How to Draw a Lunar New Year Dragon (Easy Step by Step)
You'll learn to draw a friendly Lunar New Year dragon using easy step-by-step instructions, building it from simple shapes like ovals, circles, and curvy lines to create its distinct head, manes, and whiskers.
- Learn to draw a friendly Lunar New Year dragon.
- Build your dragon using ovals, circles, and curvy lines.
- Give your dragon personality with a big round head and curly whiskers.
- Follow easy, step-by-step instructions to create your drawing.
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This friendly dragon is a fun face to draw because it is built from ovals, circles, and a few curvy lines. The big round head, the puffy cloud manes, and the long curly whiskers give it lots of personality. It is a lovely drawing to make for Lunar New Year.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 9 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 Lunar New Year dragon step by step
How to Draw a Lunar New Year Dragon · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: Top and sides of head
Draw a curved line across the top for the head, then a curved line down each side. Leave a gap between the lines, and leave the bottom open for now.
Step 3: The long snout
In the lower middle, draw a tall shape like a big upside-down U with a rounded bottom. Start two straight sides near the middle of the head and curve them together at the bottom.
Step 4: Fluffy manes and fang tips
On each side of the head, draw a puffy cloud shape with lots of little bumps. Then add two tiny V marks inside the bottom of the snout.
Step 5: Horns and ears
Draw two long curvy horns that sweep up and out from the top of the head. At the bottom of each horn, add a small pointed ear shape and a short curved line across the head.
Step 6: Big round eyes
Draw a circle on each side above the snout. Color in a big dark dot inside each circle for the pupils.
Step 7: Nostrils and forehead mark
Draw two small ovals on the snout for nostrils. Between the eyes, draw a narrow tall oval, and add a short curved line under it across the top of the snout.
Step 8: A happy smile
Draw a wide curved smile low on the snout. Finish each end with a tiny upward curl.
Step 9: Curly whiskers
Draw a long whisker stretching out from each side of the snout near the bottom. Curve the end of each one into a little swirl.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your Lunar New Year dragon? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a menorah or how to draw a dreidel next.
Tips for drawing a Lunar New Year dragon
- Draw the head arcs and the snout first. Everything else is placed around them, so take your time on these shapes.
- The puffy manes are the trickiest part. Draw them as a row of small bumps, like a cloud, instead of one long wiggly line.
- Draw each whisker with one smooth stroke and finish with a small curl. Try a few practice curls on scrap paper first.
Free Lunar New Year dragon coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this Lunar New Year dragon 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 Lunar New Year dragon drawing
Red, gold, and orange look great for a festive dragon, with bright green or yellow for the manes. For a creative twist, color the manes in rainbow stripes or add gold dots to make the dragon look like it is celebrating.
Lunar New Year dragon fun fact for kids
During Lunar New Year, teams of people carry a long dragon puppet through the street in a dragon dance. In Chinese culture the dragon is a sign of luck and good fortune.
Questions about drawing a Lunar New Year dragon
What shapes do I need to draw a Lunar New Year dragon?
You need curved lines for the head, a tall rounded shape for the snout, and two circles for the eyes. The manes are cloud shapes made from little bumps, and the horns and whiskers are long curved lines.
How do I make my dragon look friendlier?
Make the eyes big and round with large dark pupils, and give the dragon a wide, curvy smile. Keep the fangs small so they look cute instead of scary.
How long does it take to draw this dragon?
Most kids finish it in about 15 minutes. Taking your time with the head and the puffy manes helps the whole drawing look neat.
