Dragons have a long history in art from cultures around the world. Some of the most beautiful dragon paintings, however, come from China, where dragons are often seen as good luck and sometimes as messengers of heavenly forces. You can create your own dragon painting with watercolor paints and some simple techniques.
Prepare a large paintbrush by dipping it in water and gently twisting the tip. This will actually give you three useful surfaces for different kinds of strokes: the broad flat part, the thinner flat edge and the tip for details.
Dip your brush in black paint and begin by painting the negative space, or background, around your dragon with the broad, flat part of the brush. Use quick, long strokes for clouds, mountains and the general outline of your dragon. Chinese dragons are very sinuous, like snakes, so make your dragon's body coil once or twice, and make the tail ripple slightly like a fish's tail. Gently twirling your brush will help create shadows and a sense of three-dimensionality.
Use the flat side of your brush to paint the general outline of the dragon's face. A Chinese dragon usually has a broad, flat snout with an expressive, almost human-like mouth. The forehead is round with prominent brows.
Use the tip of the brush to draw the eyes, which are large and round. Add long eyebrows, teeth and whiskers to the dragon's face. Add just the suggestion of scales on the dragon's body by using the brush tip to paint just a few small “C” shapes wherever the body bends, such as at joints or in the body's coils.
Add the dragon's legs, which are relatively short and lizard-like compared with the rest of the body. The paws should be hand-like, with three fingers and an opposing thumb. Use the edge of the brush for the major shapes of the arms, and use the tip to add claws and some wrinkles where the fingers bend.
Begin adding touches of color to your dragon. Using a smaller brush, add washes of gold and red to highlight the face and body of the dragon. The color should be light and thinly applied. Add strokes of color to your background, as well, to accentuate the dragon.
Sign your artwork and let it dry.
