Okay, I think I figured out how to do the "drawing Spyro" part. I cannot trace art (my vision is just that bad and I don't have anything fancy like a light box to help me trace), so I just filled up seven or so pages with the same basic drawing, step-by-step.

I forgot to mention this before, but a lot of techniques I use I learned from studying other artists. Not copying their styles, but actually talking to them, looking at concept art and basic sketches they've done, etc. Now you all know why I love concept art so much. It's a great way to see how an artist does his work and how you can go from simple shapes to a fully realized drawing.

So you can see what it looks like when I sketch, I did all of these using a Bic pen (the cheapest, most reliable pen you could ever wish for). This is the part where every artist is different. I don't work for Krome, so the way I draw Spyro is my own unique, cartooning style. As you practice, you will find yourself developing your own way of drawing things.

Right. Let's get this show on the road!

1. The most important part of a character, for me, is his face, so that is where I always start. I draw a basic circle so I know where Spyro is on the page.

2. These two guide lines help me keep track of where Spyro is looking. The horizontal (left to right) line is where his eyes are, and the vertical (up and down) line tells me the angle of his face. I choose a 3/4 view, which is the easiest for me to draw (it's not usually easy for most artists, so you may want to try drawing your character from the side or looking straight ahead when you're starting out; experiment and see what works for you).

3. This should be pretty obvious, but these are my basic guides for Spyro's eyes. Just two big circles.

4. Once I have the eyes in place, I like to draw the nose next (and, in Spyro's case, the mouth as well, since they're connected). The shape of Spyro's mouth determines the shape of his cheeks and eyes, so it's best to do that early.

5. Yay, he has most of a face now! Going off his mouth shape, I draw in the details of Spyro's eyes, the rest of his nose, and his eyebrows. At this point, it's easy to see that this is going to be a happy picture.

6. Now I draw Spyro's lower jaw, cheek, and the basic circle that is the rest of his head. In case you can't tell, I've gone way past the space I gave myself in my first circle, but that's okay. The first circle was my guide and guides are meant to be expanded on.

This is also a good time to point out that sketches are messy and that's a good thing. I do a lot of sketching with pen just to keep myself in practice and to learn to live/work with my mistakes (or practice deciding when a piece just isn't worth keeping ). I always carry scrap paper with me to sketch on when I have nothing to do. Sketching isn't pretty, but it is great practice, especially when you sketch with a cheap pen. Incidentally, my pencil sketches are a lot messier than this because I know I will be erasing most of what I've drawn later.

Hey! I always use box art for drawing and my pics..... oh..... never mind.

Skipping that problem. What about people that want to draw the actual image of Spyro and not your image.

There's nothing wrong at all with your style of course but you don't want a bunch of people taking off with your trademark?

Do you?  o_O

Spyrorocks, I think you should sticky this.

That's not why your art sucks (and, personally, I don't think your art sucks at all ). It just takes practice. I've been drawing for over twenty years and its only been in the past few months that I've seen people learning from my art.

I got a problem with my drawing style lol...it ALWAYS changes, one day I got something and the next there's an upgrade on it...geeze I need to make my mind up lol (although the next style usually looks better...but not always)

NICE
to good.If I had the time I woud try but I cant.I will make picture of spyro but I cant rely say when.But now that i have help by your tutorial it can be done.

Go for it, Afronova! I don't own the copyright to art tutorials.

I should mention that some of the things I am saying here don't just apply to drawing Spyro or dragons. Using guide lines and references is how I start ALL of my drawings, no matter what it is I'm drawing, be it a person, a dragon, or a chair.

Also, the next tutorial page is coming soon. I just haven't had the time to do all that typing and explaining today (was too busy fixing up the new home for my webcomic).

i'm getting a tablet for x-mas, but it'll just be around $100. And they really do improve your drawing on the computer. In my tech ed class last year, our teacher got a grant for about six of them, and it really helped us out. They are the greatest thing when it comes to shading and retracing things on the computer.

I've got a tablet, too, but I almost never use it. And the tutorial should be updating...soon. I was going to do it today, but I'm in a very foul mood and I'd rather do this when I'm in a better one. Sorry to keep you guys waiting.

THAT'S NOT FAIR! I WANT A TABLET!

okay, I don't. It seems like it would be difficult to draw on one.

Do you mind if I post it here or should I make a new thread?

This is great. When you have completed the tutorial I am going to print it out and staple it together to make a book of how to draw Spyro.

That is great of a first try!
I have work but hopefully I will have time to do this sometime.