The Secret Lives of Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures: And How to Draw Them

by Michael Dobrzycki, Kythera of Anevern, Brynn Metheney

Overview

Conjure a menagerie of dragons and fantastical beasts with step-by-step drawing instruction from leading fantasy illustrators.

Dragons have captured imaginations for centuries—from ancient myths and folklore to Romantasy epics, gaming adventures, and hit TV series. The Secret Lives of Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures: And How to Draw Them is a modern drawing guide that empowers artists of all levels to bring legendary creatures and mythical beasts to life.

This comprehensive book includes step-by-step lessons on how to draw a wide variety of mythical beings, including Western and Eastern dragons, elemental monsters, hydras, gryphons, and sea serpents. With expert instruction from award-winning fantasy illustrators and an updated aesthetic that resonates with today’s fans, this is a must-have guide for artists, fantasy lovers, and gamers alike.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Detailed tutorials for shading, texture, anatomy, and movement tips for lifelike and dynamic creatures
• Creature design breakdowns, including dragon types, wings, scales, horns, and hybrid forms
• Rendering techniques that make your beasts pop off the page

The Secret Lives of Dragons and Other Mythical Creatures: And How to Draw Them is your essential fantasy art companion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781577158424
Publisher:	Walter Foster Publishing
Publication date:	06/09/2026
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael Dobrzycki is an accomplished painter, carpenter, puppet maker, and sketch artist whose work has been featured in more than a dozen children’s books and small press publications over the last few years. In 2001, Michael was inducted into the Disneyland Entertainment Hall of Fame. He received a master’s degree in illustration from California State University, Fullerton, and holds bachelor’s degrees in both art and history from Whittier College. He is currently a visiting professor at Whittier College. Michael lives in Whittier, California.

Kythera of Anevern is a self-taught artist who revels in the strange and unusual. She has designed a handful of logos for small businesses and contributed illustrations for various role-playing game books. She also displays her work at fantasy and animation conventions, including the annual Gathering of the Gargoyles, where she has won many awards. She received her BFA in intermedia from Arizona State University and currently lives in Los Angeles.

Brynn Metheney is a concept artist specializing in creature and character designs for film, games, and publishing. Her clients include Sony Pictures, Dark Horse Comics, Disney Publishing, Dreamscape Immersive, Warner Bros., and Wizards of the Coasts, and she has been involved with such projects as Luc Besson’s Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets, Warner Bros.’s Scooby-Doo, and Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You. Brynn also teaches creature design at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California, and The Animation Workshop in Viborg, Denmark. She lives in the greater Los Angeles area.