Then you just quickly sketch as many dragonflies as you can before you run out of time.
How to draw a dragonfly. Step-by-step drawing tutorial.
When drawing a dragonfly, take a sharper pencil, because the lines of the dragonfly drawing should be very thin and clear. Once the drawing is finished, the drawing of a dragonfly can be colored with colored pencils. You can also draw grass and flowers, or make a background.
Step 1. Draw the initial contours of the dragonfly
For the initial sketch, you first need to draw the main contour – the body of a dragonfly in the form of an oval. From the front draw a circle for the head and a long tail line.
Step 2. Draw the contours of the wings of a dragonfly
First, draw a straight line for the wings. It runs exactly in the middle of the body, just pay attention, it runs at an angle, from the upper right corner of the sheet to the lower left. The second contour lines of the wings go slightly backward. On the edge of the dragonfly’s tail, make a small preliminary marking.
Step 2.
Now in this step we will begin to draw the outer lines of the dragonfly. This should be fairly easy because of the guidelines we added. Add the trim of the wings at the top of the wings and the second set of wings. Dragonflies have two sets of wings. One set lays at the top and the other lays in the middle. Don’t forget to draw in the abdomen and the thorax as well. more
Step 3.
Ok now this is the fun part. This is where we finish all of the outer body parts that are important! As you can see there are swirls extending from the bottom of the wing. These are unnecessary but you can add them in if you want. I added these just for fashion. After you have added the wings its time to draw the eyes and mouth for the dragonfly. This is pretty much the end of the step! more
Step 4.
This is where we will add in the unique and pretty designs for our dragonfly. The designs we will be adding are the ones on the thorax and abdomen. This will customize your insect so it looks really nice! After you have done that draw in the legs and some fancy antennas. Then draw some detailing to the wings so that they look more realistic. more
How to Draw a Dragonfly
Learning how to draw a dragonfly is really easy. Especially if you break things down into simple shapes.
We’ll begin by making a line to indicate where we want the body to be located on the paper.
Then draw a long, thin oval for the abdomen.
Draw another, shorter oval for the thorax.
And then a circle for the head with two more circles for the eyes.
Now we need to start drawing the wings. There are many different ways to draw them. Just do whatever looks good to you.
The wings should be narrower where it connects to the body. And wider in the middle and curved at the ends. Try to avoid any sharp edges.
Draw a similar shape for the other wings. Your dragonfly drawing should look symmetrical.
However, don’t stress out about this so much that you don’t enjoy the process of drawing. Your artwork doesn’t have to be perfect.
Don’t worry if your wings aren’t perfectly symmetrical or if the entire wing doesn’t fit on your paper. Just have fun making your art.
Now draw the lower wings using the same process.
Next, draw the segments on the body by making a series of curved lines. Make sure they’re curved and not straight. You want to show the contour of the body shape.
Add the antennae on the head.
Finish your dragonfly drawing by adding some lines on the wings. You can make your wings simple, or very detailed. It just depends on the look you’re going for.
You can add patterns to your wings, or more lines to make them more detailed. Experiment and have fun.
To save time try using Artist Trading Cards for your artwork. This helps to give you some freedom with your drawings since they are much quicker to finish.
Dragonfly Outline
Making a dragonfly outline is really easy. Just trace over your pencil lines with a black pen or marker. You can make your lines thin, thick, or a combination of the two.
You can also use a color other than black. Maybe try using blue or purple. Just do whatever fits your artistic style.
If you don’t know what your style is don’t worry. Your style will develop over time with more practice.
After you’ve made your dragonfly outline, use an eraser to remove any pencil lines.
How to Draw a Dragonfly with Markers
Learning how to draw a dragonfly with markers is much easier than people think. But there are a few things you need to understand before using them.
First, if you want to be able to blend your colors together you need to use alcohol based markers. Bic, Sharpie, and Copic for example. As well as many others.
Second, you need to work while the colors are still wet or they won’t mix together. This isn’t a big deal. Just make sure you work on a section at a time.
Third, you need to use colors that are similar to each other if you want to create a smooth transition of color. If your markers are too different they will leave a harder edge.
Having a harder edge is perfectly OK if that’s the look you’re going for.
For your dragonfly drawing you’ll probably want smoother transitions though.
You can make your dragonfly drawing full of different colors. Or, you could stick with one or two colors.
For this example four markers were used. Two different greens, and two different purples.
And then two greens for the background. I also used two different brown markers for the branch.
A white Gelly Roll pen can be used to add some highlights.
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Now that you know how to draw a dragonfly step by step, what’s the next step?
If you want to improve your art and drawing skills you need to practice consistently. The more you practice the better you will get. Drawing everyday is the most beneficial.
You don’t have to spend hours a day working on your art. If you can dedicate five or ten minutes each day, this time will quickly add up.
The more you enjoy your creative time, the more you’ll look forward to it. So don’t focus too much on the outcome. Simply enjoy the process.
If you want to get better at drawing a dragonfly, draw as many as you can. Challenge yourself to draw one a day for a week and see what you come up with.
More Art & Drawing Tutorials
- Step by Step Owl Eye Drawing
- Learn to Draw a Lightning Bolt
- How to Draw a Scorpion
- Butterfly Drawing Tutorial
Roshanda is an art education blogger who is on a mission to coach and encourage as many aspiring artists as possible through the use of her blog. Learn more about her on the About Me page and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
