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| Tutorial Listing | Drawing Paws By fireEyes tailchaser Hands and feet are amongst the most difficult things to draw as they are very awkward. The bone and muscle structure of hands and feet is quite complex; the way they bend and move is unlike anything else. I strongly recommend doing life studies when working on your technique with these subjects. By observing how hands and feet are structured, you will gain a better understanding of how they can be positioned. All mammals have the same bones in their bodies; it's just a matter of how long or short the bones are. The bones in the hands and feet of humans are the same as that of any quadruped. The bones are simply of different lengths. For example, humans walk on their feet, while quadrupeds walk on their toes. This is known as a digitigrade leg structure. The illustration below demonstrates the human equilvalent of a quadruped's method of walking.
Now that I've explained the theory behind it, lets take a closer look at the structure of draconic fore paws and hind feet. In short, the foot is longer than the fore paw. (See Illustration below) The joints are basically the same. Both the ankle and wrist are boney and protrude a bit.
Some dragons have a toe that points in the opposite direction of the foot. Some have retractable talons. Some have pads on the bottom of their feet for extra protection. Remember the "ball" of the foot and the meaty palm of the forearm. If you pay attention to fleshing these out, it will add a lot of realism. Here are some examples of multiple angles on dragon feet.
Like heads, drawing feet is simply a matter of observation and practice. I suggest studying feline/canine paws as well as bird and dinosaur feet for a good understanding of draconic foot structure. Keep trying different angles and different structures until you end up with something that you are happy with. Personally, I think that learning to draw hands and feet is very rewarding; they are one of my favorite things to draw. Good luck! |
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