If you know how to start, you can actually draw a dinosaur pretty easily! Use a pencil to make several circles or ovals for each part of the dinosaur's body. After that, connect the circles with the outline. Erase the guide circles until you have a dinosaur sketch ready to color. Once you understand the process of drawing the four types of dinosaurs that will be mentioned in this article, you can change the arrangement of the basic shapes to draw dinosaurs in different poses. After that, use the circle to draw any dinosaur you want!
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Method 1 of 4: Drawing Stegosaurus
Step 1. Start by drawing 2 ovals horizontally as the head and body of the dinosaur
Make a small oval or circle as the head of the stegosaurus. After that, move a little to the right and make a bigger oval for the dinosaur's body. Leave enough room for the neck. This space or gap has a width along the diameter of the first circle created.
- If you want to make a stegosaurus with a more stooped spine, divide the large circle or oval in half. Draw a smaller circle for the leading half of its body, and a larger circle for the back of the dinosaur's body.
- Since the circle or oval you draw will later be erased, make sure you draw it with a pencil. If you are creating a digital image, create circles or ovals on different layers.
Step 2. Add a slanted oval on the inside of the body for the hind legs of the stegosaurus
Before you start adding the legs, start by drawing a slanted oval inside the large oval. Adjust the position of the shape so that the top of the oval is pointing to the right, and the bottom is pointing to the left. This oval will be the back leg of the stegosaurus so you will need to place it on the right end of its body.
Step 3. Make four small ovals under the body as the front and hind legs
Draw two ovals on the right side and front of his body, as well as two more ovals on the left and back of his body (when viewed from the front). Straighten the ovals you drew to make them look elongated (rather than wide). To make the stegosaurus look like it's walking, tilt the two center ovals toward each other; these two legs will become his left foot. Meanwhile, tilt the leftmost and rightmost legs away from each other; both of them will be the right leg of the dinosaur.
- Make the leftmost oval or circle “apart” from the body. Three other ovals or circles can "overlay" the large oval.
- To make a stegosaurus that isn't walking, simply point all of its legs down.
Step 4. Complete the legs by making four small ovals under each leg
Draw one vertical oval under the forelegs. Overlap the leg with this oval to form a "knee". After that, draw two horizontal ovals under the two middle feet so that the feet look like they're resting on or on the ground. Finally, add a slanted oval on the hind legs.
- You may need to add a small oval or rectangle to connect the top of the second leg to the leg. Tilt the oval or rectangle forward so you can form the joint.
- Tilt the oval of the hind legs to give the impression that only the tips of the stegosaurus feet are touching the ground.
- These four ovals should be smaller than the ones you drew as legs.
Step 5. Draw a line extending from the body to form the neck and tail
Connect the head to the dinosaur's body using two curved lines. Draw a "U" line for the top of the neck. Add a subtle curved line underneath as the lower part of the neck. Extend this line from the center of the head to the bottom of the dinosaur's body. After that, draw a long pointed triangle that appears from the back of the body. This triangle will be the tail of the dinosaur.
Try to draw the head and tail at the same height. Don't make one of them look taller
Step 6. Make some plates along the spine of the stegosaurus
Start by drawing a few straight lines pointing up from the spine. Draw slightly shorter lines on the neck and tail at a closer distance than the lines on the back. After that, draw one plate on each line and use that line as the center of the plate. Make sure that each plate is in the shape of a pentagon, with a triangle at the top, and two lines angled inward to connect the triangle to the dinosaur's body.
- Tilt the lines to make the plates appear slightly spread out.
- If you want, you can add a second slab row that appears from behind the main slab row. Just draw small triangles as the top of the plates.
- If you are creating a digital image, add another layer to draw the outline of the plate.
Step 7. Finish the outline of the stegosaurus by connecting the created ovals
Once all the ovals and plates are created, you can finish the outline of the dinosaur's body and legs. Draw the outline of the head, neck, body, and tail using one continuous line. Draw a line up (back), around the tail, down the belly, and back to the head and neck. After that, extend the lines around the left and right sides of each foot, and add small curved lines under each foot as the toe or toe.
