Designing Dragon Armor: Creating Fantasy Battle Gear for Mythical Creatures
Creating Dragon Armor: Fantasy Battle Gear Design
Step 1: Draw basic forms with contour lines
Start by drawing:
Two cylinders
Two spheres
Two organic shapes
Add contour lines to each form to describe their volume. Let the lines wrap around the surface and follow the direction of the form. This step trains your ability to see and draw three-dimensional objects on a flat page.
Step 1: Creating Dragon Armor: Fantasy Battle Gear Design
Step 2: Wrap planes around the forms
Wrap two planes around each form you drew. Think of these planes as flat surfaces sitting on top of curved forms.
Where planes overlap or intersect, add darker lines to indicate occlusion. This helps communicate depth and structure. Don’t rush this step - clarity matters more than speed here.
Step 2: Creating Dragon Armor: Fantasy Battle Gear Design
Step 3: Study medieval armor shape language
Choose a medieval armor design you like and study it closely. Focus on the shape language rather than the details.
Ask yourself:
Are the shapes sharp and angular or rounded and smooth?
Where does the armor feel heavy or reinforced?
How do shapes repeat or flow across the design?
Take notes. This shape language will guide your design decisions later.
Step 3: Creating Dragon Armor: Fantasy Battle Gear Design
Step 4: Study a dragon with contour lines
Pick a dragon reference you like and trace contour lines over the body. Follow the curves of the neck, torso, and limbs.
This step helps you understand how complex organic creatures are built from simple volumes. Focus on flow and rhythm rather than accuracy.
Step 4: Creating Dragon Armor: Fantasy Battle Gear Design
Step 5: Wrap planes to represent armor
Now imagine armor sitting on top of the dragon’s body. Wrap planes around the forms where the armor would exist.
At this stage, ignore design details completely. Focus only on:
Proportions
How the armor sits on the body
How forms overlap and turn in space
This step is about structural believability.
Step 5: Creating Dragon Armor: Fantasy Battle Gear Design
Step 6: Refine shapes and add design elements
Using the shape language you studied in step 3, refine your armored forms. Add design elements that feel consistent with the medieval armor reference.
Keep checking that the design still respects the underlying forms and planes. Good design supports structure - it doesn’t fight it.
Step 6: Creating Dragon Armor: Fantasy Battle Gear Design
This exercise connects fundamentals with imagination. By understanding forms, planes, and shape language, you gain the ability to design armor that feels grounded, even on fantastical creatures like dragons.
Repeat this workflow with different armor styles and creature references to build versatility and confidence. If you try this exercise, share your progress with us on Instagram and Discord - we love seeing you grow!
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