5 Tips for Drawing More Realistic Dinosaurs

When you love dinosaurs, drawing them can be exciting yet daunting. Like many animals, much detail goes into sketching these creatures, especially when you’re going for realism. Use our tips for drawing more realistic dinosaurs to perfect your art.

Study Dinosaur Anatomy

Research dinosaurs before you sharpen your drawing pencils and open your sketchbook. More specifically, decide on which dinosaur you’d like to draw, as each has a unique look. During your research, look at scientific illustrations and 3D models of the beast to get a clear idea of what they looked like. Note key details such as if the dinosaur walked on two legs or four, whether it had feathers, and what its teeth looked like.

Break Things Down

Once you know what the dinosaur you’ll draw looks like, study accurate images to break down areas into shapes. The head may have more of a triangular yet curved shape, while shapes making up the body could include a trapezoid by the hips, an oval shape for the chest, and small circles where the limbs and body connect.

Most artists break complex designs down into basic shapes and refine them as they work through the sketch. That oval along the torso will become more of a true chest, and the circles for the limbs will change to reflect their curving forms.

Here’s another tip. Certain artists break things down by printing a design and drawing a grid over it; then, they draw a similar grid on their sketch paper. From there, the artist will go one “square” at a time to recreate.

Add Finishing Touches

Once you’ve drawn your dinosaur, it’s time to add shading and dimension to bring it to life. Decide where you want the light to come from in your drawing so you can shade accordingly. If the light comes from the upper right corner, then the left side of your dinosaur will be darker than the right.

Likewise, if you add color to your drawing, carefully choose options that align with the scales or feathers of the prehistoric beast. The material you use for coloring may further enhance the texture of your art; dry pastels are similar to chalk and have a soft look when smudged, which can be perfect when shading feathers.

Practice Makes Perfect

Practicing regularly is one of the most important tips for drawing more realistic dinosaurs. As with any skill, your first attempt won’t be perfect, but you’ll improve by working on your artistic ability. Set aside time each day or week to practice drawing your favorite dinosaur, even if the first few don’t come out as perfectly as you’d hoped. Art isn’t a race, and everyone improves at different rates. What’s most important is that you enjoy yourself as you draw and learn about your favorite prehistoric beasts.

Get the Ideal Reference Piece

While you can use online images as a reference, they only give you one angle of your muse. Creative Beast Studio sells high-quality dinosaur action figures that you can use as models for all your drawings. We have countless beasts made according to scientific facts. Order your dinosaur figure today to elevate your art!