Pen & Ink Drawing Tutorials | How to draw realistic scales on fish, dragons, snakes, reptiles

[@biranicolella3509]

Seven years later I came to thank you for this tutorial.

[@Coffee_Caper]

WOW! Now THIS is how it's supposed to be explained. Most teachers just get away by saying "Practice" or something vague. I needed some logical explanation as well and this was perfect. Thanks!

[@alphonsodunn]

glad it helped : )

[@sarahaque6640]

I am ur teacher 🍵

[@liaM-sj1st]

Yea exactly

[@Kevintj]

So you do two types/steps of shading here: the shading of the individual scales to give the texture and the shading of the main shape as a cylinder. Your tutorials are great.

[@amdza]

All my life I've used my pets as live models for my sketches. Turns out nothing has been more difficult for me than drawing my snake. I've had the little guy for a little over a year and I've never been able to do him justice. Snake morphology is deceptively simple, but right now I won't stop until I get a decent pet portrait for my wall! Thanks for breaking it down like this. It may have been 7 years but your video is still one of the best explanations here on youtube.

[@JB007SEXY]

Not only is this gentleman a GREAT ARTIST, But also a god AMONG MEN.!!!

[@alphonsodunn]

zeta reticuli Arent we all :-) Thanks much.

[@JB007SEXY]

All the BEST.!!!;-)

[@emmanuelkadima1484]

i agree, he is explaining with his heart, naturally a teacher, , i can see many qualities of you just by yours works n love u do have while explaining

[@Miauwies]

I saw this tutorial years ago... I stopt drawing later on and now I'm picking it up again. And this video came across again. It's the best tutorial on scales there is on youtube. Thank you so much!

[@lemony3719]

Thank you so much for this very detailed tutorial! I am drawing a mermaid right now and I'm gonna try my best to follow all these steps on her tail 🧜‍♀

[@the_saucisson]

Even though the snake im doing is in acrylic paints, i still learned alot about shading. Thanks

[@alphonsodunn]

:-)

[@raymond_s2128]

exactly my thought 💭

[@sarahschneider3955]

This video definitely helped me understand how to draw scales. I usually just doodle but now I have something I want to draw and challenge myself with.

[@alphonsodunn]

+Sarah Schneider Cool! Its good to have a format or process you use, it helps you get the results you want. And at least you're sure of how to repeat it too

[@vitoaugello1677]

something so simple makes a world of difference..............thanks just proves technique is everything

[@tgarratt]

Bookmarked and followed! Just to echo that last comment, you're a great teacher. Thanks for explaining why these techniques work instead of just doing them and expecting folks to pick up on it. I'm a bigtime newb and this was really understandable to me.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks so much

[@sadcardboardbox2208]

This is probably the best art video I have watched

[@onawimm]

Wow! This helps a lot with my art career in the future! It was great!

[@jdkworld97]

I'm getting better at drawing incredibly quickly because of your tutorials... every time I finish a drawing I am really amazed!

[@alphonsodunn]

***** :-) I love to hear of progress..thanks for sharing

[@moon_joust7368]

Thank you. Such a profound artist and teacher.

[@arpitanayak2997]

This was the first of your videos that I ever watched, and honestly, thank you so much for doing these tutorials. As an art student working on technique, these videos are so helpful. Thanks for being awesome!

[@alphonsodunn]

Arpita Nayak :-) that means alot...thanks for sharing that :-)

[@arpitanayak2997]

***** No problem, you deserve it :)

[@auxa2831]

Why did i JUST stumble across this?!? Like I've been waiting for tutorials like these for so long!

[@LazaroOsle]

Now... I'm ready to draw sneks! Awesome tutorial btw ^^

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks

[@DougyFreshGames]

Always felt intimidated drawing scales, you made it easier to understand. Thank you!

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad I could help

[@putrifyingN]

This video was absolutely helpful right now! Just what I needed, plus a very useful lesson on shading. Thanks :)

[@alphonsodunn]

:-) Glad you enjoyed it

[@timschieferecke8195]

You're an excellent teacher.

