Step 2 : We will now use this sketch as a guide. Draw a large oval shape at chest level. Dragons have enormous chests and rib cages; they need powerful muscles to use their wings.

Step 3 : Draw an angular curve to attach the dragon's shoulder blade to the front of the chest.

Step 4 : Define the rear of the dragon's body using a curved path.

Step 5 : It is essential that we know where the ground level is so that our dragon is stable. Draw a line to it.

Step 6 : Draw the dragon's legs , paying attention to all the joints.

Step 7 : The dragon's default leg design is simple, but a little boring. Let's draw the other pair of legs to make it more dynamic. Imagine each part of the leg is like the hands of a clock , with the joint in the center. Draw the path the dragon's leg would take.

Step 8 : Draw the other pair of the dragon's legs using these same lines.

Step 9 : Draw a circle at the end of the dragon's neck. This will represent the entire width of the dragon's head, not just the brain.

Step 10 : Draw the shape of the dragon's snout using a curved line.

Step 11 : Draw the rest of the dragon's spine by tracing the neck and tail.

Step 12 : It's time to sketch the dragon's wings. Place the shoulder blades on the dragon's back, as you would for a bird. Let's imagine an arm to visualize the dragon's wing. Then, add the upper arm and forearm.

Step 13 : Imagine the tip of the dragon's wing as a hand . Draw all the parts of the fingers, one by one. The second one from the left should be longer than the rest.

Step 14 : Due to our perspective, the other wing is hidden. Refer to the drawing below and draw the dragon's other wing.

Draw the Dragon's Body

Step 1 : The dragon silhouette is ready, let's add some flesh to this skeleton and start working on the dragon's body . Draw a circle around the arm; this will be the triceps and biceps, all in one. 🐉

Step 2 : Cover the dragon's shoulder by drawing a muscular mass.

Step 3 : Connect the shoulder to the dragon's arm by drawing a line. This entire area will form the mass of the shoulder.

Step 4 : Draw and connect the shoulder muscles to the dragon's other leg.

Step 5 : Draw another large oval shape to strengthen the dragon's hind thighs.

Step 6 : Connect the thigh to the dragon's hips with a curved line.

Step 7 : Add the dragon's other hind leg by drawing another oval shape. This will be the front leg from our perspective.

Step 8 : The dragon's wrists and ankles have a distinctive bony shape, so it's important to make this area recognizable. Draw them using square and circular geometric shapes .

Step 9 : Draw the dragon's legs . Front and back, they should be roughly the same shape. Draw slightly distorted rectangles.

Step 10 : Draw the rest of the dragon's legs, adding the " palms " and " feet " with rounded curves like the drawing below.

Step 11 : Draw more muscle mass on the dragon to complete its legs. This will give it volume and charisma. For the hind legs , use an inverted teardrop shape. For the front legs , use two inverted U shapes.

Step 12 : Draw some additional details on the dragon; these details will make a difference in terms of realism.

Step 13 : Complete the final outline of the limbs. Simply draw a few lines to connect the dragon's muscles.

Draw the Dragon's Wings

Step 1 : The dragon's wings need muscles too; they are the dragon's arms after all. Start by drawing a huge muscle at the shoulder using an oval shape, right at the base.

Step 2 : This time, draw the dragon's biceps using a closed, elongated curve.

Step 3 : Add muscle mass to the dragon's forearm by drawing a fairly flattened oval shape.

Step 4 : Let's add a little flair to the dragon's elbow and wrist. Draw basic geometric shapes, circles and squares.

Step 5 : You can now draw the outline of the muscles in an elaborate and fanciful way.

Step 6 : Add the muscles of the dragon's other wing . Draw them slightly larger, since they are in the foreground.

Step 7 : Don't forget to draw the dragon's wing finger ; it gives the wing a certain function linked to its arm. Draw a circle and connect it to the wrist.

Step 8 : Draw the joints of the dragon's fingers at the level of its wing. To do this, use small simple circles.

Step 9 : Trace the outline of the dragon's fingers. You need to duplicate the lines and keep them consistent ; refer to the drawings below.

Step 10 : To complete the wings, insert the dragon's membrane . Connect the wing joints. To make drawing the dragon easier, imagine a spiderweb and feel free to refer to the diagrams below.

Add Details to the Dragon

Step 1 : It's time to add more detail to the dragon's head . The best way to start the head is to create a simplified skull as a base. First, draw the brain .

