How to

How to draw a snake

Six easy steps, from one wavy line to a finished snake. You need a pencil, an eraser and something to colour with.

1Draw a long, gentle SStart with one smooth, wavy line across the page. This is the middle of the snake’s body, so keep it relaxed: real snakes curve in soft waves, not sharp zigzags.
2Give the body its widthDraw a second line on each side of the first. Keep the body the same width for the first half, then let both lines meet in a point at the end of the tail.
3Add the headAt the front end, draw an oval that is a little wider than the neck. Most snakes have a rounded snout; vipers have a broader, more triangular head.
4Draw the eye and the tonguePut a round eye near the front of the head and a small nostril near the tip. Then add the forked tongue: one short line out of the mouth that splits in two.
5Add a pattern that follows the curvesDraw bands across the body, turning with each bend so they wrap around it. You can use stripes, blotches or a chain of spots instead: every species has its own.
6Colour it inRub out the middle line, then colour the body and the bands. Use real snakes for ideas: the patterns on the species pages below are a good place to start.

Patterns to copy from real snakes