If you want to draw dinosaurs, you don't need a step-by-step formula. You just need your eyes, some reference photos, and a bit of imagination. I take a loose, observational approach to drawing, and even though dinosaurs are long gone, there are still ways to observe them—at least indirectly. Birds, reptiles, fossils, museum reconstructions, even old National Geographic illustrations—all of these give you starting points to build from.
When I draw dinosaurs, I start by observing and drawing real animals. Crocodiles, cassowaries, monitor lizards, and large flightless birds are all great references. These modern creatures carry the structure, movement, and mystery that can help make your dinosaur drawings feel alive. I block in large shapes based on form, light, and shadow, not outlines. Then I refine and exaggerate details as I go. This method not only helps keep the drawing process enjoyable, but it also leads to more believable creatures.
This article is for anyone who wants to draw dinosaurs in a more natural, expressive way—without relying on rigid step-by-step formulas. If you do want a little structure or you're just getting started, you might try sketching specific species like a T-Rex, Velociraptor, or Triceratops.
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Key Points
- Use real-life animals (like reptiles and birds) as reference to inspire believable dinosaur drawings.
- Start with large shapes created by light, shadow, and form—not outlines.
- Let yourself draw loosely and build detail as you go, instead of aiming for perfection early.
How to draw dinosaurs using real-life observation
Since we can't observe dinosaurs directly, I lean heavily on creatures that still exist today. You'd be surprised how much inspiration you can get from birds and reptiles. Birds have the posture, limbs, and plumage. Reptiles have the skin texture and muscular shapes. Combine elements from both, and suddenly you're on to something.
When you're looking for references, try studying specific traits instead of the whole animal. For instance:
- How does a monitor lizard's belly flatten when it lies down?
- What kind of scales does a crocodile have around its eyes?
- How do cassowaries use their crest and neck skin to signal?
- What is the foot structure of a chicken or ostrich, and how does it compare to what we imagine for theropods?
I usually start with a few quick sketches of animals that remind me of dinosaurs. These sketches aren’t meant to be perfect; they’re more like visual notes. I pay attention to posture, gesture, and proportion. Once I have a few loose studies, I might begin combining different traits into one imagined creature.
A cassowary's head can inspire a dinosaur with a dramatic crest. A komodo dragon's body shape helps when sketching massive, grounded lizard-like dinos. An ostrich's legs and movement are great for agile raptor designs. This kind of mixing-and-matching makes the process more creative and less constrained by trying to be anatomically exact.
Start with large shapes and gesture
I always begin with simple, sweeping shapes. Think about the motion first. Is your dinosaur stalking, roaring, climbing? Gesture drawing helps set the tone. Then I block in the big forms—the ribcage, hips, tail, limbs.
Gesture drawings are usually just a few lines that describe movement and posture. They're loose, fast, and fluid. I often draw these with a pencil or pen held lightly, and I try not to get caught up in details. I'm just trying to capture the energy of the pose.
Once I have the gesture down, I add volume by thinking about the three-dimensional forms. I visualize the ribcage as an oval, the pelvis as a wider shape, and the limbs as cylinders or cones. I also start to define the spine and tail in curves that suggest weight and balance.
Instead of outlining the contour, I look at how the light hits the body. Where does it curve toward the light, and where does it fall into shadow? I often draw these forms with loose lines and adjust as I go. Nothing has to be perfect right away.
Add textures and details last
Once the main form feels solid, I start refining. That might mean adding rough scaly skin, bony ridges, or feather-like strokes. I keep my lines gestural and layered. If you're using ink or ballpoint pen, you can use crosshatching or contour lines to show texture and direction.
I usually wait until the very end to add any surface texture, because too much detail too early can distract from getting the forms right. I ask myself: does this shape look like it has weight? Are the limbs positioned naturally? Is the tail balanced?
Then I move into things like skin folds around joints, irregular scales around the head and limbs, or the direction of feathers or quills if I’m adding those. These features can really bring a dinosaur sketch to life, especially if they follow the direction of the form. Textures should wrap around the body, not just sit on top of it.
Don't worry about making your dinosaur 100% accurate. Focus more on believability than scientific perfection. If you want to add feathers to a Velociraptor or give your T-Rex some lizard-like skin folds, go for it. Realism in this case comes more from structure and lighting than from exact historical accuracy.
Practice with short studies and sketches
I like to warm up with 2-minute gesture drawings of birds or reptiles. Then I'll do a longer sketch combining a few features. It's like building your own creature. Maybe you give it the legs of an emu, the body of a crocodile, and the head of a parrot.
Doing short studies helps keep your hand moving and trains your brain to see form quickly. You can even practice from YouTube videos of animals moving around. Pause the video and sketch a still frame, then play it and find another frame to draw. These quick moments help you build confidence and intuition.
You don't need to finish every drawing. Sketching dinosaurs is a great way to build your understanding of anatomy, movement, and creativity all at once. Plus, it's fun. You can treat each sketch like an experiment, which makes the process way less stressful and way more satisfying.
