To learn how to draw a dragon, start with a round head and a wide oval snout, add two horns, then draw a big round body with an oval belly. A foot, a small arm, a bat wing, a pointy tail and a few spikes finish a cute dragon in six easy steps.
This easy dragon drawing is built from circles and ovals, so it works for kids and for grown-ups who never draw. The free PDF has the step-by-step sheet, a tracing page, a practice sheet with a grid and a big coloring page, all on US Letter paper.
What’s in the free PDF
- Step-by-step sheet with 6 numbered steps; new lines are black, earlier lines are grey
- Tracing page with a large dragon in light grey to trace over
- Practice sheet with a small reference and two boxes with a light grid
- Coloring page with the finished dragon in bold outlines
How to draw a dragon step by step
- Head and snout. Draw a round head. Overlap a wide oval on its right side for the snout, and leave out the part of the head line that would run through the snout.
- Horns. Add two horns on top of the head that point back, away from the snout. Each one is a curved, pointy shape that starts on the head line.
- Body and belly. Draw a big oval body under the head, slightly to the left. Inside it, on the front side, draw a tall oval for the belly.
- Leg, foot and arm. Draw a curved line in the lower left of the body for the back leg, then a flat oval foot under the body with two small toes. Add a short arm on the front with three little claws.
- Wing and tail. Draw a bat wing on the back: a long top edge that ends in a point, then three scallops back to the body, and two lines for the wing bones. Add a long tail that curves to the left and ends in a triangle tip.
- Details. Add two spikes on the back of the head and two on the back. Finish with an eye, a nostril, a smile and four curved stripes across the belly.
The order matters more than the shapes: head first, then the body, then the parts that stick out. If the wing or the tail feels too hard, draw them very lightly first and go over the ones you like.
Easy dragon drawing: common mistakes and fixes
- The head is too small. A big round head is what makes a dragon look cute. Make the head about two thirds as wide as the body.
- The wing floats in the air. Start the wing lines inside the body edge so the wing looks attached to the back.
- The tail is too thin. Draw two lines that start wide at the body and meet at the tip, like a long, curved cone.
- Too many spikes. Four small spikes are enough. Add more later if you like the look.
Trace, practice, then color
Trace it first
If drawing freehand feels hard, start with the tracing page. Go over the grey lines with a pencil, pressing lightly, and you learn the shapes and their order without worrying about mistakes. Then try again on the practice sheet.
Practice on the grid
The practice sheet has a small finished dragon for reference and two boxes with a faint grid. Count how many squares wide and tall the reference is, then draw your dragon the same way. The grid keeps the parts the right size next to each other.
Color the finished drawing
Dragons can be any color. Try green with a yellow belly, purple with a pink belly, or blue with a light blue belly. Color the wing a shade darker than the body, and make the horns and claws white or cream.
Dragon drawing tips for kids
- Say the shapes out loud while you draw: circle, oval, oval, then the pointy parts.
- Use a pencil first and go over the final lines with a black marker.
- Give your dragon a personality: closed happy eyes, a puff of smoke from the nostril, or a tiny flame.
- Draw a second dragon facing the other way and turn them into friends.
Download the pages one by one
Prefer a single page? Click a link to open the full-size image, then print it or save it. The PDF with all pages and a cover is in the download box.
- How to draw a dragon: step-by-step sheet (PNG)
- a Dragon tracing page (PNG)
- a Dragon practice sheet with grid (PNG)
- a Dragon coloring page (PNG)
More to draw: how to draw a lion, how to draw a cat, 45 cute animal drawings and fun drawing ideas. For coloring, print our free dragon coloring pages and dinosaur coloring pages.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw a dragon?
Start with simple shapes: a circle for the head, an oval snout, and a big oval body. Then add horns, a wing, a tail and spikes. A chubby, sitting dragon is much easier than a flying one.
How do you draw a dragon wing?
Draw a long line up and out from the back that ends in a point. From the tip, draw three scallops (curves that bend toward the body) back down to the body, then add a line from the body to each scallop point for the wing bones.
How do you make a dragon drawing look cute?
Use a big round head, a short body, a large eye with a dot pupil and a small smile. Round shapes look friendly; sharp spikes and claws look scary, so keep those small.
What age is this dragon drawing for?
Kids from about age 5 can follow the steps, especially with the tracing page. Older kids and adults can use the practice sheet and add their own details.
