How to Draw a Gila Monster

Step 1: Big blunt head

On the left, start at the neck. Draw a big blunt head round the snout, and stop at the throat.

Tip Leave the back open: the body joins on there.

Step 2: The big eye

In the head, above the middle, draw one big round eye. Add a black pupil and a white shine.

Step 3: Grin and nostril

Start at the front of the snout. Draw a long grin back under the eye, curling up. Dot a nostril.

Step 4: Long low body

From the neck draw a long flat back. From the throat draw a low tummy. Stop both at the hips.

Tip Make the body longer than the head, but no taller.

Step 5: Fat blunt tail

From the end of the back, draw a fat tail to a round blunt tip, then back to the tummy.

Tip Short and thick like a sausage, not a long whip.

Step 6: Front leg

Start under the throat. Draw a short fat leg down to a foot with 3 round toes, and back up.

Tip Rub out the tummy line across the top of the leg.

Step 7: Back leg

Start on the tummy under the hips. Draw another short fat leg with 3 round toes, and back up.

Tip Rub out the tummy line across the top of this leg too.

Step 8: Far legs

Just behind each leg, draw the far leg peeking out: a thin strip down to its foot.

Step 9: Sandy ground

Draw a long flat line for the sand under all the feet, from below the nose to past the tail.

Tip Lift your pencil at each foot.

Step 10: Wobbly blotches

Draw 4 wobbly blotches on the body: 3 along the back and 1 low on the side.

Step 11: Tail bands

Across the tail draw 2 wide bands. Each band is 2 curved lines from the top edge to the bottom.

Step 12: Orange skin

Colour the head, body, legs and tail orange, around the blotches and bands. Leave the eye white.

Step 13: Black blotches

Colour all 4 blotches and the 2 tail bands black. Your Gila monster is done!