One of the biggest challenges you face when you want to do fantasy drawings is to take a drawing of something and put it in a scene. Having a drawing of a dragon is pretty cool but having it laying down in its lair is even better. When you start to focus on drawing objects to drawing scenes you have made a very big transition in your artwork! But, it takes practice and time so don't get discouraged. Just keep practicing.

The above sketch is a drawing I am starting to work on. It is going to be an adventurer who stumbles into a dragons lair. The important thing to notice here is the use of space and perspective. See how a space is created? You get the distinct feel of a room or a lair. The colums follow good rules of perspective and they get smaller as they are further away. Also the two columns nearest to us create a nice frame for the picture.

Here is another quick sketch (above) of the same general scene (A Dragon's Lair) Notice how I have now definitely used the columns as a frame for the scene? Okay, you get the general idea. Make sure you start thinking about space in your drawings and how things relate to each other to make a scene. Review the lessons on perspective if you want some more tips. (Perspective lessons are 2,3, and 4)

Next lesson: Practice by Drawing Dragons

Drawing and Painting Fantasy Landscapes and Cityscapes

Artists interested in graphic novels and comic book illustration will find all the guidance and inspiration they need to draw and paint landscapes that evoke myths and legends, lost empires, futuristic planets, dramatic dreamscapes, underwater worlds, and subterranean cities. Easy-to-follow instructions and step-by-step illustrations demonstrate techniques for rendering a wide range of fantasy features, whether working in ink, watercolor, or computer pixels. Details covered in this heavily illustrated volume include -- choice of materials, with advice on getting the most from software programs . . . basics of perspective, architectural geometry, color, mood, and seasonal variations . . . landscape features, including skies, clouds, mountains, caves, deserts, snow, and water reflections . . . imagined landscapes from ancient cultures, future worlds, alien planets, undersea worlds, and surreal dreamscapes . . . cityscapes, from medieval towns to the metropolis of the future . . . famous fantasy worlds, from Atlantis to Middle Earth. This good-looking and instructive volume features a gallery of fantasy and science fiction images among its more than 200 color illustrations.

About the Author
Rob Alexander is a Canadian artist working in the publishing, magazine, computer gaming, and collectable card game markets. He paints fine art, fantasy, science fiction, children's illustrations, and contemporary landscapes and has received numerous awards, including a prestigious Chesley Award from the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists.

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