How to Draw a Snake Step by Step
Step 1: Draw the Eyes and Nose
Start with the face. Draw two tall oval eyes with a small curved line under each one for the cheeks. Leave a little white circle inside each eye so they look shiny, and color in the rest. Between the eyes, draw a short line for the snout and two tiny dots below it for the nostrils.
Step 2: Draw the Smile and Forked Tongue
Draw a wide, wavy smile under the nose. Curl the ends up a little so your snake looks happy. From the middle of the mouth, draw two short lines going down and finish them with a “V” shape. That’s the snake’s forked tongue!
Step 3: Draw the Head Outline
Now draw the shape of the head. Make a rounded bump above each eye for the eye ridges. Then bring the lines down and around both sides of the face in big round curves. Leave a gap at the top between the two bumps.
Step 4: Close the Head and Start the Neck
Connect the two bumps at the top with a gentle curve to close the head. Then, from under the left side of the head, draw a line going down and curving to the left with a little curl at the end. This is the first side of the neck.
Step 5: Draw the Neck and First Coi
From the right side of the head, draw a long line straight down. Then curve it around to the left and back up to meet the curl from Step 4. Now your snake has a long neck and its first round coil. It should look a bit like the letter “J”.
Step 6: Add the Second Coil
On the right side of the neck, draw another rounded coil that peeks out from behind. Add a small curl at the top of it so it looks like the body is wrapping around.
Step 7: Draw the Bottom Coil
Draw a big flat oval under the two coils. This is the bottom layer of the snake’s body, and it makes the snake look like it’s sitting on top of itself.
Step 8: Add Belly and Cheek Lines
Draw a line down the front of the neck to show the belly. Add a curved line along the middle of each coil too. Finally, draw two small curves on the face for chubby cheeks.
Step 9: Draw the Tail
On the left side, behind the coils, draw the tail sticking up. Use two curved lines that meet in a point at the top.
Step 10: Add the Spot Pattern
Time to decorate! Draw round spots of different sizes along the snake’s back, tail and coils. Some spots can be cut off at the edges, which makes the pattern look like it wraps around the body.
Step 11: Draw the Ground
Draw a wavy patch of ground under the snake. Add a few tiny pebbles and small tufts of grass.
Step 12: Add Grass and Bushes
Behind the snake, draw some bumpy bushes and taller spiky grass on both sides. This makes your drawing feel like a real outdoor scene.
Step 13: Draw the Clouds
Add two fluffy clouds in the sky, one on each side of the snake’s head.
Step 14: Your Snake Drawing Is Done!
Great job! Erase any extra pencil lines and go over your drawing with a black marker if you like. Your cute snake is ready to color.
How to Color Your Snake
Snakes come in almost every color you can imagine, so there’s no wrong choice. If you’d like ideas from real snakes, try one of these:
- Green tree python: bright green body with small white or yellow spots
- Corn snake: orange and red with darker red spots outlined in black
- Ball python: brown and tan with dark patches
- Coral snake look: bands of red, yellow and black
Or make up your own rainbow snake! Color the belly a lighter shade than the back to make the snake look rounder. Don’t forget the pink tongue, green grass and a blue sky.
Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)
- The neck is too thin. A cute snake has a chunky neck. Keep the two neck lines in Step 5 about as far apart as the eyes.
- All the coils are the same size. Make the bottom coil the biggest. Each layer should get a little smaller as it goes up, like a stack of pancakes.
- The head is too small. Cartoon animals look cutest with big heads. The head should be about as wide as the top coil.
- Forgetting the tail. Without a tail, a coiled snake can look like a cake! The pointy tail in Step 9 shows that it’s one long body.
- Pressing too hard. Dark pencil lines are hard to erase. Sketch lightly and darken only at the end.
Try These Fun Variations
Once you’ve learned this snake, try changing it up:
- Cobra: Make the neck wider just under the head to form a hood, and add a pattern on the front of the hood.
- Rattlesnake: Draw a few stacked rounded segments at the tip of the tail for the rattle.
- Slithering snake: Skip the coils and draw the body as a long “S” shape that gets thinner toward the tail.
- Snake with a hat: Add a party hat, bow tie or sunglasses for a silly character.
Fun Snake Facts for Kids
- Snakes smell with their tongues! When a snake flicks its forked tongue, it picks up tiny scent particles from the air and brings them to a special organ in the roof of its mouth.
- Snakes can’t blink. They don’t have eyelids. A clear scale covers and protects each eye instead.
- Snakes shed their skin. As they grow, they wriggle out of their old skin, often in one long piece.
- There are almost 4,000 kinds of snakes. They live on every continent except Antarctica.
- Some snakes are really long. The reticulated python can grow longer than a car!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this snake drawing easy for kids?
Yes. This tutorial uses only simple curves and ovals, and every step adds just a few lines. Kids aged 5 and up can usually follow it on their own, and younger kids can do it with a little help.
How long does it take to draw a snake?
Most kids finish the drawing in about 15–20 minutes. Coloring can take another 10–15 minutes.
What is the easiest way to draw a snake?
Start with the face, then build the body with big round curves. Drawing the head first makes it easier to fit the coils underneath, and it helps the snake look friendly.
How do I make my snake drawing look cute?
Give it a big head, large shiny eyes, a smile and round cheeks. Soft round shapes look cute, while sharp angles look scary.
How do I draw a realistic snake?
A realistic snake needs a longer, thinner head, a body that tapers smoothly to the tail, and scale texture. Look at photos of real snakes and practice the body as a long bending tube first.
Can I use this tutorial in my classroom?
Yes! Teachers and parents are welcome to use the free printable for personal and classroom use.