Draw the dragon's eye socket with a distorted circle.

Draw the dragon's upper jaw , including the nostril.

Draw the dragon's jaw joint by making a small circle.

Draw a curved line for the dragon's cheekbone . Every detail is important.

This time, draw a curve to create the dragon's lower jaw . It's simple, isn't it?

Step 2 : The dragon's chest is slightly turned towards us; draw the muscles that connect the arms and neck. Draw a line between the two to link the two proportions.

Step 3 : Draw two curves that will represent the neck muscles attached to the back of the dragon's skull .

Step 4 : To create a realistic dragon neck, draw a downward line for the larynx at the back of the skull.

This will allow you to create this neat triangle with space for the dragon's throat , trachea , and flame tube.

Step 5 : Draw a curved line to attach the dragon's powerful pectoral muscle to its wings.

Step 6 : Draw curved lines to complete the shape of the dragon's main body.

Step 7 : Since the dragon is related to dinosaurs, it will be elegant with dinosaur-like hips. Draw a curve at the base of the dragon's tail to make it look stronger.

Draw the Dragon's Tail

Step 8 : Finally, draw two curved lines to complete the dragon's tail. The first one should be higher than the other, and they should meet to form a point.

Draw the Dragon's Claws

Step 1 : There are still a few details to draw before the body is fully formed: the dragon's toes and claws. First, draw the tip of the middle toe. Leave a little space for the claw and flatten the pad where it rests on the ground.

Step 2 : Draw the dragon's claw using a curved line that is pointed at the end.

Step 3 : Draw the dragon's other toe, shorter this time. Add a claw to it as well.

Step 4 : Many animals have a "thumb" called a " dewclaw " on their front paws. This allows them to hold their prey while they eat and, in the case of dragons, to catch prey in flight. Draw this small claw pointing inwards.

Step 5 : Draw the total length of the dragon's toes . Draw a small bump just between the tips; this will give an idea of the joints underneath.

Step 6 : Draw rounded lines to create the large pads under the dragon's paws.

Step 7 : Don't forget to draw the details on the wing's toes. Draw a curved claw for each wing.

Draw the Dragon's Head

The basic body of the dragon is finished; you can complete this dragon drawing in your own way. However, I'll show you one method, but feel free to create your own details. If you're drawing in a traditional style, you can place a new sheet of paper over the sketch to draw the final, clean lines, or use a darker tool to make the sketch less visible.

Step 1 : Draw the dragon's eye and nose. The smaller the eye, the bigger the dragon will look.

Step 2 : Draw the wrinkles under the dragon's eye.

Step 3 : It's difficult to make any facial expression when you have hardened scales on your face, but the scales themselves can create a false expression. If you want to give your dragon an angry or mean look , put larger scales along its forehead.

Step 4 : Draw the outline of the dragon's head using large scales . This will make it look a bit fiercer and more impressive. 🐲

Step 5 : Draw smaller scales at the dragon's lips to create an elastic effect.

Step 6 : What is a dragon without horns? Make sure to attach the dragon's horns to the top of the skull, and not accidentally to the lower jaw (horns on the lower jaw are harder to make functional).

Step 7 : Draw rows of smaller scales in the other areas, between the eye and the nose, covering the face. Always in the form of curved lines.

Step 8 : Trace the outline of the dragon's legs, darkening the previous lines.

Draw the Dragon's Scales

Step 1 : It's time to balance everything out. Draw lines all over the dragon's body , adjusting their structure to the 3D shape in the image below. Imagine you're trying to cover the body with parallel rows of tape.

Step 2 : Now cross the rows, creating a tile pattern . Each line of a row should be placed between two lines of its side rows, as if you were drawing squares.

Step 3 : You can draw lines on some of the larger parts to make the dragon's scales more detailed for later.

Step 4 : Connect the lines in rows with curves to create an outline of the scales.

Step 5 : Darken the dragon's scales in detail to achieve even more realism.

Step 6 : The wings don't need too many scales , so just sketch a few at the base. Also draw the fingers at the level of the dragon's wings .

Step 7 : Draw and adjust the outlines of the dragon's wing membrane .

Step 8 : Finish the dragon drawing by thickening the outer outline of the wings and adding some details.

Step 9 : If you prefer to leave this artwork uncolored, you can add simple, shallow shadows . This will add a little volume to the dragon's body.