Let’s create something epic and learn how to draw a griffin, a mythical creature that combines the features of an eagle and a lion.

How to Draw a Griffin: Introduction

The griffin or gryphon has been a popular creature in stories and heraldry for centuries . In mythology, this creature combined two powerful animals – the eagle and the lion, and was often depicted as a guardian of gold and sacred places.

Since this is a mythological character, it has a very unusual appearance, which we will have to convey on paper. But at the same time, the character must have a convincing appearance. That is, your griffin drawing must be incredible but not unconvincing.

If you already know how to draw a lion and are able to draw an eagle, then this will be a great help for you in this lesson. When drawing a griffin, try to apply this knowledge to get the most convincing result.

In the picture, the griffin looks very cute and funny and has a cartoon look. I think that you will enjoy drawing a griffin. But you can give your griffin drawing a more authentic and realistic look by simply changing the proportions and making the eyes less cartoonish and more eagle-like.

Griffin Drawing Tutorial

Materials

Pencil
Paper
Eraser
Coloring supplies

Time needed: 40 minutes

How to Draw a Griffin

Create the head and torso.
To start to draw a griffin, sketch two simple shapes: a circle for the head and a long, rounded bean shape attached below for the body. You can adjust the head and body sizes – make the head larger for a cuter, more cartoonish griffin or smaller for a fiercer, realistic one.
Sketch the beak and eyes.
Next, draw a griffin’s facial features: its hooked beak and round eyes. From the front of the head circle, sketch a pointed, curved beak like an eagle’s, using a sharp hook at the tip. Just behind the beak, add a small round eye. Try large eyes for a more cartoon look or small eyes for a more realistic gaze.
Draw the griffin’s head and neck feathers.
Sketch small, pointy spikes sticking up from the top of the head to resemble a crest of feathers. Then, from below the head down to the front of the body shape, draw a wavy, scalloped line representing the griffin’s feathery neck ruff. You can make the feathers long and pointed or short and rounded.
Sketch eagle legs and talons.
Now draw a griffin’s powerful front legs, starting with two thick, straight lines extending down from the chest area. At the bottom of each leg, sketch three sharp claws. These legs should look like an eagle’s with rough, slightly segmented lines, ending in large, hooked talons.
Sketch lion-like back legs.
Next, draw a griffin’s hind legs by sketching two thick, cat-like limbs extending from the back of the body. Start each leg with a curved thigh line that sweeps downward, then add the lower leg segments with rounded paws ending in three toes.
Draw the griffin’s tail.
Extend two long, smooth lines backward with a slight upward curve, then finish with a fluffy tuft or leaf-like shape at the end. Try a long, thin tail with a tuft for a classic lion look or add a thicker, reptilian tail for a dragon-griffin hybrid.
Sketch large feathered wings.
Sketch large, feathered shapes extending from the back of the shoulders. Begin each wing with a curved line rising from the body, then draw layers of long, pointed feathers fanning outward. I recommend drawing two or three layers of feathers to make the griffin look realistic enough but not too complicated.
Clean up the linework.
To finish your griffin drawing, carefully trace over your entire sketch with a darker pencil or pen. Clean up your lines and erase any extra construction guides, giving your artwork a finished and polished look. Add small feather details or fur texture if you want extra realism.
Paint your griffin sketch.
Now, color your drawing of the griffin, using golden yellow or light brown for the head and wings, and a deeper brown or tan for the lion-like body and legs. Add orange or yellow to the beak and talons, and dark brown or black for details like claws or eyes.

Simple Griffin Drawing Tutorial

This griffin drawing tutorial uses more simplified, cartoon style without any construction lines than the first griffin tutorial. Unlike the earlier approach with separate basic shapes, this method connects body parts more fluidly from the start, and the wings are added early rather than saved for later, giving a finished look sooner.

Start drawing a griffin by sketching the head crest using several curved spikes, then add a curved line for the top of the head. Draw the hooked beak below with a smooth arch and connect it to the head. Extend a long curved line downward for the neck and chest.

Draw the first wing as a large jagged shape behind the body with feather tips facing outward. Sketch the front leg as a short cylinder ending in rounded claws. Draw the rear legs similarly. Add the second wing on the opposite side. Sketch the tail as a thin line ending in a leaf-shaped tuft. Add the eye as a small oval, and finish details like the feather lines along the chest. Color the griffin with browns and tans.

Simple Griffin Worksheets

Conclusion

These tutorials on how to draw a griffin give you two different approaches for creating this legendary creature: one with clear construction steps and detailed proportions, and another with a simpler, cartoon style for quick, cute results.

Working through either version helps you practice combining features of an eagle and a lion and create a really convincing griffin drawing.

For more drawing projects that match these styles, try tutorials on how to draw a dragon, phoenix, or other mythical animals. Find additional lessons on Pinterest or YouTube to continue building your drawing skills with easy-to-follow tutorials updated regularly.