Want to learn how to draw a dragon flying?

I’ll be showing how to draw a dragon flying, so there’s quite a few steps involved, but don’t worry!

Each step comes with step by step images that make an easy dragon drawing.

Let’s get started!

Drawing Supplies Needed

You can use any drawing supplies to make a dragon sketch, but here are the best tools for drawing.

Step 1:

Start with a large circle and a smaller oval in front of it

Step 2:

Extending from the back of the circle we’re going to make the guidelines for our dragon’s body.

The first shape we’ll sketch is a straight line and then as if making a Z we’ll bring that line in, but round it out before going outwards.

Make sure the line has a large bump towards the back before creating an S shape for the tail.

Step 3:

We’re going to make the bottom of the body now.

Starting from the larger circle we’re going to make a very stylized “W” shape, coming up at the end with a short but straight line.

Following the example, we’re outlining the chest and the hindquarters with this line.

Step 4:

Let’s finish that tail off with a line that starts right below the sharp corner of the hindquarters of the dragon.

Make sure that you’re getting smaller as you go towards the tip of the tail!

Now to the head we’re going to connect the oval to the circle with very angular lines.

Keep in mind the snout shape and a big cheek.

We’re going to be mimicking the same kind of face shape from the first dragon in this series.

Step 5:

Let’s make a guideline for the horns.

At the top of the circle make 2 backward curving lines, one shorter than the other!

Step 6:

Now we’re going to add more guidelines for later steps.

Right at the back of the circle lets make 3 straight lines with the top one being the longest.

Then let’s start our leg guidelines with a “>” shape right after the widest part of the chest, and a straight / line at the beginning of the widest part of the hind quarters.

Step 7:

Okay, keep focusing on those legs! In front of the > we made at the chest area make a downward straight line, and moving to the hindquarters extend the angle of that little triangle shape before the tail.

Step 8:

Now we’re going to make flat lines along the bottom side of the legs.

They should end with an upward stroke and be very similar, only the front one should be shorter than the back one.

Step 9:

Now things are going to get a bit complicated.

We need to make the wings so the dragon can fly!

Let’s start with the one closest to the viewer: make a small (very small) upwards stroke from the top of the dragon where the front leg is, and extend it upwards in a slight curve.

From about 1/3 of the way through that curved line we’re going to make a second line going towards the direction of the head of the dragon.

Step 10:

Okay, now let’s flesh out that wing closest to the viewer.

From where we ended the line let’s extend it towards the tail in an upwards arc, but make sure it’s slightly angular!

Step 11:

Bring that line back to the body in a bat wing-like shape with a small curve at the base within the body.

For the back wing, we’re going to do the same thing, only thinner!

Now, remember the lines we made on the head?

Connect them like bat wings as well. Finally, the feet!

Curve the feet inward with a little claw sticking out and end it with a little round bump for the sole.

Step 12:

Time to erase the overlapping lines!

Finish the feet with the back claw and close off your horns!

Step 13:

Time for details.

On the face make a curved line to separate the top of the head from the lower jaw and add some teeth!

Add a little nostril to the tallest peak of the snout so our dragon can breathe!

From the inner dip of the snout extend a long shape almost like a lightning bolt with a rounded edge towards the back of the head, under that make an almond shape.

Now for the wings we won’t need to do much for the back one, but the front one will need to have some separation between the wing, er, bone?

And the leathery part of the wings!

To do this we just make another line mimicking the top guideline of the wing and close it off at the end.

Like the tail, make sure it is smaller towards the back.

Add a little claw to the peak of that wing!

Finally, you can add ridges to your horns or not, it’s up to you here!

Personalize it!

Step 14:

Add any remaining details you may want and you’re done!

Here I added scales on the belly and eye ridge, as well as darkened the claws and outlined the wing ligaments!

Thank you Carolyn for this amazing step-by-step process.

You can view her social @ClazDesign if you enjoyed her illustrations.

Check out her shop where she has amazing illustrations.

Other related topics that’ll help you draw animals:

Yield: How to Draw a Flying Dragon

How to Draw a Flying Dragon Printable Guide

How to draw a Flying Dragon

Active Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Estimated Cost $0

Materials

Pencil
Paper
Or tablet and stylus

Tools

Pencil
Paper
Or tablet and stylus

Instructions

Step 1:
Start with a large circle and a smaller oval in front of it.
Step 2:
Extending from the back of the circle we're going to make the guidelines for our dragon's body. The first shape we'll sketch is a straight line and then as if making a Z we'll bring that line in, but round it out before going outwards. Make sure the line has a large bump towards the back before creating an S shape for the tail.
Step 3:
We're going to make the bottom of the body now. Starting from the larger circle we're going to make a very stylized "W" shape, coming up at the end with a short but straight line. Following the example, we're outlining the chest and the hind quarters with this line.
Step 4:
Let's finish that tail off with a line that starts right below the sharp corner of the hind quarters of the dragon. Make sure that you're getting smaller as you go towards the tip of the tail!

Now to the head we're going to connect the oval to the circle with very angular lines. Keep in mind the snout shape and a big cheek. We're going to be mimicking the same kind of face shape from the first dragon in this series.
Step 5:
Let's make a guideline for the horns. At the top of the circle make 2 backward curving lines, one shorter than the other!
Step 6:
Now we're going to add more guidelines for later steps. Right at the back of the circle let's make 3 straight lines with the top one being the longest.

Then let's start our leg guidelines with a ">" shape right after the widest part of the chest, and a straight / line at the beginning of the widest part of the hind quarters.
Step 7:
Okay, keep focusing on those legs! In front of the > we made at the chest area make a downward straight line, and moving to the hindquarters extend the angle of that little triangle shape before the tail.
Step 8:
Now we're going to make flat lines along the bottom side of the legs. They should end with an upward stroke and be very similar, only the front one should be shorter than the back one.
Step 9:
Now things are going to get a bit complicated. We need to make the wings so the dragon can fly!

Let's start with the one closest to the viewer: make a small (very small) upwards stroke from the top of the dragon where the front leg is, and extend it upwards in a slight curve.

From about 1/3 of the way through that curved line we're going to make a second line going towards the direction of the head of the dragon.
Step 10:
Okay, now let's flesh out that wing closest to the viewer. From where we ended the line let's extend it towards the tail in an upwards arc, but make sure it's slightly angular!
Step 11:
Bring that line back to the body in a bat wing-like shape with a small curve at the base within the body. For the back wing, we're going to do the same thing, only thinner!

Now, remember the lines we made on the head?

Connect them like bat wings as well. Finally, the feet! Curve the feet inward with a little claw sticking out and end it with a little round bump for the sole.
Step 12:
Time to erase the overlapping lines! Finish the feet with the back claw and close off your horns!
Step 13:
Time for details. On the face make a curved line to separate the top of the head from the lower jaw and add some teeth! Add a little nostril to the tallest peak of the snout so our dragon can breathe!

From the inner dip of the snout extend a long shape almost like a lightning bolt with a rounded edge towards the back of the head, under that make an almond shape.

Now for the wings, we won't need to do much for the back one, but the front one will need to have some separation between the wing, er, bone? and the leathery part of the wings!

To do this we just make another line mimicking the top guideline of the wing and close it off at the end. Like the tail, make sure it is smaller towards the back. Add a little claw to the peak of that wing!
Finally, you can add ridges to your horns or not, it's up to you here! Personalize it!
Step 14:
Add any remaining details you may want and you're done! Here I added scales on the belly and eye ridge, as well as darkened the claws and outlined the wing ligaments!