How to Draw Cerberus: Easy 10-Step Mythical Creature Guide

Ready to bring a legend to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 8+ who want to tackle a fun, multi-headed challenge. Grab your pencil, eraser, and paper to follow along as we break down this mythical guardian into manageable, simple shapes.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A vibrant, finished illustration of the mythical three-headed Cerberus.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the First Snout

Pencil sketch of a dog snout and nose, showing the initial construction lines for the first head of Cerberus.

Draw a backward C-shape near the top of your page for the first head. Add a parallel line underneath and a wide, rounded triangle for the nose. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light here; we are just mapping out the structure of the first head.

Step 2: Adding the Mouth and Tongue

Drawing the open mouth of the first head, featuring jagged teeth and a heart-shaped tongue.

Inside the mouth, draw small, rounded hill shapes for the teeth. Add a heart shape for the tongue with a second heart behind it for depth. Teacher's Tip: Use short, quick strokes for the teeth to give them a sharp, jagged look.

Step 3: Developing the Second Head

Sketching the second head of Cerberus, focusing on the snout and eye placement.

Add a triangle for the ear and sketch the neck lines. On the right, draw a downward-pointing line to start the second head's snout. Teacher's Tip: Ensure the neck lines connect smoothly to the first head to keep the anatomy looking consistent.

Step 4: Detailing the Second Snout

Adding teeth and tongue details to the second head of the Cerberus drawing.

Add more hill-shaped teeth and a peach-shaped tongue for the second head. Use curved lines to define the jawline. Teacher's Tip: Try to make the teeth slightly different sizes to give the creature a more natural, wild appearance.

Step 5: Sketching the Third Head

Adding the third head to the left side, showing the ear and snout construction.

Draw triangles for the ears and use curved lines to complete the head shape. On the left, draw a loop for the third snout and add the nose. Teacher's Tip: Overlapping the nose slightly onto the snout helps create a 3D effect.

Step 6: Connecting the Heads

Connecting the three heads and refining the jaw and neck lines of the Cerberus.

Connect the third head to the body with a curved line. Draw the mouth using an S-shape and add teeth. Teacher's Tip: Use a darker pencil stroke for the jawline to help separate the three heads visually.

Step 7: Building the Body

Sketching the main body and front legs of the mythical dog.

Draw a large curve for the back and vertical lines for the front legs. Add round shapes for the toes. Teacher's Tip: Keep the legs slightly thick to give Cerberus a strong, muscular look.

Step 8: Adding Claws and Leg Detail

Adding sharp claw details to the feet of the Cerberus.

Add loops at the bottom of the legs and draw overlapping triangles for the claws. Teacher's Tip: Claws are just simple triangles—don't overthink them, just keep them sharp!

Step 9: The Tail and Final Outline

Finalizing the outline of the Cerberus, including the tail and leg details.

Draw a long S-shape for the tail with an arrow tip. Once you're happy with the pose, trace over your lines with a black pen. Teacher's Tip: Use a steady hand when outlining to ensure your lines are clean and bold.

Step 10: Bringing Cerberus to Life with Color

The finished, colored drawing of the three-headed Cerberus.

Use dark grey for the body, light grey for the snouts, yellow for the eyes, and dark red for the mouths. Teacher's Tip: Use a lighter shade of grey on the snouts to make them pop against the darker body color.