Arts & Culture

Dragon, dragon, in the sky, who’s the fieriest of them all?

Thundering rumblings on the Year of the Dragon and how to draw one

The mighty, strong, fire-spitting, invincible dragon is a supreme creature indeed with an energy and presence to behold.

We see dragons in mythology, ancient legends, and as symbols for New Years, birth years, festivals, and icons for statehood.

But how to draw one?

A detailed sketch of a dragon in soft pencil. The underlying layer of the charcoal sketch has been mostly erased and is only discernible in a few spots.

The most recent Year of the Dragon, 2012, brought me good fortune. I was living in the melting pot that is New York City, a cacophonous matrix of the world’s cultures.

By a twist of fate I met my art teacher, Mr. Rinzin, a master in Eastern Arts. Being an artist myself, I asked him to teach me the ancient symbols of Himalayan cultures, icons such as tigers, lions, and dragons.

“Yes,” Mr. Rinzin said, “I will teach you.”

“Excellent!” I exclaimed, “I’d love to learn how to draw a dragon.”

“No worries,” he said, “I will show you how.”

Learning how to draw

Unbeknownst to me, it would take me years to learn how to draw a fierce and fiery dragon. It’s been a long journey and I’m still on…