How to Draw Dinosaurs from Imagination: Carnotaurus
How can one believably illustrate an extinct creature? By studying the anatomy of existing animals, drawing every day, and being a life long fan of dinosaurs, of course! Growing up, I read about all sorts of prehistoric beasts. I collected the toys, molded them from clay, and drew them.
A few decades later in 2014, I was honored to assist Universal Pictures with the dinosaur character style guide for “Jurassic World.” Before beginning the assignment onsite, I spent some time revisiting dino anatomy. I sketched from fossils, observed zoo animals, and examined a few textbooks. For certain onsite assignments, you won’t have access to the internet. You’ll need to bring your own reference materials and an internal library.
As you construct a library of images in your mind through observation, your ability to sketch from your imagination will improve. Ecorche practice was the missing link that escalated my work to a professional level (and fast). Understanding the skeleton’s structure in relation to musculature is key to building imaginary and prehistoric beasts from the ground up.
Artists of all levels will benefit from simplifying the anatomy of animals into simple shapes. The best way to learn to draw dynamic dinosaur illustrations is through daily practice and study.
For example, I’ll break down the steps one might take to illustrate a Carnotaurus (the meat-eating bull). When the only known Carnotaurus fossil was discovered in 1985, it was nearly complete. This gives us the rare opportunity to examine a well-understood specimen.
Research
One of the most critical steps in an illustrator’s creative process is to research the subject and collect reference images. Understanding the creature you are portraying will bring believability to your artwork.
For example, Carnotaurus was the first theropod dinosaur to be discovered with comprehensive fossil skin impressions. The skin consisted of non-overlapping scales, with no evidence of feathers. Thick horns resting above the eyes and tiny, vestigial forelimbs distinguish this dinosaur from other theropods.
A lightly built, bipedal carnivore, Carnotaurus was a predator of small, agile prey. Powerful thigh muscles connected to a muscular tail suggest that Carnotaurus was a serious sprinter. As you create your gesture sketches, be sure to keep this information in mind. Once you have learned a little more about Carnotaurus, it will be time to compile a reference photo collection.
Reference
You will want to study as many angles of the skull and skeleton as you can. Renditions of the complete dinosaur by other artists are also valuable, but try not to become too influenced by these images.
While you collect reference images of Carnotaurus, look at the scale patterns, skin texture, and other living creatures’ colors. This will help you design realistic flesh for your final illustration.
Carnotaurus was a swift runner, so you may also want to examine photographs of other bipedal creatures in action. Don’t be afraid to study other predatory dinosaurs as well. Any image that will help you envision your dinosaur as a living, breathing creature is fair play.
Thumbnails
Explore various poses by creating a series of thumbnails. Thumbnails are fast-paced, abbreviated drawings, ideal for experimenting with concept and composition. Work quickly and keep it simple. Your focus should be on creating a dynamic pose. Thumbnails are meant to be small (about 1–2 inches across).
Fill at least one page with thumbnail concepts. The more thumbnails you do, the better. To check the quality of your designs, transform your thumbnails into silhouettes. Look for thumbnails where the pose is open, easy to read, and has a nice balance of positive and negative space. The best drawings will be a mixture of straights and curves, with a strong line of action. Next, chose 2–3 of your favorite thumbnails to enlarge.
Gesture & Volume Drawing
Now it is time to use your knowledge of Carnotaurus’ general nature and physical build to pose your dinosaur character. Begin with a quick volume drawing. Define the line of action. Continue to build the gesture by suggesting the position of the limbs, head, and neck. Construct the shoulders, torso, and pelvis out of boxes and cylinders. Remember to keep it simple. By working loosely, your sketch will retain life. In the next phase, we will roughly sketch the skeleton of Carnotaurus over the top.
The Skeleton
As one is sketching, the animal’s skeleton serves as the basis for the lines of construction. There are three main masses of the skeleton to consider as you draw: the skull, the rib cage, and the pelvis, all of which are attached to a pliable spine.
Do a quick series of rough skeletal system sketches. Search for the boney landmarks (where bones would meet the surface). Study the length and mass of each bone and correct the proportions of your drawing accordingly.
Muscle Structure
To get a good look at a dinosaur’s skeletal structure, one might visit a Natural History Museum and sketch directly from fossils. To render the muscular system, however, one must take cues from living creatures. Fortunately, the musculature of animals is very similar. There are numerous anatomical references available both in printed books and online. By examining the musculature depicted in several pieces of reference, you will be able to locate the major muscle groups. Either digitally or with tracing paper, rough in the major muscle groups for one of your Carnotaurus sketches. This will further develop the structure of your drawing. You will be ready to finish your illustration very soon!
Surface Detail
Now that you have carefully constructed the anatomy of Carnotaurus, it is time to flesh out your drawing. As you add surface detail, be sure to work around the entire drawing. Do not get stuck in one area for too long. This will help you to double-check and improve the proportions of your drawing. Always work from general to specific. Remember to glance back at your reference for inspiration. Vary your line weight and avoid repeating patterns when sketching teeth, claws, and scales. This will make your illustration feel more organic.
Enjoy!
The most important thing is to have fun. As a professional illustrator, my passion for drawing brings me great joy each day. A love for your work will translate through your drawings. Remember that if you feel challenged, you are doing this right. Thank you for studying Carnotaurus with me!
