Drawing a snake seems an easy job, which it is.
The serpents have a simple body type that is quick and simple for artistic adaptation.
However, the complexity may vary in certain degrees, depending upon the type of the snake you choose.
All the snakes have scale on their bodies.
These scales are different for different species - some are broad and simpler, while the others are intricate.
The action and posture of the animal also has a bearing on the difficulty of the work.
A slithering snake is easier to draw, as compared to a hooded snake in action, and so on.
The following systematic guide is generalized, keeping these aspects in consideration: •Model.
A reference image is very important.
This helps you to capture the right type of skin patterns and prevents any mix-up between two different varieties.
Internet is the biggest source of wildlife images, offering you a good choice of model pictures.
The other sources to look at are books, magazines, newspapers, photographs, etc.
•Basic delineation.
Use a small circle or an oval for the head portion.
The size and shape will depend upon that in the original picture.
The skeletal sketch is a single line, simple coil, or curve.
The easier option is a moving snake than a coiled one or a snake in action.
A wavy line represents a sliding motion.
Similarly, single or stacked loops signify a sitting or attacking posture.
•Adding details.
Begin with finishing the head portion within and around the circle.
For a quiet serpent, the contours will be triangular or diamond-shaped.
If your snake is 'ready to bite,' your work will feature its wide-open mouth, its fangs, and sharp eyes.
Be extra careful to draw its four well-defined frontal teeth.
These pointed teeth are slightly curved towards inside.
Two of these are situated on the upper side and the other two on the lower side.
The upper teeth are much longer than the lower ones.
Another key characteristic of snakes is their forked tongue, which they dart quickly.
Shaping up the hood and the tubular body is not a difficult task, but working on the scales is a painstaking work.
•Shading and colors.
Whether you are attempting a colored drawing or a pencil sketch, the complexity of the shading effects is directly related to the skin type.
As mentioned earlier, the color, shape, and size of the scales differ for different species.
This step completes your picture.