How to Draw a Snake Head: Simple 10-Step Guide

Ready to bring a slithering friend to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 6+ looking to master reptile anatomy. You'll only need a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to practice these essential line-drawing techniques.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished illustration of a snake head, showcasing the final result of the tutorial.

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Step-by-Step Instructions

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Step 1: Sketching the Base Shape

A light pencil sketch of an oval used as the foundation for a snake head drawing.

Start by drawing a soft oval in the center of your page. Teacher's Tip: Keep this shape light and loose; it’s just a guide for the head's overall size.

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Step 2: Defining the Snout

Drawing the curved snout line with subtle bumps to indicate the snake's nose.

Outline the snout using a long, curved line. Notice the slight bumps—these represent the nostrils and give the snake a realistic profile.

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Step 3: Forming the Jaw

Adding the lower jaw line and neck curve to the snake head sketch.

Sketch the lower jaw and the beginning of the neck with a long, sweeping curve. Ensure the line connects smoothly to the snout.

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Step 4: Adding the Eye Ridge

Drawing the ridge above the eye to define the snake's head shape.

Use a long, curved line to outline the eye ridge and the back of the neck. This adds depth and makes the snake look more alert.

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Step 5: Cleaning the Guide Lines

The snake head outline after erasing the initial construction circles.

Carefully erase the original oval guide lines. Teacher's Tip: Use a soft eraser and gentle pressure to avoid smudging your work.

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Step 6: Adding Facial Details

Adding detailed eye, nostril, and brow features to the snake's face.

Draw an 'S' shaped brow ridge and a small triangle for the eye slit. Add a tiny oval for the nostril to give your snake personality.

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Step 7: Creating Scales

Adding scale texture to the snake's skin using small, curved lines.

Add texture by drawing small, curved lines that look like overlapping scales. Keep them varied in size for a more natural look.

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Step 8: Drawing the Tongue

Drawing a long, curved tongue extending from the snake's mouth.

Extend a thick, curved line from the mouth area to form the tongue. Make sure it looks like it's flicking out!

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Step 9: Finishing the Tongue

Refining the snake's tongue with a split tip.

Add a second line along the tongue to give it thickness, and split the tip into a 'Y' shape. This is a classic snake feature.

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Step 10: Adding Color

A fully colored and detailed snake head drawing.

Bring your snake to life with color! Use greens, browns, or even bright yellows. Tip: Use darker shades between the scales to add 3D depth.