[@conradcunningham3965]

THANK YOU!! This was so helpful, because before I would've just added some semicircles and called it done but this was an amazing explanation!!

[@geekxout777]

You explain this very well and quickly, much appreciated!

[@thunderaga]

Your shading techniques is interesting. I shall scan through your videos to learn more. Thank you for taking the time to produce these tutorials.

[@alphonsodunn]

no worries..learn what you can

[@cerberushades741]

Thank you for taking the time to do this! I learned a lot!!!

[@gangler52]

This was multiple kinds of helpful for me. Some of those terms and concepts you mentioned are things I've been covering in art class but it hadn't occurred to me that they apply like this. I bet a lot of these same concepts about the overlapping 3d shapes and giving value through shadows would also apply to something like drawing feathers.

[@alphonsodunn]

gangler52 yup, sure would

[@LAWRENCESmannjr-tm5kn]

So darn cool and pretty easy ❤

[@remtt]

man, your vids are teaching me so many thing. Thank you.

[@reneewint7735]

this is a very good tutorial but it looks so easy but its hard for me to do

[@AndersRochester]

Alphonso you are always inspiring. When ever I do nat know what to explore in terms of drawing I just put on one of your videos and I'm ready to go. Thank You.

[@alphonsodunn]

lol thanks alot ....glad you're inspired

[@imalogui]

Could you do a video explaining how to draw the curved part of the scales? For now I'll keep practicing

[@michellemitchell3291]

Thank you for sharing your valuable techniques and skills with a very great full new comer. Your teaching voice is calm and confident which makes me feel I can do this too. 13:41

[@QuickPicturesToDraw]

you sir have earned yourself a subscriber

[@senaadjovi]

Best tutorial on KZbin ! Thanks a lot

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad it helped : )

[@ctrojan1665]

Thank you so much, you really explained it in a way I could understand!

[@josephspinelli9800]

YOUR ARE TRUE TEACHER THE BEST I HAVE HAD and I HAVE TRIED 10 OR 12 INSTRUCKER IN MY 45 YEARS OF DRAWING . I AM BASICLY SELF TAUGHT .AND KEEP REPEATING THE SAME MISTAKES OVER AND OVER .THEN I STARTED WHATCING YOU VIDEO AND IT IS ALL FALLING IN TO PLACE THANK YOU SO MUCH . I SPEN MANY HOURS STUDYING YOU SURE HELPED ME

[@alphonsodunn]

joseph spinelli so glad I could help. I love hearing of progress :-)

[@aliciamazingg]

what a fun exercise, thanks for sharing!

[@SucculentSoul7]

You're awesome! I will be parking here for awhile soaking it all in!! TFS!

[@alphonsodunn]

:-) thanks. I hope you learn as much as you can

[@graciousmom4127]

Thank you, you're a big help with my new art work....☺️

[@FlandreScarlet]

Thanks for the tutorial, really useful for my drawing and it made it look realistic and cool :D

[@alphonsodunn]

kererodash cool! thats what I love to hear

[@tombryan720]

Awesome demo, thank you!

[@Beencouraged777]

This is really great! I’m trying to teach myself how to draw really well and this is fantastic. I was hoping you could do a step-by-step of ocean waves? I have tried very hard to follow other artist on KZbin, but I just can’t grasp what they’re doing. Your teaching style seems like something I’m able to grasp. I sure would appreciate it.

[@TheBagpypr]

Thanks for this video. It was exactly what I needed to see. Well done.

[@alphonsodunn]

: )

[@krinka1458]

You're a good teacher

[@ulrikepels4029]

your really the best on KZbin. i learn so much from you're video's. Thanks a lot. Greetz from Holland ;)

[@alphonsodunn]

thanks much! Glad you find them useful : )

[@bears_bears_bears]

Super super helpful! Thank you

[@Iriien]

Wery good tutorial - simple and at the same time vovering everything important! Thank you :)

[@alphonsodunn]

Very welcome

[@BattleRapOpinions]

Great lesson, thanks.

