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how to draw a dino

How to draw a dino - a free dino drawing guide

Draw a dinosaur step-by-step using basic shapes, outlines, texture, and shading. Practice proportions, limb placement, patterns, and adding realistic details confidently.

Table of contents

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Photos of dinosaur drawing examples

Step-by-step guide to draw a dinosaur

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How to Draw a Cute Dinosaur Step by Step | Dinosaur Drawing Tutorial for Kids and Beginners

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, colouring materials (crayons or coloured pencils or markers), black fineliner or marker (optional), blending stump or finger for shading (optional)

Step 1

Lightly sketch a big oval for the body and a smaller circle for the head with a faint line connecting them for the neck.

Step 2

Draw a long curving tail that comes out from the back of the body oval.

Step 3

Add two short vertical guide lines under the body to mark where the front and back legs will attach.

Step 4

Draw a thick hind leg over the back guide with three rounded toes.

Step 5

Draw a smaller front leg over the front guide with tiny claws.

Step 6

Draw a smooth neck outline connecting the head and body following your faint guide.

Step 7

Add a curved jaw line on the head to form the mouth shape.

Step 8

Draw a round eye on the head to give your dino personality.

Step 9

Add a tiny nostril mark near the snout.

Step 10

Refine the dinosaur’s outer silhouette by smoothing edges and adding a rounded belly curve.

Step 11

Add texture by drawing spikes along the back or rows of small curved scales on the body.

Step 12

Draw a fun pattern of spots or stripes across the body.

Step 13

Shade under the belly legs and tail with your pencil to create shadows and softly smudge for a smoother look.

Step 14

Trace the final outlines with a black fineliner or darker pencil to make your drawing pop.

Step 15

Erase any remaining pencil guidelines and share your finished creation on DIY.org

Help!?

What can I use instead of a black fineliner or blending stump if I don't have them?

Trace the final outlines with a darker pencil or a fine-tip permanent marker instead of a black fineliner, and use a tissue, fingertip, or cotton swab to softly smudge the pencil shading when you don't have a blending stump.

My dino's neck or legs look wrong — how do I fix the proportions without ruining the drawing?

Lightly erase the faint oval, circle, or neck guide and redraw the connecting line and leg guide marks until the head, body, and leg placement look balanced before refining the dinosaur’s outer silhouette.

How can I change the activity for a preschooler versus an older child or teen?

For preschoolers, pre-draw the big body oval, head circle, and guide lines for them to fill in tail, legs, and simple spots, while older kids can add detailed spikes, rows of scales, shading under the belly/legs/tail, and trace with a fineliner for a polished finish.

What are simple ways to make my dino drawing more unique or longer-lasting?

Personalize by inventing spike patterns or stripes, add a colored background or fossils, shade under the belly and legs more deeply, and trace in fineliner before erasing guidelines and sharing the finished creation on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to draw a dinosaur

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Draw ALL These Dinosaurs! 🖍️ Easy & Fun Step-by-Step for Kids!

4 Videos

Facts about drawing techniques for kids

🦖 Dinosaurs first appeared about 230 million years ago during the Triassic period.

🎨 Paleoartists combine science and imagination to reconstruct how dinosaurs might have looked in life.

🦴 Fossils form when bones are slowly replaced by minerals — that's how paleontologists study ancient skeletons.

🪶 Many theropod dinosaurs (the group that includes T. rex) are now thought to have had feathers or feather-like coverings.

📏 Dinosaurs came in all sizes: some were as small as chickens while the biggest sauropods reached over 100 feet long.

How do you draw a dinosaur step-by-step?

Start by sketching basic shapes: an oval for the body, a circle for the head, and a long curved shape for the tail. Add small circles where limbs attach to check proportions. Draw limb outlines and feet, then connect head to body with the neck. Refine the silhouette, erase construction lines, add textures (scales, plates), patterns, and finally shade to show form. Finish with color or ink.

What materials do I need to draw a dinosaur with my child?

