How to Draw a Japanese Dragon?

Hey there, Young Dragon! Today we're going to learn how to draw a Japanese dragon easily. The final result is simply impressive, so be sure to follow the step-by-step tutorial carefully. As usual, you'll only need a pencil and a sheet of paper; feel free to color the Japanese dragon using your colored pencils.

Just a reminder, this is an easy Japanese dragon drawing . Draw it carefully, following the instructions under each Japanese dragon drawing . 🐉 The Japanese dragon is a powerful symbol with many meanings in Japanese culture.

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Draw the Body of the Japanese Dragon

Let's start by outlining the basic design of the Japanese Dragon. The main elements are the head of the Japanese Dragon , its lower jaw, as well as its serpentine body and legs.

Because of the Japanese Dragon's serpentine appearance, we want to achieve a flowing and harmonious shape for its body. Having the neck strongly curved behind the head will give our Japanese Dragon a dramatic effect, like a snake rearing up for battle.

Draw the Head of the Japanese Dragon

Start by drawing the Japanese Dragon's eyebrows and eyes . Primarily draw inverted teardrop shapes for each small tuft of hair above the eye. Draw a round eye and give it depth by adding black around it. Draw the lower eyelid so the eye isn't just suspended there, and also draw a few wrinkles between the eyebrows.

Draw the flesh of the forehead . For the Japanese Dragon's snout , draw a row of scales up to the nose and end it with a pig-like nose. Draw a small, bushy mustache to cover the lip, then add the long whiskers that float on either side of the Japanese Dragon's nose. It's helpful to think of its hair as a ribbon, so you can twist and bend it.

Now draw the antlers behind the Japanese Dragon's eyebrows. Its antlers are very majestic and reminiscent of Japanese cherry trees . First, draw the long, pointed part. Then, add a blunt branch on top of each horn. Draw a large tuft of hair on the top of the Japanese Dragon's head. 🐲

It's time to draw the cheekbones and the flesh on the sides of the muzzle/face. Next, draw bushy sideburns behind the cheekbones. The front of the hair is made up of smaller shapes, and the strands lengthen towards the back, some of them very long. Take your time filling in the lines on the mustache and eyebrow.

At this stage, we'll mainly draw the upper teeth and tongue of the Japanese Dragon. Instead of drawing only sharp teeth, we'll give it a few normal teeth at the front, like the four incisors between the canines. For the tongue , opt for a curved shape (ribbon-like), twisting it around itself, like a zigzag up and down. Then, add details by drawing more hair on the head, like a lion's mane .

Now draw the lower teeth . It's important to try to match the shape of the Japanese Dragon's lower jaw to that of its upper jaw . This requires a bit of precision, as the jaws can be slightly misaligned. This can be tricky. For this type, just try to draw them as if they form a rectangle. Draw the gums, and add a little beard to the Japanese Dragon's chin . For the inside of the mouth, let's keep a black background for now.

Draw the Torso of the Japanese Dragon

While the head of the Japanese dragon resembles that of a lion, its body is distinctly serpentine . The back and belly must be distinguished. The belly typically has larger, horizontal scales, while the back is covered in smaller scales.

Draw the belly scales in a V shape , and add some notches and ridges to give them dimension. The center of each scale is bulging, almost like a spine. This is the center line you see. Draw lines along the center line of the belly. Try to make the scale conform to the shape of the Japanese dragon's body.

Draw the front legs of the Japanese dragon

Now draw the front legs and refine the details on the Japanese Dragon's body . Use small scales to define the body, rather than just drawing a smooth line. This breaks up the shape and gives it a bit more volume. Continue drawing curved lines along the sides of the body, separating the lower belly from the back. The Japanese Dragon's limbs are quite small and extend beyond the sides of the body. It's helpful to think of the claws as eagle talons. They are quite similar to a bird. Add a little fur to the backs of the Japanese Dragon's legs .

Draw a row of spikes running down the spine of the Japanese Dragon. Here, instead of drawing rigid, shark-fin shapes, we'll draw its crests like flickering flames . The hairs are very stylized. Try to think of each spike as a small flame twisting in the wind. This repeating shape is a strong design element that will draw the eye. Repeating shapes are generally quite interesting, but here they also serve to create an interesting silhouette for the overall form of the creature. 🐉

Draw the Tail of the Japanese Dragon

Continue drawing the serpentine shape of the Japanese Dragon, thinning its silhouette as you approach the tip of the tail . Finish the tail with a long, furry plume. To visualize the tip of the Japanese Dragon's tail, imagine a leaf fluttering in the wind.

Draw the rest of the belly . The body becomes a little thinner. Try drawing the Japanese Dragon's hind legs thinking of a dog's. They are a little thinner than the front legs. Really exaggerate the pose on this hind leg to give it a broad and imposing stance. The overall shape of the Japanese Dragon needs a bit more flair, so you can add two long ribbons of fur at the end of the tail. These shapes continue the back-and-forth movement of the body. By curving the ends of the fur towards the back of the body, the shape kind of closes in. With the two ribbons of fur and the two antlers, there is a sort of front-to-back symmetry. 🐉

Here's the final result in black, after erasing the guidelines! This Japanese dragon drawing is quite detailed; I hope everyone was able to follow along. As always, try taking some of the ideas from this tutorial and using them to create your own creatures. If you have any specific questions about " How to Draw a Japanese Dragon " or anything else, feel free to ask.

Color the Japanese Dragon

You can use the colors used above as inspiration to create your own Japanese Dragon Coloring Page . A beautiful Red Japanese Dragon drawing , in Asia, is a symbol of bravery and prosperity.

This tutorial on "How to Draw a Japanese Dragon" is coming to an end, but you can continue the fun by visiting our Dragon Shop or our Dragon Blog . Below, you'll find our collection of Dragon Rings, featuring jewelry adorned with the Japanese dragon.