Learn how to draw a great looking Cobra with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.
By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a beautiful Cobra.
Jump to the step-by-step instructions.
There are over 3,000 species of snakes in the world, but the king cobra is one of the most recognizable. King cobras can reach a length of 13 feet (4 meters), weigh up to 20 pounds (9 kg), and live for more than 20 years.
They are famous for their ability to "stand up" - lifting their heads and one third of their bodies off the ground, often so far that they are nearly as tall as a full grown human.
Cobras also extend a hood of skin around their heads, making them appear larger and more menacing.
Not only is this snake intimidating, but it is venomous as well. The venom released in a single bite can be enough to kill 20 people - and it can even kill an elephant.
Despite its reputation, king cobras are often the snake of choice for snake charmers in Asia, where the motion of the charmer's swaying flute entices the snake to "stand up" in its basket and "dance"
Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.
To draw your very own king cobra, follow this easy, step-by-step drawing tutorial. All you will need is a piece of paper and a pen, pencil, or marker.
You may also want to acquire some shading tools, such as colored pencils, crayons, markers, or paints.
Each step of this drawing guide is illustrated with a detailed, step-by-step picture. In each picture, the new lines added to the drawing can be seen in blue, while lines produced in previous steps are in black.
As you begin your drawing, sketch the lines lightly. You will need to erase some of the early lines, called guide lines, as you go along.
If you liked this tutorial, see also the following drawing guides: Bee, Horse Head, and Simple Dog.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Cobra
How to Draw a Great Looking Cobra for Kids, Beginners, and Adults - Step 1
Begin by drawing a small circle.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 2
Draw a curved line from one side of the circle to the other, extending beyond the bounds of the circle on the right side.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 3
Draw two curved lines extending from the left side of the circle.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 4
Erase the guide lines of the original circle.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 5
Extend two parallel curved lines from the lower right of the figure. Connect the lines using a short, "U" shaped line. This forms the cobra's forked tongue.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 6
Draw a long, curved line down from the tongue.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 7
Draw another long, curved line, descending from the back of the head.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 8
Draw a curved line extending from the line on the right, meeting the middle of the left curved line.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 9
Draw another, shorter curved line from the bottom of the left curve, circling to meet the middle of the left line.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 10
Draw a curved line extending from the right of the figure.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 11
Draw another curved line above the previous. From this line, extend another long, curved line.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 12
From the lower line of the body, draw a curved line.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 13
Draw a loosely "M" shaped curved line from the top line of the body.
MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 14
Draw another curved line to match the previous, allowing the two lines to meet in a point.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 15
Draw a curved line down from the head, meeting the lower line of the body at the bottom of the neck.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 16
Draw another curved line from the head to the right side of the neck.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 17
To detail the belly, draw 17 curved lines across the center portion of the neck.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 18
Draw a curved line above the mouth, meeting the outline of the mouth on both sides. Draw a circle for the eye. Draw a smaller circle within the first, and shade the inner circle. Draw a curved line above the eye. Draw another curve above this one, connecting on each end.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 19
Draw irregular shapes of various sizes to detail the open flaps along the neck. Draw a number of irregular circles and ovals down the length of the body.
Easy Cobra Drawing - Step 20
Color your cobra. As a suggestion, shade the belly tan, the body light brown, and the spots dark brown.
Cobra Drawing Tutorial - Easy & Fun Printable Pages
Join now and get immediate access to thousands of printable drawing instruction and practice pages!
Learn how to get access to thousands of printable pages!
MEMBER TROUBLESHOOTING
Still seeing ads or not being able to download the PDF?
First, check that you're logged in. You can log in on the member login page.
If you're still not able to download the PDF, the likely solution is to reload the page.
You can do this by clicking the browser reload button.
It is a circular arrow-shaped icon at the top of the browser window, typically found in the upper-left side (you can also use keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl+R on PC and Command+R on Mac).