how to draw a realistic dragon

The idea of dragons not only appeals to young children, but people of all ages are also fascinated with them.

The peculiarity of this legendary creature's appearance and the mystery about its existence are what make this legendary creature an interesting subject to draw.

However, their intricate details and patterns also make them very challenging to draw.

Fortunately, we have curated a step-by-step tutorial on how to draw a dragon, summarized in 9 easy and simple steps. Drawing Dragon in 9 Easy Steps

You can apply these steps whether you want to draw a realistic-looking dragon or an animated one. Each step is accompanied with comprehensible illustrations that serve as your visual guide as you follow the instructions.

Whether you are a novice or an expert in drawing, we're sure you can follow these steps effortlessly. What's more, you can add your own style and improvise in every step.

Mix and match colors to personalize your artwork and make it unique. Feel free to let your imagination wander and unleash your creativity.

Have fun and use your artistic skills!

What's in this Blog Post

How to Draw a Dragon — Let's get started!
- Step 1
- Step 2 — Sketch the Dragon's Face
- Step 3 — Next, Draw the Dragon's Body
- Step 4 — Now, Draw the Dragon's Feet
- Step 5 — Then, Add the Dragon's Tail
- Step 6 — Next, Draw the Dragon's Wings
- Step 7 — Add Features on the Dragon's Body
- Step 8 — Complete the Dragon's Facial Features
- Step 9 — Fill In the Details and Patterns
- Your Dragon Drawing is Complete!

How to Draw a Dragon — Let's get started!

Step 1

Starting at the upper left corner of your paper, draw an outline of the dragon's face. The dragon can be facing either its left or right side, depending on which way you prefer.

Keep in mind to create enough space for the dinosaur's significantly huge eyes, nose, and mouth. The outline must look relatively similar to that of a reptile.

Avoid drawing the head of the dragon in the middle of the paper to leave sufficient room where you can draw the dinosaur's body. The body requires a much larger space than the head.

Step 2 — Sketch the Dragon's Face

Fill in the details of the dinosaur's face. Start with a pair of huge circle shapes for the eyes, and then draw two parallel curved lines to create a distinctively large nostrils.

Remember, dragons share many physical characteristics with a reptile, so make sure that your drawing looks like a winged and horned serpent, lizard, crocodile, alligator, or iguana as much as possible.

Step 3 — Next, Draw the Dragon's Body

Draw the body of the dinosaur attached to its face. You can make its body as chubby or as thin as you want. If you want to make your dinosaur appear beefy, draw a bloated tummy.

On the other hand, if you prefer its body to be slim and lean, emphasize its muscular build. Sky's the limit to your imagination; take advantage of it!

Step 4 — Now, Draw the Dragon's Feet

Attach a pair of feet with three fingers to the dragon's limbs. Dragons are typically portrayed having three toes/claws because the Japanese believe that Eastern dragons originated in their native homeland.

However, feel free to step out of the ordinary! Create as many fingers as you want your dragon to have. There are no limits to creativity!

Don't forget to draw extremely sharp claws—it's one of the distinctive physical features of a dragon!

Step 5 — Then, Add the Dragon's Tail

Add a tail attached to the lower portion of the dragon's back. Similar to the body, you can make it thick or thin, and long or short.

Draw an upside down heart shape at the tip of the tail for a finishing look. In other illustrations of dragons, there are even sharp spikes encompassing the dragon's entire tail. Don't hesitate to customize the features of the dragon's tail. After all, it's your work of art!

Step 6 — Next, Draw the Dragon's Wings

Draw a pair of wings connected to the dragon's back. The wings of a dragon bear resemblance to that of a bat. Their wings share many physical features, including its skin-like surface as well as the layered patterns at the bottom of the wings.

Feel free to draw the wings however you want. Unleash your creativity and allow your hands to follow your imagination.

Step 7 — Add Features on the Dragon's Body

Now, it's time to draw the features on the dragon's body, including its horns, ears, as well as the patterned ridges at the top of its head.

The dragon's ear can look like a smaller version of its wings, so you can draw the ear exactly how you have drawn its wings.

Draw two pointed triangular shapes that look like fangs at the top of its head to create the horns. You can make it as long or as short, and as thick or as thin as you prefer it to be.

Lastly, add a few ridges on the surface of the dragon's head for an extra detail, making your drawing look more realistic.

Step 8 — Complete the Dragon's Facial Features

Add shading to the eyes and nose to create an illusion of depth. You can leave out two bubbles of white space in the dragon's eyes to create a "gleaming eyes" effect. The eyes give a hint of expression and emotion to the dragon.

Draw parallel lines on the dragon's horns, ears, and wings for a more realistic effect. Also, don't forget to draw a set of sharp teeth to make your dragon look ferocious!

Step 9 — Fill In the Details and Patterns

Incorporate the similar parallel lines pattern from the previous step to the dragon's belly and on the bottom of its tail. And while you're at it, draw several circular patterns all over the dragon's body to complete the look!

As you can see in this image, the artwork is nearly complete! The only thing it is missing is a dash of vivid and vibrant colors!

Finally, here is the most exciting part—filling in the colors for your awesome drawing! This is the part where you can show off your artistic skills and your ability to mix and match various colors.

Dragons come in a wide range of colors across different cultures. There's a gold dragon, a blue dragon, a black dragon, and many more! Basically, dragons exist in nearly every color there is.

Have fun playing with colors and watch as your dragon ultimately comes to life! Dragon Drawing – 9 Steps

Your Dragon Drawing is Complete!

We hope you enjoy this step-by-step tutorial on how to draw a dragon. With this guide, you can draw and color a dragon along with its complex features and elaborate details in no time.

And the most fun part is, you can customize its physical attributes and play with various colors as much as you like! While you're at it, why not try using different coloring tools as well?

Once you've finished your masterpiece, we're certain you must be feeling very proud of yourself—as you should be!

Completing this dragon drawing is definitely fulfilling. Make sure to show off your work of art and share it on our Facebook page and on Pinterest. We're sure it looks amazing!

We can't wait to see your very own unique version of a dragon! How to Draw a Dragon in 9 Easy Steps