Fantasy · A drawing idea for little artists
How to Draw a winged dragon: Divided Wing Membranes and Long Tail
Explore winged dragon through four selected drawing stages. Focus on divided wing membranes and long tail and a textured crayon finish.
For iPad & iPhone · In-app purchases
These 4 pictures show selected moments from the drawing. For every step in between and a guide on your canvas, get the full lesson in LittlePaper.
What you will learn
Practice winged dragon with attention to divided wing membranes and long tail.
Shapes and proportions
Fan the wing ribs out from a common attachment and connect them to a scalloped membrane.
A common mistake
Ribs ending outside the membrane make the wing look disconnected.
How to fix it
Mark the wing corners first and connect the ribs to those corners.
This winged dragon study focuses on divided wing membranes and long tail. Fan the wing ribs out from a common attachment and connect them to a scalloped membrane. The exercise is about keeping these visible shapes readable before adding small marks or color.
These are four selected stages, not a complete stroke-by-stroke sequence. Blue guide lines mark additions in the source images. Compare the pictures for the overall shape changes; use the complete LittlePaper lesson for the smaller steps between them.
A few things to start with
Paper, a pencil and crayons matching the example. Leave room around the drawing for proportion checks before making the outlines darker.
A little peek at the drawing
1 / 4
Selected stages · The complete drawing sequence is in the app.
Shapes, character & color
A look at the drawing stages.
Try the shape tips below on paper. When you’re ready to draw along with each small step, continue in LittlePaper.
- 01Selected stage
Selected stage 2: early shapes
This picture shows source stage 2 of 8 for winged dragon, not the next single stroke. Fan the wing ribs out from a common attachment and connect them to a scalloped membrane. Compare its unfinished edges with the complete outline shown later.
Selected stage 2: early shapes · Preview image 1 of 4 - 02Selected stage
Selected stage 5: building the outline
This picture shows source stage 5 of 8 for winged dragon, not the next single stroke. Mark the wing corners first and connect the ribs to those corners. Compare its unfinished edges with the complete outline shown later.
Selected stage 5: building the outline · Preview image 2 of 4 - 03Selected stage
Complete outline: divided wing membranes and long tail
Compare the finished winged dragon outline with the earlier selected stages. Ribs ending outside the membrane make the wing look disconnected. Mark the wing corners first and connect the ribs to those corners.
Complete outline: divided wing membranes and long tail · Preview image 3 of 4 - 04Selected stage
Crayon color: green, soft gray, warm orange, red-brown
Use the colored winged dragon example to compare the palette after checking the outline. The visible palette includes green, soft gray, warm orange, red-brown. Keep repeated parts consistent and let small light flecks preserve the crayon texture.
Crayon color: green, soft gray, warm orange, red-brown · Preview image 4 of 4
A little practice goes a long way
Make room for your own ideas.
The example uses green, soft gray, warm orange, red-brown. Keep matching limbs and repeated parts in a consistent palette. Use light overlapping crayon strokes so the inner outlines stay visible. Mark the wing corners first and connect the ribs to those corners.
The next little step is yours
Like the idea?
Let’s make it together.
Open the “How to Draw a Dragon” drawing idea in LittlePaper for the complete sequence. Follow a guide, pause when you need, and add your own colors.
Download LittlePaper from the App Store, then open the drawing idea inside the app.
Every step, at your pace.
See the full drawing sequence. Pause, replay, and take another look whenever a shape needs practice.
A guide where you draw.
Trace on the canvas, then try your own lines with a finger or Apple Pencil on a compatible iPad.
Make it yours. Keep the making.
Add crayon color, replay your creation, and give your picture a home in a digital 3D book.