[@gamingwithmo1212]

ur advice helped me a lot to do some really awesome textures

[@alphonsodunn]

Gaming with MO glad it helped...do share them

[@DylansLapplandSimping]

Oh my gpd, thank you sooo much! This is exactly what I needed to know. I'm currently competing in a school competition about drawing animals and I really wanted to draw a snake with a flower but I couldn't do the scales correctly. Wish me luck on the comp!

[@alphonsodunn]

🙂🙏

[@skippetiekenton4797]

I am not a genius. "Some people are JUST geniuses."--Alphonso Dunn. Just sticks in my head like a jingle.

[@heatherwilkinson6231]

Wow you really know what your doing, great drawing and vid.thanks for doing the tutorial.

[@alphonsodunn]

Heather Wilkinson no problem :-)

[@agnieszkagodlewska2518]

You are the best on You Tube.

[@rudiwirayudha5177]

THIS IS WHAT I NEED, THANK YOU!

[@TheRealStenShady]

Explained perfectly.

[@mmmgi6763]

Wow! This is super useful! Thnx 👍👍👍👍

[@alphonsodunn]

: )

[@vectorthewise4222]

I'm going to be up for a while trying to draw a snake lol Great did BTW! Thanks!

[@user-lb4nf9nx8w]

Great video, very helpful !

[@starshollowhearted]

could you make a video about your favorite art books you have learned from? I have never seen a book or anything from what I could learn as much as from you.

[@alphonsodunn]

Definitely! thats a good idea! Dont worry, look out for my book this summer

[@fslayer1290]

This was so very helpful. Thank you! 😄

[@alphonsodunn]

Very welcome

[@jadooblue]

Thank you so much for doing these videos!

[@alphonsodunn]

You’re very welcome

[@smellydonut5088]

neat tutorial! tysm

[@Junelikesbubbletea]

Huh. This video is really helpful!

[@satishiva6435]

So very well explained thanks very useful

[@melmgh]

thanks for this demo. you covered it very well

[@firemazeheatray5194]

love your tutorials thank you

[@argopambudi4242]

thank you alphonso this is really helpful :)

[@alphonsodunn]

Argo Pambudi glad it helped, and thanks for sharing that

[@fanickmj]

Good work! ignore bad comments, very well explained. LIKE

[@alphonsodunn]

Lol thanks

[@sergio970]

Great explanations

[@galaxydriver32]

Thanks a lot! This helped me drawing Ariel's tail 😃👍😊

[@alphonsodunn]

galaxydriver32 yayyy...thanks for sharing that. hope your drawing came out awesome :-)

[@sashakotler5929]

Thank you so much This video helped me a lot

[@eloisekingman5875]

Thank you, this video was very helpful with my fish drawing!

[@alphonsodunn]

+Eloise Kingman Glad it helped :-)

[@Amberjack1973]

Great advice. I've subscribed!

[@alphonsodunn]

thanks..welcome on board

[@HugoSilva-tp7pc]

you could make a video about drawing bones and skulls? I'm improving a lot since I saw their video lessons! Thank you so much!!

[@jeankeller4572]

I agree with Surya Seshan. In depth detail and explanation create for better logic and understanding of knowledge given sometimes

[@alphonsodunn]

Hmm

[@IceGirl17182]

Uff just what i need! Helped me a lot! Thanks! :)

[@alphonsodunn]

Daniela Montaner :-)

[@oxalis4227]

Really nice tutorial, thank you very much!

[@alphonsodunn]

+Oxalis very welcome

[@dolaneditcompilations5558]

I know this sound cheesy, but u was drawing realistic mermaid and thanks to this video, it was great!!!

[@alphonsodunn]

awesome! No cheesy at all : )

[@karloreilly1791]

you give great tutorials :) thanks for putting them up here, keep it up!

