How to Draw Dragons Part 2 (An Illustrated Guide)

There are so many different types of dragons that I wanted to continue from my last article, and add steps for drawing a few more.

I find it interesting that there are dragons with no wings, some with wings but no arms or legs, and even some in-between. This article will illustrate how to draw four of these quite unusual types of dragons.

Wyrm

The wyrm is the oldest dragon from European folklore. It was a very snake-like dragon with no wings, arms or legs. Wyrms are usually very mean-spirited and are often found guarding things like treasure or valuables. Wyrms are usually found in or near the ocean. They were found in rivers and ponds at one point but went to the sea to avoid pollution and human interference. Wyrms do not like humans very much.

Step One

Draw a fairly large circle for the start of your wyrm’s head, then a smaller circle within the larger one for the basis of your wyrm’s eye (or eyes, based off of pose). Draw a line that resembles an S (the line does not have to be a perfect S) for the basis of the body shape.

Step Two

Draw another S shape that connects to the first one, to make a basis for the body shape of your wyrm. Draw a smaller circle in the eye circle, for your wyrm’s pupil.

Step Three

Draw a curved line going down the body shape, to separate the belly from the back of the wyrm. Add a few spikes (2 or 3 you decide how many) to the back of your wyrm’s head, and adjust them until you get them how you like them. Add a crease above the eye for an eyebrow. Add two triangles (or another shape if preferred) around the eye area, sort of like a marking of sorts.

Step Four

Add the jaws and teeth of your wyrm. The mouth can be open or closed. If yours is closed, don’t draw the teeth. You can add shapes that resemble markings if you’d like to. You can move the eyebrow mark from the previous step if necessary to make room for other face markings. Erase any unnecessary guidelines.

Step Five

Time to color your wyrm! You can make it complex or simple in terms of color scheme. You can also add a background if you’d like.

Amphitere

The Amphitere lacks both arms and legs, but does have wings. It is sometimes depicted as plumed, or having feathers on it. Amphiteres are often admired for their colorful appearances. They have a hypnotic gaze. It is said that if the fangs of an Amphitere were put in the ground, a loyal army would emerge from the area that the fangs were placed.

Step One

Draw in the basic body shapes for your Amphitere. Remember that Amphiteres have large, and often bat-like wings, and bird-like snouts. The body of Amphiteres are snakelike, so be sure to keep that in mind when drawing your Amphitere. Add one wing during this step, and the other will be added later.

Step Two

Add more structure to the guidelines done in the previous step, and make sure to erase any unneeded construction lines as you go. Don’t forget to add the other wing, and make the pupil shape in the eye area.

Step Three

You can shade if you want, then it’s time to color your dragon. Amphiteres are often depicted as very colorful, so be sure to keep that in mind when you are finishing up.

Wyvern

Wyverns are carnivorous, energetic creatures. They usually have two legs, bat-like wings, and barbed tails. Wyverns do not have any arms. Wyverns often appeared in coats of arms during the medieval period, and were often used as symbols of courage.

Step One

Sketch the basic shapes that create your wyvern, and use a horizontal face line to place the eye accordingly. Then draw a pointed and curved triangle shape for your wyvern’s mouth, and a whiplike tail shape as well.

Step Two

Continue with the basic shapes, and add the shapes for the wings, mouth, curled legs, and spikes along the head and at the end of the tail. Refine the eye a little, add a nostril, and a couple of teeth.

Step Three

Focus on the head by further refining the eye, adding more sharp teeth, and adding detail to the ear. Add detail to the wing and the tail spikes.

Step Four

Erase any unneeded guidelines. To create the final shapes of your wyvern, add the other leg, and the pupil to the eye.

Step Five

Time to shade or color your wyvern. Wyverns can be any color or combination of colors, so you can definitely get creative with colors here. With my wyvern I added the foot claws as part of the coloring step.

Amphisbaena

Amphisbaenas are small, ant-eating creatures which function as dragons in certain regional mythologies. However, they don’t seem very dragon-like. Amphisbaenas are warm-blooded reptiles, and get around by rolling. Because there are two heads, one head grabs the mouth of the other, and the creature then rolls around like a hula hoop, or a tire. It is believed that the skin of Amphisbaenas will cure colds, as well as help lumberjacks cut down trees.

Step One

Sketch the shape of your Amphisbaena by drawing a curved shape, with circles on both ends for the basis of the creature’s two heads. Be sure to draw vertical guidelines on both circles.

Step Two

Start to draw the basic features of both your Amphisbaena’s heads, using the vertical lines as a guide. You can erase the lines later on. Add horns to your Amphisbaena. Or, one head could have ears, and the other horns. Make sure to add eye shapes, a wide nose, an open mouth with teeth and visible tongue on one head, and a closed mouth on the other head. Then draw a line separating the back from the belly of the creature. Be sure to erase any unneeded guidelines relating to the heads as you go.