Step by Step - How to Draw Dragons

Dragons have fascinated and terrified mankind since he first used the end of a burnt stick to sketch drawings on a cave wall. But, often, the idea of drawing a dragon is more daunting than the idea of coming face to face with one.

The truth is, drawing dragons can be simple, fun and fascinating. Here is a step-by-step approach that might help you.

1. How to Draw Dragons - Step 1: Find Inspiration

Many dragons seem to be a conglomerate of several different animals. They often have scales and fangs like snakes, more menacing teeth, like alligators and crocodiles. The can have head structures like lions, snakes or even horses. Wings like birds, bats or dinosaurs like pterodactyls.

So, decide the characteristics you want your dragon to have---big, imposing and powerful; swift, agile and tricky; or even old, wise and benevolent---and take a look at animals with similar traits. Look at the way their bodies are designed...how they move...what they look like when they're alert, when they're attacking, when they're sleeping.

This will provide a well-spring of ideas to draw upon when you're ready to draw.

2. How to Draw Dragons - Step 2: Lay the groundwork.

There are countless approaches to starting a drawing of any kind. Some people begin by breaking the subject down into simple geometric shapes and using that as a sort of framework to build on. Others try to lightly sketch out the silhouette until they get the right look, then they fill in the details. Still others start at one point, then draw out from there, adding in details as they go, giving the drawing a very organic feel.

There is no "right way" to do this. Play with the different approaches to see what works for you.

3. How to Draw Dragons - Step 3: Fill in the details

Once you have the basic structure figured out, it's time to fill in the detail. Add in scales or armor plates, horns, teeth, scars, smoke or fire if needed. Work a part of the background into the drawing.

These are the things that are going to give your dragon personality and really make the drawing your own. Don't be afraid to try something (that's what erasers are for). Nobody HAS to see it if you don't want them to.

4. How to Draw Dragons - Step 4: Add light and weight

Once you have all of the features of your dragon and your landscape in place, it's time to add an extra dimension of realism. Pick a direction for your light source---for example, imagine a lightbulb in the upper left-hand corner of your paper---and add in shadows on all of the edges opposite of that source. Add shadows to he back of the horns and teeth...the backs of the legs...under the belly...anywhere where light from your source wouldn't reach.

This will help make your dragon look more real, more three dimensional, and give it a sense of weight. It also helps set the tone and mood of the piece.

Now, naturally, it's difficult to fully grasp all of this from a simple text article. To see a collection of short videos that break down this process in different styles from different artists, visit http://drawingstepbystep.com/step-by-step-how-to-draw-dragons/

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