One of the most exciting artistic forms in all of the earth is that of the iguana. These reptiles are beautiful and intriguing to watch. If you have ever seen one in person then you know they look more like a teddy bear than a reptile. They are small enough to be hidden in the shadows of a tree without being noticed, but their eyes are very large and they are very alert.
One of the most important things when trying to learn how to draw an iguana is to know how to draw an iguana in its natural habitat. There are currently about thirty different species of iguana that inhabit tropical areas of the Americas and many other islands around the world. Iguanas actually live on land, burrow in the soil, climb trees, swim in the water, and even swim upside down in the ocean. The biggest may reach over fifteen feet in length and weight more than half a ton.
In order to learn how to draw an iguana, you will need to understand what separates this critter from any other mammal. In order to do this you must imagine that each segment of their body is made up of a series of straight and curving lines. This helps them to stand out as unique creatures among mammals. In order to obtain the best results when learning how to draw an iguana, keep your head tilted a little lower than usual when looking at their tail.
When starting out with iguana drawing, it is a good idea to break up the large body into two main parts. The first part is the head section and the second is the tail or caudal region. The area between these two regions will eventually become the central area for all other aspects of the animal. This can help make it easier to create a well-defined image.
In previous articles we have discussed the first step in iguana drawing called ‘shaping the trunk’. In this lesson we will continue this training by adding more dimension to the trunk. Curved lines are always drawn around the main body. These lines lead to other body parts such as the legs. Continue drawing outward as you move further away from the central area. You should also be able to see the flanks, or sides, as they are often shaped using similar curved lines.
The first two steps in this lesson can be a little difficult due to the fact that you do not have any real physical reference to follow. In order to help you improve your drawings, try tracing the diagrams you created in class or online. Next, use the same steps in all of your iguana drawings. By tracing, you will be able to see the exact positions and size of each bone in your drawing. It will help you learn the fundamentals of drawing, and you can then modify your own drawings by simply changing the position of each bone.
The third and last step in your iguana drawing tutorial is to create the head. If you have already learned how to draw the rest of your body, you can skip this step and go straight to the head drawing. In this lesson, you will start with a basic iguana head, working from the base of the skull to the tip of its snout. Continue working inwards, following the natural contours of the head as closely as possible.
The last part of this lesson will focus on creating the lower half of an iguana’s body. Use your first sketch as a guide to create the flippers, or legs. Start with a simple sketch, and add more details as you get more comfortable with your technique. You can also study some step-by-step drawings of different animals and drawings of reptiles, which is very useful for enhancing your drawing skills. Once you’ve finished your first iguana drawing, you will be ready for more complex drawings of reptiles and amphibians.
