How to Draw a Dinosaur (Easy Step by Step)
Learn to draw a friendly long-necked dinosaur using easy shapes like an oval head, curvy body, and rounded legs. This step-by-step guide is perfect for new artists.
- Start your dinosaur with an oval head and a curvy body.
- Add a wavy back and four rounded legs to complete its basic shape.
- Give your dinosaur personality by adding three round spots on its side.
- Follow this guide for an easy first dinosaur drawing project.
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This friendly long-necked dinosaur is built from a few easy shapes: an oval head, a curvy body with a wavy back, and four rounded legs. Three round spots on its side add some personality. It is a great first dinosaur for new artists.
- Easy
- 10 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a dinosaur step by step
How to Draw a Dinosaur · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: Body, neck and first leg
Start at the left with a pointy tail tip, then draw a curve up and along the back with a few wavy bumps. Draw the neck rising up on the right, then a long line down the front of the chest that ends in an upside-down U for the first leg.
Step 3: The round head
Draw a big oval at the top of the neck, where the two neck lines meet it. Leave the inside empty for now.
Step 4: Three more legs
Draw three more upside-down U shapes along the bottom of the body, next to the first leg. Join their tops with a line along the belly, and leave the left end of the belly line open.
Step 5: Eye and smile
Add a small dot for the eye inside the head, near the right side. Then draw a short curved smile below it at the front of the face.
Step 6: Two body spots
Draw a medium circle in the middle of the body. Then draw a slightly smaller circle to its right, closer to the legs.
Step 7: Little spot
Draw one small circle on the left side of the body, just below and to the left of the medium circle.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your dinosaur? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a T. rex or how to draw a triceratops next.
Tips for drawing a dinosaur
- Draw the neck as one smooth curve and keep your hand relaxed so the line does not wobble.
- Make the four legs about the same height, and keep the bottoms rounded.
- Take your time on the wavy bumps along the back. Small, even bumps look best.
Free dinosaur coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this dinosaur coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your dinosaur drawing
Try green or teal for the body with bright orange spots and a lighter belly. For a twist, color each spot a different shade, like a rainbow dinosaur.
Dinosaur fun fact for kids
The word dinosaur comes from Greek words meaning "terrible lizard." British scientist Richard Owen invented the word in 1842.
Questions about drawing a dinosaur
What shapes do I need to draw a dinosaur?
You need an oval for the head, long curves for the back and neck, and four upside-down U shapes for the legs. Circles make the spots.
How do I make my dinosaur look cuter?
Give it a big round head, a small dot eye, and a curved smile. Short, chubby legs also make it look friendly.
How do I draw a dinosaur tail?
Start at the left end of the back line and curve it down to a point. The tail is part of the first step, so it flows right into the body.
