How to Draw a Cobra

This tutorial will show you how to draw a cobra, a snake with its distinctive hood and one of the most recognizable appearances in the animal kingdom.

The fundamentals of artistic vision tell us that a snake can be thought of as a long, flexible cylinder that gradually narrows toward the tail.

Keeping this concept in mind throughout the drawing process will help you create a realistic volume when drawing a cobra.

All of the other features, including the hood and facial details, should be built around this primary form.

In the steps of this tutorial, we’ll explain each of these principles in detail and show you how to construct the most convincing cobra drawing possible.

How to draw a cobra step by step

Step 1: Block in the cobra’s facial structure

To avoid mistakes in the proportions and details, first sketch the overall shape on the paper. Use very light, loose lines with quick strokes to establish the basic outline of the cobra. At the top, indicate the head, neck, and hood, and below, block in the coiled body with simple shapes.

Step 2: Sketch the snake’s head features

Now begin breaking the large shapes into smaller ones by gradually adding the major features. Start with the head by drawing a vertical centerline to help position the facial features. Then sketch the wide mouth and mark the location of the eye.

Step 3: Draw the cobra hood in detail

The hood is the most distinctive feature of this snake. Draw the outline of the cobra hood so that it widens toward the middle and gradually narrows toward the bottom. Also define the visual separation between the hood and the neck.

Step 4: Block in the snake’s coiled body

Remember that a snake’s body is essentially a long cylinder that gradually tapers toward the tail. Refine the general body shape you sketched earlier while keeping this principle in mind. You do not have to copy the exact pose from our example – you can arrange the body however you like.

Step 5: Draw the cobra face in detail

Now begin refining the larger forms, starting with the head. Using the facial guidelines, draw the eye and the pupil of the cobra in detail. Refine the contours of the head, define the mouth more clearly, and add the nostril.

Step 6: Refine the snake’s body contours

First, refine the outline of the lower jaw and more clearly define the transition between the neck and the hood. Smooth out the contours of the hood, then continue refining the body by replacing the rough construction lines with clean, flowing curves.

Step 7: Add texture to the head and belly

Lightly erase the remaining construction lines. If you drew them softly in the earlier steps, this should be easy. Then add the horizontal belly scales along the underside of the body. On the head, add the scale texture with short, light strokes.

Step 8: Draw scales on the body of the cobra

Do not try to draw every individual scale on the cobra body, as this can distract from the overall appearance of the drawing. Instead, use light crosswise strokes to convey the texture, especially around the curves of the body. Make sure the direction of the scales follows the form of the snake.

Step 9: Add shading to the snake

Shadows will help give your cobra drawing a stronger volume, although the amount of shading depends on the final style you want to achieve. In our example, we shaded only the darkest areas, but you can add more midtones if you want the drawing to appear even more three-dimensional.

Step 10: Finalize the cobra drawing

Bringing the drawing to a finished, unified appearance is just as important as all the previous steps. Carefully evaluate the entire drawing, checking the proportions, tonal values, symmetry, and overall look. Make sure that no element looks out of place or draws unnecessary attention.

Basics of drawing snakes

As we briefly mentioned at the beginning of this tutorial, a cobra, like any other snake, can be thought of as a long cylinder with flexible curves that gradually tapers toward the tail.

The hood can be viewed as a flat form attached to the snake’s neck. Understanding these basic forms is very important if you want to do more than simply copy lines from a reference. It allows you to draw the animal from different angles and in a variety of poses.

It is also important to remember that a cobra’s hood is not a fixed element. It can expand and contract, giving you even more possibilities when drawing different poses.

To develop a deeper understanding of how to draw a cobra, try applying the principles from this tutorial by drawing it from different viewpoints and in different poses, including a resting position and a defensive stance.

If this tutorial felt too challenging, you can start with our cartoon snake drawing tutorial instead. In that tutorial, we simplify all of the major forms and details.

This is a great introduction before moving on to more realistic snake drawings.