How to Draw a Lizard
Drawing lizards can be a fun and creative way to express your artistry. But it isn’t always as easy as it looks. With the right steps and techniques, however, you can easily learn how to draw a lizard in no time!
Before we start, it’s worth noting that anatomy plays an incredibly important factor when it comes to drawing any kind of animal. To achieve the highest level of accuracy, it helps to study real lizards first and observe the structure of their body and physiology.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dive into the basics. First things first, we will need some basic supplies. You’ll need a pencil, paper, a ruler, and an eraser. You could also consider using colored pencils to really make your drawing pop.
Let’s get started! To begin, begin by sketching a long curved body with two tiny legs – this will help give your lizard structure and provide you with a framework to fill in the details. It’s always best to start with a simple outline that you can then build on. Once you’re happy with your outline, add two circles on the back side of the body to represent the eyes and two on the front side to represent the nostrils.
Next, draw the legs and feet. The front legs should be short and slightly bowed out at the knees, while the back legs should be longer and slightly slanted inwards. Be sure to add some tiny claws to the feet for an extra touch of realism.
To bring your drawing further to life, it’s time to add some subtle details to make the lizard appear more authentic. Draw a slightly curved line at the back of the body, from the head to the beginning of the tail, and add a few scales as well. Then, draw two curved lines above the eyes towards the back of the head to create the appearance of eyebrows. Finally, draw a triangle for the mouth, two circles inside the eyes, and an oval-shaped tongue to complete the look.
Now that all the basic elements are in place, you’re on to the fun part – coloring! You may want to explore a range of vibrant shades of green, brown, or yellow to reflect the natural color of a real lizard. You could also throw in some red and white spots and accents to give your drawing even more character.
Finally, erase any unwanted and unnecessary pencil lines – this will help make your drawing look complete and polished. You’re all set! With these few easy steps, you’ve learned how to draw a lizard up to a high standard of accuracy.
Steps for Drawing More Detailed Appendages
Once you’ve mastered the basics of drawing a basic lizard shape, the next step is to hone your skills by learning how to draw the features of a lizard with more precision. You can start by focusing on the mouth, eyes, and legs of your lizard.
For the mouth, study the anatomy of a real lizard and practice drawing the details. Start by lightly sketching a line for the jaw, then add multiple curves and angles to the top and bottom to capture the shape of the jaw. Finally, draw a very small triangle at the center to complete the shape of the mouth.
Next, determine the direction the eyes will point in and draw meticulously curved lines to create the eyelids of your lizard. Be sure to add thin and delicate lines underneath the eyes to mimic a real lizards eyes. To add extra depth and definition, draw a thin curved line above the eyes, ending in a small circle.
When it comes to the legs and feet, first draw a few light pencil lines to mark the general locations of the joints and limbs. Then sketch a thin line for the front legs and two thin lines for the back legs. To finish off the look, just draw two thin circles at the end of each line to represent the claws.
Steps for Drawing Accessories
Now it’s time to get creative! Drawing accessories on a lizard is a great way to add a bit of life and glamour to your drawing. Start by drawing a long thin line down the back of your lizard’s neck, then draw two thin lines on either side of the line to create the neck scales. To give your lizard’s head a touch of flair, add a few small circles to the sides of the head.
Then, draw a thin line below the eyes to create a band across the lizard’s forehead, and draw several thin curved lines on either side of the band. Feel free to add more details to the band such as small dots, to make it appear better.
Finally, you can draw a few thin curved lines along the tail to create the appearance of spines, and draw a small thin line below the tail to represent a tail fin. If you’re feeling creative, you can even add some small stripes or spots to the top of your lizard.
Drawing Backgrounds to Complement the Lizard
The last steps in drawing your lizard are drawing a background to complement your lizard and make it look more natural and lifelike. Start by drawing a few lines to determine the horizon line and where the ground and sky will meet. Then draw in several trees, clouds, and rocks to give your lizard’s environment a touch of realism.
To make your background appear more vibrant and sun-drenched, add a few warm-colored textures and tones. Finally, draw a few blades of grass and a few blades of grass or flowers near the lizard’s feet to give your drawing a touch of realism.
Adding Depth and Highlights for Professional Finish
Adding depth and highlights to your drawing is an incredibly important step to create an incredibly lifelike and professional finish. Begin by adding a few light strokes of white and gray onto your lizard’s body, with an even lighter shade near the edges and underside. This will help create an effect of light reflecting off your lizard’s scales.
Then, add some darker tones and shadows in various places, such as the underbelly and around the eyes, to give your lizard more dimension. To finish off, use a black pencil to draw some thin lines to create the illusion of texture and depth.
With these few steps and techniques, you now possess all the knowledge required to draw your very own lizards. Have fun and be sure to practice as much as you can – your new creative skill won’t improve itself!