If you're drawing a stegosaurus right away digitally, outline it on the same layer as the outline of the plate
Step 8. Delete all ovals to reveal the main outline
Carefully erase the guide ovals you drew at the start. Make sure you only have the outline of the body, legs, and spine plate.
- After seeing how the outline of the image looks, you can add details to the face.
- You are free to add a wrinkled texture to the joint between the leg and torso, as well as the curvature of the neck (towards the top).
Step 9. Color your image
Use colored pencils, markers, or crayons to color the dinosaurs. Feel free to add any patterns and textures you want. Try using different colors for the lower belly and plates to make the image look more interesting.
Read books about dinosaurs for inspiration on the colors and patterns you can add to the stegosaurus pictures
Method 2 of 4: Drawing a Tyrannosaurus
Step 1. Start by drawing two overlapping circles as the dinosaur's body
First, draw a large circle on the page. After that, create another circle that overlaps the top right side of the first circle. Position the two circles close together so that the body still looks small, but still has dimension.
Make the second circle slightly larger than the first circle
Step 2. Draw a sideways “V” shape for the dinosaur's jaw
In the upper left corner of the larger circle, make a sideways "V" shape two circles wide. The bottom line is shorter than the top line. Let's say you're drawing the hands of a clock. The minute hand points to the number “9”, while the hour hand points to the number “8”.
- Leave some space between the "V" shape and the circle. You don't need to think about how to connect the two at this stage.
- If you want to add more detail at this stage, bend the straight lines.
Step 3. Use a few straight lines to connect the jaw to the body
At the top end of the "V" shape, draw a short line pointing upwards. From the end of the line, draw a horizontal line to the right. Finally, at the end of the horizontal line, draw a slanted line that touches the circle of the dinosaur's body. Place the tip of the pencil at the end of the bottom line of the "V" shape and draw another short line downward, followed by a longer horizontal line to the right until it connects with the dinosaur's body.
This section will be the beginning of the dinosaur's face
Step 4. Draw another straight line from the top of the jaw towards the bottom
Start the line from the tip of the top of the jaw. Extend the line to the center of the bottom of the "V" shape. After that, connect the line to the inside of the “V” mouth.
- Imagine a dial. The lines you draw are like clock hands pointing to the number “4”.
- Now, it's as if you can see the palate of a tyrannosaur.
Step 5. Create a horizontal oval on the right side of the body as the tail of the dinosaur
Make an oval along the length of the dinosaur's body, but make sure the shape is flatter. Slightly tilt the back (right side) of the oval upwards to make it look like the tail is pointing up, not down.
Leave a small space between this oval and the dinosaur's body. You can connect the two later
Step 6. Add several pairs of overlapping ovals as dinosaur arms
Draw the right arm of the tyrannosaur by making a small horizontal oval under the head. Override this oval on its body (the larger circle). After that, connect the oval with the smaller oval on its left side as the forearm. Next, create a vertical oval inside the smaller body circle. Connect the horizontal oval to the bottom of the vertical oval to make it look like a folded arm.
You are free to adjust the angle of the ovals to create different arm poses
Step 7. Draw two pairs of medium-sized ovals stacked on top of each other as hind legs
For the legs of the tyrannosaur, you will need to make ovals that are as wide as the tail oval, but slightly shorter. Draw one of the ovals on the left side of the body and override it on the base circle of the body. Finish with a second oval tilted downwards to create the look of bent knees. After that, create one additional oval on the right side of the dinosaur's body and add a slightly smaller oval below it for the other leg.
Make sure the ends of both legs end at the same point or height (inline)
Step 8. Draw some straight lines for the fingers and toes of the dinosaur
Add two curved lines at the end of each arm as dinosaur claws. After that, draw two lines from under the hind legs. Since the tyrannosaur's right leg (located on the left side of the page) is tilted, use two lines that form a right angle. Add two straight lines for the left leg (it's on the right side of the page). Give three lines as the toes, with one shorter line at the back of the right foot as the fourth toe.
