Use the step-by-step instructions below to learn how to draw Distortus Rex from the Jurassic World movie. Follow along with the video, or use the images in this article. By the end of this tutorial, even beginners will have a completed drawing of this fictional dinosaur!

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To draw this dinosaur step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to go at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step images below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to sketch next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and create art at your own pace.

Materials You’ll Need

Before starting, gather these basic drawing supplies:

• Pencil
• Eraser
• Black ink pen or marker
• Drawing paper
• Colored pencils or markers

Step 1: Lay the Foundation with Construction Guides

Before diving into the details, establish the scale and proportions using a series of simple guidelines. Sketch these steps very lightly so they are easy to erase later.

Proportional Circles

• The Head: Draw a small circle near the top left of your page. To ensure it is perfectly round, mark its length and width with small dashes first, then connect them with smooth, curved lines. Draw a horizontal line directly through the middle of this circle to serve as a feature guide.
• The Front Body: To the bottom right of the head circle, sketch a second circle. This should be roughly 1.5 times the size of the head circle.
• The Rear Body: Further down and to the right, draw a third circle. Position it diagonally in relation to the middle circle, keeping it roughly the same size as the head.

Defining the Limbs, Neck & Tail

• The Arms: Underneath the middle circle, sketch a long, angled line that bends near the midpoint to form an elbow joint, ending with a sharp turn to the right for the fingers. Mirror this on the left side with a second angled line.
• The Legs: Under the rightmost circle, draw a long line that bends a few times to indicate the powerful joints of a theropod leg, curving left at the bottom for the toes. Sketch a shorter, partial version to the left for the background leg.
• The Torso and Tail: Connect the head to the front body with wide, short lines to form a thick neck. Connect the top of the body circles with a sloping backline. Finally, extend two long, curved lines from the rear body to create a sweeping tail that is wide at the base and tapers to a sharp point.

Step 2: Drawing the Head & Facial Features

Now focus on the details of the face to capture the menacing air of the Jurassic World apex predator.

The Eye and Brow

• The Eye: Lightly sketch a small circle just above your horizontal construction line, close to the center of the head circle. Once satisfied with the placement, sharpen the corners to make them pointy and place a dark dot in the center for the pupil.
• The Creases: Add subtle, curved lines around the eye socket to imply leathery skin.
• The Brow: Draw a long, dramatic curved line extending to the left above the eye to create a prominent brow ridge. Use a series of wavy lines on top to give it a rugged, bony texture.

The Jaws and Razor-Sharp Teeth

• The Snout: Follow the horizontal guide forward to sketch the top of the mouth, ending it further right than the eye. Curve the front downward into a strong, vertical muzzle line. Add a short, thick slash near the front for the nostril.
• The Lower Jaw: Follow the bottom path of your original head circle, flattening out the baseline slightly to give the jaw a heavy, muscular look. Connect the back of the jaw to the upper mouth with a short vertical line.
• The Teeth: Along both jawlines, draw a series of interlocking, irregular triangular shapes. Keep the roots rounded and the tips pointed, varying their sizes to mimic a natural, terrifying smile.
• Inside the Mouth: Add a couple of organic, curved lines inside the open jaw to define the tongue, and use small structural lines at the back to give the throat depth.

Step 3: Shaping the Muscular Limbs & Body

The Distortus Rex has powerful legs and distinctively small forearms.

Forearms and Claws

Flesh out the shapes around your arm guidelines. Keep the upper arms wide near the shoulder and taper them down toward the wrists. Use curved strokes to outline distinct muscle groups. At the tips, draw long, thin, curved shapes ending in sharp, pointed claws.

Hind Legs and Feet

The hind legs require a heavy, powerful appearance.

• Outline the massive thigh and calf muscles around your leg guides, ensuring the joints bend naturally.
• At the base of the foot, extend three thick toes pointing forward.
• Cap each digit with a sharp, triangular talon.
• Repeat this process for the visible portions of the secondary leg in the background.

Finishing the Torso Outline

Connect your structural elements by darkening the outer bounds of the neck, back, belly, and tail. Use undulating, organic lines rather than perfectly straight ones to suggest real muscle definition and sagging skin along the underbelly. Do not cross your lines over the limbs closest to the viewer.

Step 4: Inking, Texturing, and Clean-Up

Once the graphite drawing is complete, it is time to transition to the final rendering phase.

• Ink the Outlines: Using a permanent fine-liner or ink pen, carefully trace over your final pencil marks. Do not ink any of the initial circular construction lines.
• Erase Guidelines: Allow the ink to dry completely to prevent smudging, then use a soft eraser to clear away all background pencil sketches.
• Line Weight Variation: Go back over your inked lines, making the outer contours and shadow-facing edges thicker. This adds weight and visual dimension to the illustration.
• Skin Texture: Add short, wavy, broken lines across the snout, neck, and flanks to simulate the rough, reptilian scales characteristic of a dinosaur.

Step 5: Applying Dynamic Color & Highlights

The final step brings your Distortus Rex to life using a layered approach to color and shading. Rather than applying flat color, building up tones sequentially will give your dinosaur a realistic, three-dimensional presence.

Establishing the Base and Skin Patterns

Begin by coloring the main upper portion of the body with a vibrant greenish yellow. Always apply these lighter tones first to maintain brightness. Once the base layer is down, use an earthy brown to draw distinct, wavy stripe patterns along the spine, neck, and the top part of the tail. For the underbelly and the undersides of the limbs, transition to a soft, pale yellow-green to create a natural counter-shading effect.

Building Depth with Shadows

To give the creature volume and mass, gradually introduce darker shades to create deep shadows. Focus your darkest greens and browns along the underside of the neck, beneath the belly, and where the muscular limbs meet the torso. Inside the mouth, use various deep shades of chocolate brown to create depth, while applying a muted pink for the tongue and the flexible tissues connecting the jaws.

Grounding the Illustration

To prevent your dinosaur from looking like it is floating on the page, add a realistic cast shadow directly beneath its feet and tail. Blend a mixture of slate blue and cool gray onto the ground surface, keeping the shadow sharpest right where the claws make contact with the earth.

Coloring Tips for Maximum Depth

1. Layer Light to Dark: Always apply your lightest tones (like the yellow-green underbelly) first. This establishes a base without muddying your deeper shades.
2. Build Volume with Shadows: Concentrate dark shades along the underside of the neck, beneath the belly, and where the limbs meet the body. This transitions your flat drawing into a three-dimensional figure.
3. Ground the Dinosaur: Don't let your Distortus Rex float on the page. Apply a blend of gray and a touch of blue directly beneath the feet and tail to create a realistic cast shadow on the ground.

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