[@alphonsodunn]

Karl O Reilly thanks...glad they help

[@leventdhiver]

Woooow, this is gold! My oroboros will be much better thanks to you 😀.

[@alphonsodunn]

Yayyy

[@catherinej4141]

thank you so much Alphonso..this helped so much...SUBSCRIBED :D

[@alphonsodunn]

Catherine Joseph thanks much! Welcome onboard :-)

[@Lintpocket]

Excellent, thank you.

[@sylviabene5634]

Very helpful tutorial. Thanks:)

[@alphonsodunn]

Very welcome

[@NotThatBob]

Great tutorial. Where did you study? Amazing.

[@alphonsodunn]

thanks much...self-study for the most part

[@krishanramsammy4349]

Thank u bro appreciated🙏🏽

[@qudos2751]

Thank you so much for the video 🤍

[@juansilva-vc5rw]

No entendí nada pero me sirveeee, muchas gracias bro

[@vincentlynn3815]

That was dope

[@rayanyup8707]

Thanks u so much thats looks so good I learned SO much

[@alphonsodunn]

Glad it helped

[@rayanyup8707]

Alphonso Dunn

[@oofergangbois1997]

Thx so much now ik how to draw scales of dragon and teachers barely can explain these things.

[@alphonsodunn]

Thanks. Glad it helped

[@sueburek3725]

How do I get your book? Any way I can get it by paying by check?

[@KamperKi11er69]

Thanks for this :D about to start working on a Kukulkan (its a mayan god). Hopefully it turns out well!

[@alphonsodunn]

+SableRazgriz Good luck! Do share the final work

[@kurtlianko8631]

+SableRazgriz You Smite?

[@KamperKi11er69]

+Kurt Lianko Yeah Dude!

[@kurtlianko8631]

SableRazgriz IGN?

[@KamperKi11er69]

+Kurt Lianko I play on Xbox sorry!

[@parisrowe4569]

Sweet tut man keep at it you have impressed me :D

[@alphonsodunn]

cool :-)

[@BinnucCe]

9years later i m here to thank u 💜💜💜💜💜

[@maudlinmandrakedesigns]

Hi!! This is a great tutorial, well done! It helped me a lot for sure, but I was wondering how to deal with colors then? In black and grey it is cool but could you do the same colored? :s Thank you :)

[@alphonsodunn]

+Angeline Bardon i could do that a later time

[@maudlinmandrakedesigns]

Ok thank you x)

[@gamingwithmo1212]

great helped me a lot...btw wat pen r u using

[@alphonsodunn]

Gaming with MO pigma microns

[@gamingwithmo1212]

thanx cuz i really needed them

[@fabianovinholesvargas4397]

muito obrigado as suas aulas estão sendo de grande ajuda.sou muito fã de desenhar.

[@dinahquacoe8660]

Thank youuu! So helpful :-)

[@Therealhatepotion]

Yours look like perfect scales while my sophomoric effort seems like a stone covering. I hope pratice will help but I think my skills are limited to a "cartoon" look. Eg flat and 1 diminsionial. I just wish I took more than 1 art class in college.

[@alphonsodunn]

no, with practice you will get better...just practice the right things

[@orinvest]

Definitely, practice

[@HIPEMS83HOP]

You don’t need college bro. Self educate yourself. You’ll be better than scholars can give you

[@KelyrinYourSafeSpace]

Hey Alphonso !! I'm so excited today because I just received the Micron pens that I ordered !! I was using staedler before, and I was using them for architecture but never managed to draw with them, I felt that they were pretty uncomfortable when I was trying to draw ! I've watched your videos for a while now and I finally decided to buy myself these micron pens :D They are awesome ! And this video is the first thing I tried doing with them. Turned out pretty cool !!! Of course I still got work (the grid was the most difficult part for me hahah) but I'm very happy ! Thank you !!!!! o^.^o

[@alphonsodunn]

Kelyrin's Cooking & Bento To each is own I guess, For regular ink drawings I use microns mostly right now...I hope they help to take your work to another level