At this stage, you have roughly made the main shapes. These shapes will serve as basic sketches to which you can add more detail
Step 9. Use the main shapes in the sketch as a basis for adding outlines and details
Outline the ovals you made for the front and hind legs. Bold straight lines to create a more realistic look of the toes and paws. Connect the body to the neck and tail, and bold the outlines of the large shapes to emphasize the shape of the dinosaur's head. To create realistic details, use squiggly lines on the outline of the head and mouth, as well as the toes. Use smoother curved lines for the dinosaur's body and legs.
- First, focus on the outline of the tyrannosaur's body parts. After that, add more subtle or intricate details, such as teeth, claws, and eyes.
- Add wrinkles around the eyes as eyelids.
Step 10. Erase all the original guide lines or shapes to get the final sketch
Once you've drawn the outlines and details, delete the ovals and straight lines that were previously created as guides. Use a small eraser to erase small parts.
- If you accidentally delete some parts of the main image, simply re-draw the details with a pencil before erasing again.
- At this stage, you can draw some thin lines to mark the parts that will be colored differently.
Step 11. Color the created dinosaur image
Use colored pencils, crayons, or markers to color the illustrations. Try adding a line around the belly and bottom of the tail to give it texture. Paint the parts a lighter color, and use a darker color with spots for the upper body to make the dinosaur look like it has a more realistic reptile skin texture. You can also have fun using your imagination to add color and texture to your images.
Use red on the inside of the mouth to mark the tongue, and paint the back of the mouth a darker color to add dimension. As a result, your dinosaur will look like it's roaring loudly
Method 3 of 4: Drawing a Pterodactyl
Step 1. Start by making curved cross lines for the spine and arms
First, draw a curved vertical line as the dinosaur's spine. After that, add horizontal lines with clearer curves. Adjust the line so that it looks like the letter “U”, but is smoother or sloping. Make sure the second line crosses the first line to form a plus sign or cross. The horizontal line created will be the pterodactyl arm.
Change the angles of the arch if you want the dinosaur to fly in a different direction or angle
Step 2. Use small circles and triangles to draw the head and beak
Draw a small circle at the top of the spine for the head. Add a small triangle in the top right corner as a crown. After that, make two sharp triangles that extend down the left side of the head. The two triangles will be the beaks of the dinosaurs.
Make sure the two triangles are kept apart if you want to create an open beak, or glue the two positions together if you want a closed beak or mouth
Step 3. Stack two flat ovals on top of the spine as the neck and body of the dinosaur
Add one slender vertical oval along the top of the spine as the neck. Make sure this oval touches the dinosaur's head. After that, make a slightly larger (vertical) oval on the spine. Start at the bottom of the wing and leave some space at the lower end of the spine.
Step 4. Make three triangles as legs and tail
At the bottom of the body oval you just created, draw a small triangle as the tail of the dinosaur. Add this triangle at the lower end of the spine. On either side of the tail, draw another slightly wider triangle. Draw the legs by adding four straight lines at the end of each leg, then connecting each line in an inverted “U” shape to create the webbed look of the feet.
Tilt your legs outward so that the pterodactyl looks like it's flying
Step 5. Create a sideways “V” shape as a wing
At the end of the line you drew as the arm, draw a long line, then at the end, draw the line downwards. The line created has a length that is approximately the same as the length of the original arm line. After that, add another line to connect the tip of the wing to the ankle. Make sure you bend the drawn lines to form a more natural looking wing.
- Sketch the base of the wing by drawing a curved line between the ankle and tail.
- To define the sleeves, draw another line under the first arm line to make the sleeves look thicker. After that, use some small ovals to create the hands and fingers.
- For proper proportions, the length of each wing is equal to the combined length of the dinosaur's body and beak.
