Learn how to draw a snake the easy way, from one flowing line to a coiled body and a friendly face. A beginner step-by-step guide for cute and cobra snakes too.
A snake is one of the easiest animals to start with, because it begins as a single flowing line. In this guide you will learn how to draw a snake step by step, starting with one curvy line for the pose, then building a smooth body, a rounded head, and a flicking tongue. The same method gives you an easy snake drawing, a cute snake drawing, or a hooded cobra drawing, and you need no experience at all.
We will draw a coiled snake from a side view, since the curves are forgiving and fun. Keep your line light at first so you can adjust the pose, then darken it at the end. Let's begin.
What you'll need
- A pencil and an eraser
- Plain paper
- Optional: a black pen for outlining, plus green, yellow, or any bright crayons or markers
How to draw a snake step by step
Step 1: Draw one flowing line for the pose
Draw a single light line that curves and loops the way you want your snake to sit, like a loose letter "S" or a spiral. This is the line of action, and it sets the whole pose before you add any volume. Starting from one flowing gesture line is how artist Cecely V builds a snake, adding the body on top of that curve afterward. Keep it light.
Step 2: Add the head
At one end of your line, draw a rounded shape for the head, a little wider than the body will be. A snake's head is usually a soft wedge or a rounded triangle. Sketching the head as a simple shape first, before any details, is exactly how step-by-step lessons like this Cartooning Club reptile tutorial begin.
Step 3: Give the body thickness
Now draw a line on each side of your flowing guide to give the body width, following the curve from the head down to the tail. The big tip here is to keep the two sides the same distance apart as the body bends, so the snake stays an even thickness all the way along, the way Art for Kids Hub teaches it. Let the body taper to a point at the very tip of the tail.
Step 4: Draw the face
On the head, add two eyes near the top. For a cute snake drawing, make them big and round with a friendly curve for a mouth. For a fiercer snake, use narrow eyes with a slit pupil. Add two small nostril dots near the front of the snout.
Step 5: Add the tongue
From the front of the mouth, draw a thin tongue flicking out, split into a little fork at the end, like a long, skinny "Y." The forked tongue is a small detail that instantly makes your drawing read as a snake.
Step 6: Add belly scales and patterns
Along the inside of the coils, draw short cross lines for the wide belly scales. Then add your pattern on the back: diamonds, stripes, blotches, or simple bands. Patterns follow the curve of the body, so let them bend with each loop.
Step 7: Outline and erase guide lines
Trace the lines you want to keep with a firmer stroke or a black pen, then erase your original flowing guide line and any stray marks. Only darken your final lines once you are happy with the curves and the even thickness.
Step 8: Color your snake
Color your snake any way you like: green with darker bands, yellow and brown diamonds, or a bright fantasy mix. Leave the belly a lighter shade so it stands out from the patterned back.
What artists recommend (and common mistakes)
- Start with one flowing line. The biggest mistake is drawing both edges of the body at once and ending up with a stiff, lumpy snake. Lay down a single gesture line for the pose first, then add the body to it (Cecely V).
- Keep the body the same thickness. As the snake coils, beginners often let the body get fat and thin in random spots. Keep the two side lines the same distance apart through every bend (Art for Kids Hub).
- Sketch light, darken late. Block in the head and body as rough shapes that you can erase, and only commit to dark outlines once the form is right (Cartooning Club).
- Taper the tail. A snake's body narrows smoothly to a point. A blunt, rounded tail end makes it look cut off.
Fun variations to try
- A cute snake: Big round eyes, a small smile, and a chubby body curled into a neat spiral.
- A cobra: Add a wide, flared hood behind the head and rear the front of the body up tall.
- A tree snake: Drape the long body over a branch with loops hanging down on each side.
- A rattlesnake: Add a stack of rounded segments at the tip of the tail for the rattle.
Frequently asked questions
How do you draw a snake easy? Draw one flowing line for the pose, add a rounded head at one end, then give the body thickness by drawing a line on each side of the curve. Add eyes, a forked tongue, and a pattern, and you have a snake.
How do you draw a cute snake? Keep the body chubby and curled into a tidy spiral, give it big round eyes and a little smile, and round off the head softly. Cute comes from gentle curves and large eyes, so avoid sharp angles.
How do you draw a cobra? Build it like any snake from a flowing line, then add a wide flared hood behind the head and rear the front of the body upright. The spread hood and the tall, alert pose are what make it read as a cobra.
Keep drawing and coloring
Once your snake is coiled, draw it some neighbors. Try how to draw a spider for another creepy-crawly, or how to draw a lion for a big jungle cat. For more ideas, browse our easy animals to draw list, then print our free animal coloring pages to fill your sketchbook with color.