Hey guys! This is the first in what will hopefully be a series, where I go through step-by-step and show you how to draw each breed in a manner similar to the site art. it’s a great place to start if you’re a beginner artist or new to the site, and don’t fully understand each breed’s anatomy. So let’s get started!
First off, you want a shape like this. A wedge, a triangle on the end, and a long S tube coming off the end. This is the basic ‘sketch’ you’ll use. Keep in mind your sketch (hey, even your linework!) can be as messy as you want, I kept it clean here to make it easy to see.
Using the shapes given, draw the head! Start with the upper jaw/skull and the mouth, then draw the lower jaw.
And a little face! The eye is vaguely tear-drop shaped. The nostril is too, but doesn’t meet at the end where it points towards the eye. The line in between simply adds a bit of definition to the face!
Now we’re getting started on the crest. It can be as big or as small as you want. It should be widest at the top of the head, and taper down as it travels down the neck. Don’t forget the other side too! You should go back onto your sketch layer for this. You can also erase bits of the sketch you don’t need anymore, around the head.
Now for some circles. These will be used to draw the coatl’s ‘ears’ as such. The weird spirals along their crests are what they use to hear, so they’re a pretty important part to include.
And now another, smaller crest that’ll go inbetween. If it’s a male coatl, this also joins up to the base of the jaw. Simply add some cheek fluff and you’re all set!
To draw each spiral, do a little snail shell that’s been tipped back. Make sure it keeps it’s form here, as its pretty easy for them to get squashed, which can look a little strange.
Now for the rest of them! Each one sits behind the other, and you may also want to add them poking out from behind the other crest depending on the angle. I didn’t here for simplicity’s sake.
The small crest can be made of fur or feathers, that’s up to you. Here I’ve made it more fur-like, similar to the mane on skydancers. Just make sure it follows the same tapering shape as the big crest.
At this point, you may want to draw the neck. This is pretty simple, just follow your sketch. Leave the end open however, we’ll be using that space later.
Again you can erase what you’re not using of the sketch. It’s time to add the feathers! Draw a series of long ovals that overlap one another. Remember that at this angle, the opposite crest overlaps in the opposite direction: the lower the feathers, the more towards the inside they are.
Drawing a feather is pretty simple. Follow your basic shape lair out, and include some little triangle cut-outs. This makes the feathers look more realistic, as it’s very raw to find a feather that is perfectly ‘zipped up’. Make sure you also include the quick along the middle.
Continue this for each of your other feathers, making sure to remember that they overlap, and get smaller as they go down.
Now we’re getting funky! Add a weird blob shape to the bas of the neck. There’s really not much more help I can give beyond that: it’s a weird blob shape.
Now to add that magnificent feather/fur boa! Again, you can do this as either fur or feathers, though I suggest matching it up with what you did on the crest. Everything should more or less point downwards.
Add in your belly! It should more or less follow the curve of the belly, not the curve of the spine.
Fluff it up and add some details! Forked tongue, fluffy chest, eyebrows. Heck, if coatls are snake you can even add a snake’s heat pits!
And voila! Your lovely little coatl is now complete. This is just a basic guide on how to draw a coatl. Feel free to experiment and do whatever you want!
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