Although not a true dragon, the half-human, half-serpent naga performed the same roles and functions of mythological dragons in ancient civilizations that lacked dragon lore.
Step One I begin with a rough sketch of the creature using a 2H pencil. I draw a wormlike body that curls around, with curved lines to define the segments. Then I add a human head with a large jaw. I use horizontal and vertical guidelines to place the facial features, which include round eyes, arched eyebrows, a hooked nose, and a wide, toothy mouth.
Step Two To refine the body, I round out the curves of the segments. I draw a thick ridge down the length of the body, curving it to match the body’s form. I erase any lines I no longer need. Then I add a hollow area around each eye, making it appear as though they are set back into the face. I develop the nose and begin refining the mouth. I also add jowls to the cheeks and crease lines to the forehead.
Step Three With a 2B pencil, I begin shading the body. I use my finger to smudge the shading, and then dash in cracked lines on top of the shading. Next I shade the face, saving the darkest values for the hollowed-out areas of the eyes. I leave the actual eyes and the teeth pure white.
Step Four As I continue shading the rest of the body, I use my finger to smudge the graphite before adding the final detail lines. I further refine the face by shading inside the mouth and around the teeth, as well as by creating the iris and pupils. The crisp edges of the face command the viewer’s attention.