Step 6. Finish the outline of the image
Bold the lines around the wings, body, legs, and head to form the outline of the pterodactyl. Use a single line to connect the outline sketches of the head, crown, and beak. You can also use a single line around the outline sketch of the body and legs.
Add dots on the face and beak as eyes and nostrils
Step 7. Erase the guide lines and color the pterodactyl image
Finally, delete the ovals and guide crosses until you have only the outline of the image. Use colored pencils, markers, or crayons to add color and texture to the drawing.
Paint the wings a different color from the dinosaur's body color if you wish
Method 4 of 4: Drawing Velociraptor
Step 1. Start by drawing two circles as the head and body
Make a large circle for the body. After that, add a medium-sized circle in the upper right corner of the body. Leave some space between the two so you can later make the neck.
You don't need to make a perfect circle. It doesn't matter if the circle looks a bit flat
Step 2. Make a “U” shape of the head to create the muzzle
To draw a velociraptor looking backwards, draw a "U" shape on the left side of the head so that the muzzle is at the top of its body. Make a sideways “U” shape, with the ends of the top and bottom lines connecting to the top and bottom of the head circle.
If you want to create a forward-looking dinosaur, place a "U" shape on the right side of the head
Step 3. Draw squiggly lines to create the neck and tail
Connect the bottom of the head to the body using two curved lines. Draw a shorter line on the left side and curve it inward. Leave the line on the right side longer to keep it connected to the right side of the dinosaur's body. This line bends inward first, then outward as it approaches or reaches the dinosaur's body. After that, draw a sideways “V” shape from the two curved lines as the tail of the dinosaur.
Start the tail from the left side of the body. Velociraptor has a long tail so you can draw a line twice the length of its body
Step 4. Draw some ovals to make the arms and hands
For the dinosaur's right arm, make three flat ovals for the upper arm, forearm, and hand. Stack the upper arm with the body, and tilt the other two ovals outward to form a bent arm. Use the two ovals to form the left arm that sticks out the other side of the body. Place these two ovals on top of the previous “set” of ovals.
- Draw three lines at the end of each hand to form the claws.
- Make sure the oval on the hand is positioned upright to indicate that the dinosaur's hand is pointing downwards.
Step 5. Use two pairs of ovals to form the legs
For each leg, start with a thick vertical oval as the upper leg or leg. You can taper this oval to make the top look wider, and the bottom (towards the knees) appear slimmer. Add a shorter, slimmer oval at the end as the lower leg. Tilt the upper leg towards the left, and the lower leg towards the right so that the dinosaur appears to be bending its knees.
Make an oval for the foot in the foreground on the left side. The oval can be drawn wider or thicker than the foot in the background (on the right)
Step 6. Add a trapezoid under the legs as the dinosaur's legs
Create a shape that looks like a right-angled trapezoid. You just need to draw a straight line on the left side, and a sloping line on the right side. Connect the two with vertical lines above and below. Add some thin lines or triangles under the feet as claws.
Draw a claw on the right side of each leg
Step 7. Thicken the lines around the circle shapes to form a sketch of the dinosaur
Use a single continuous line around the head, body, and tail to connect the three sections. After that, draw another line around all the ovals of the arm to form a realistic arm and hand. Do the same for the legs to connect the oval and trapezoid.
- Add a jagged line for the mouth.
- Make an oval as the eye of the dinosaur. Add a vertical line in it as a pupil.
- Draw some small triangles on the ends of the hands and feet as claws.
Step 8. Delete the guide shapes you created and add details
After completing the main outline, delete the ovals and other guide shapes that you used as the basics of the dinosaur sketch. Once all the unneeded lines are removed, you are free to add details to the image.
- Create wrinkles and muscle lines using squiggly lines. Add these lines in the middle of each leg/hand, and on one side of the eye.
- Draw a few triangles along the dinosaur's body as a stripe motif.
Step 9. Color the image you have created
Add color to the image using markers, colored pencils, or crayons. Use as many colors as you want to add texture and character to the dinosaurs.