You’ll need drawing paper, a set of pencils (HB and a softer 2B optional), a soft eraser, a sharpener, and colored pencils or markers for finishing. Optional tools: a blending stump or cotton bud for shading, a ruler for proportions, and a fine-liner to ink outlines. For young kids, use thicker pencils or washable markers and a protective mat to keep surfaces clean.

What ages is drawing dinosaurs step-by-step suitable for?

This drawing activity works well for ages 4 and up with level adjustments. Ages 4–6: focus on big, simple shapes and bold crayons. Ages 7–9: practice proportions, limb placement, and basic textures. Ages 10+: refine shading, patterns, and realistic details. Supervise younger kids and shorten sessions for preschoolers. Adjust tools and steps to each child’s attention and fine motor skills.

What are the benefits of drawing dinosaurs step-by-step?

Drawing dinosaurs builds observational skills, fine motor control, spatial reasoning, and understanding of proportions. Step-by-step practice boosts patience, confidence, and problem-solving as children compare shapes and correct mistakes. Adding texture and shading teaches value and depth, improving visual literacy for other art and STEM tasks. It’s a low-cost, screen-free activity that supports creativity and concentration across ages.

Ready to create?

All Activities

how to draw a dino

How to draw a dino - a free dino drawing guide

Draw a dinosaur step-by-step using basic shapes, outlines, texture, and shading. Practice proportions, limb placement, patterns, and adding realistic details confidently.

Table of contents

Drawing Apps

Photos of dinosaur drawing examples

Step-by-step guide to draw a dinosaur

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

How to Draw a Cute Dinosaur Step by Step | Dinosaur Drawing Tutorial for Kids and Beginners

What you need

Paper, pencil, eraser, colouring materials (crayons or coloured pencils or markers), black fineliner or marker (optional), blending stump or finger for shading (optional)

Step 1

Lightly sketch a big oval for the body and a smaller circle for the head with a faint line connecting them for the neck.

Step 2

Draw a long curving tail that comes out from the back of the body oval.

Step 3

Add two short vertical guide lines under the body to mark where the front and back legs will attach.

Step 4

Draw a thick hind leg over the back guide with three rounded toes.

Step 5

Draw a smaller front leg over the front guide with tiny claws.

Step 6

Draw a smooth neck outline connecting the head and body following your faint guide.

Step 7

Add a curved jaw line on the head to form the mouth shape.

Step 8

Draw a round eye on the head to give your dino personality.

Step 9

Add a tiny nostril mark near the snout.

Step 10

Refine the dinosaur’s outer silhouette by smoothing edges and adding a rounded belly curve.

Step 11

Add texture by drawing spikes along the back or rows of small curved scales on the body.

Step 12

Draw a fun pattern of spots or stripes across the body.

Step 13

Shade under the belly legs and tail with your pencil to create shadows and softly smudge for a smoother look.

Step 14

Trace the final outlines with a black fineliner or darker pencil to make your drawing pop.

Step 15

Erase any remaining pencil guidelines and share your finished creation on DIY.org

Help!?

What can I use instead of a black fineliner or blending stump if I don't have them?

My dino's neck or legs look wrong — how do I fix the proportions without ruining the drawing?

How can I change the activity for a preschooler versus an older child or teen?

What are simple ways to make my dino drawing more unique or longer-lasting?

Watch videos on how to draw a dinosaur

0:00/0:00

Here at SafeTube, we're on a mission to create a safer and more delightful internet. 😊

Draw ALL These Dinosaurs! 🖍️ Easy & Fun Step-by-Step for Kids!

4 Videos

Facts about drawing techniques for kids

🦖 Dinosaurs first appeared about 230 million years ago during the Triassic period.

🎨 Paleoartists combine science and imagination to reconstruct how dinosaurs might have looked in life.

🦴 Fossils form when bones are slowly replaced by minerals — that's how paleontologists study ancient skeletons.

🪶 Many theropod dinosaurs (the group that includes T. rex) are now thought to have had feathers or feather-like coverings.

📏 Dinosaurs came in all sizes: some were as small as chickens while the biggest sauropods reached over 100 feet long.