Snake Drawing: Step-by-Step Tutorial & Easy Ideas

Every good snake drawing starts the same way: one thick S-curve tapering to a point, refined step by step into a finished piece. Below you'll find a complete step-by-step tutorial you can follow with any pencil and paper, plus easy snake drawing ideas — from quick five-minute doodles to more detailed studies.

  • Difficulty Easy
  • Time ~10 min
  • Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
  • Starts with one thick S-curve tapering to a point
Snake drawing — hand-drawn snake illustration with ink lines and soft colors
Snake drawing — hand-drawn snake illustration with ink lines and soft colors

How to Draw a Snake Step by Step

How to draw a snake step by step — 9-step snake drawing tutorial sheet

Step 1 of 9

Flowing spine line

Draw a light flowing line with two big S-curves from the lower left of the page up to the upper right.

See the full sheet
How to draw a snake step by step — 9-step snake drawing tutorial sheet
How to draw a snake step by step — 9-step snake drawing tutorial sheet

  1. Flowing spine line

    Draw a light flowing line with two big S-curves from the lower left of the page up to the upper right.

  2. Body thickness

    Trace a line on each side of the spine to give the body thickness, widest in the middle and tapering to a point at the tail.

  3. Shape the head

    At the upper end draw a rounded diamond-shaped head that is wider than the neck, with a blunt snout.

  4. Face details

    Add an eye with a vertical slit pupil and a small nostril on the head, then a thin forked tongue sticking out from the snout.

  5. Underside belly line

    Draw a line along the underside of the body from tail to head with short crosswise dashes for belly scales.

  6. Back pattern

    Add a row of diamond-shaped blotches along the back that bend to follow each curve of the body.

  7. Ground shading

    Add a few short shading strokes under the lowest curves of the body where it rests on the ground.

  8. Ink the lines

    Go over every kept line with dark ink, then erase the light spine guide line.

  9. Color the snake

    Fill the body green, the back blotches a darker green, the belly pale yellow, and the tongue red.

Snake Drawing Ideas to Try Next

Once the basic snake clicks, run it through these variations — each one practices a different skill while staying on a subject you already know.

  • A snake coiled around a dagger

    The classic flash tattoo: your S-curve snake wrapping a straight blade — curves against lines.

  • A cobra hood spread

    Front view: the hood is one big leaf shape with the head at its center — dramatic and symmetrical.

  • A snake shedding into flowers

    The shed skin peels away and becomes petals — a renewal metaphor that draws beautifully.

  • Continuous one-line snake

    Draw the whole snake without lifting your pen. Great warm-up, and the wobbles are the style.

  • A geometric low-poly snake

    Build the snake from straight-edged triangles only — a modern design look that secretly teaches structure.

  • A sleeping snake curled up

    Sleeping poses tuck away the legs and face details — draw one restful curve and let the pose forgive the anatomy.

  • A cartoon snake with a tiny accessory

    Round everything, shrink the body, add one hat/bow/scarf. Accessories add personality for nearly zero extra difficulty.

  • A snake peeking around a corner

    Half the animal hides behind an edge — you draw the easy half and the composition feels playful.

  • A baby snake next to its parent

    Same drawing twice at two sizes with bigger eyes on the little one — instant "aww" with skills you already have.

Snake Drawing Styles: Easy, Cute & More

Easy snake drawing — easy style snake sketch

Easy Snake Drawing

Try a simplified version built from basic shapes — perfect for beginners and kids. Same nine steps as above — simply simplify or stylize the final pass.

Browse more easy ideas →

Tips for Better Snake Drawings

  • The taper is the trick: a snake is fat in the middle and thin at BOTH ends. Beginners draw a garden hose — even thickness with a head stuck on. Taper the last third to a true point and it comes alive.
  • Eyes make or break animal drawings: place them carefully, keep them symmetrical, and always leave a white highlight dot. A perfect body with dead eyes still fails; a wobbly body with living eyes still charms.

Not feeling the snake today?

Let the generator pick your next subject — filtered by mood and difficulty.

🎲 Random Drawing Generator

Snake Drawing FAQ

What is the easiest way to draw a snake?

Start with one thick S-curve tapering to a point, keeping your lines light. Refine the outline, add the defining details, then erase the construction shapes. The nine-step method above breaks this down — most people get a recognizable snake on their very first try with it.

How long should it take to draw a snake?

A simple snake drawing takes about 10 minutes following this tutorial. A quick doodle version can be done in two or three minutes, while a detailed, fully-shaded study might take an hour. Speed comes with repetition — the second attempt is always faster than the first.

What supplies do I need for snake drawings?

Just a pencil, an eraser, and any paper. An HB pencil for construction lines and a 2B for final outlines is a nice upgrade, and colored pencils or markers finish it off — but nothing on this page requires special supplies.

Can kids draw a snake?

Yes — the snake is one of the friendlier subjects for beginners, and this method was written for first-timers. Kids can follow the same steps; just expect wobblier lines and more charm.