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How to Draw a Pit Viper

12 steps · Medium · about 9 min

Draw a pit viper in 12 easy steps, about 9 minutes. Free, with a printable worksheet.

Each picture adds one red line. Draw that line, then scroll to the next picture. Rub out any dashed helper lines at the end. First up: wide head.

Step 1: Wide head
In the top left, draw a wide head like a rounded triangle, broad on top and narrow at the chin.
Tip A pit viper's head is much wider than its neck.
Step 2: Two big eyes
In the wide part of the head, draw 2 big egg eyes. Colour a tall black pupil in each.
Tip Leave a tiny white shine in each pupil. Tall pupils are a pit viper clue.
Step 3: Nostrils and pits
Dot 2 nostrils near the chin. Between each eye and nostril, draw a tiny ring for a heat pit.
Tip The pits feel the warmth of things nearby.
Step 4: Smile and tongue
Under the nostrils, draw a small smile. Below the chin, draw a short tongue with a forked end.
Step 5: Neck and top coil
From the right cheek, draw a thick neck curving down. Under it, draw a long sausage coil lying flat.
Step 6: Bottom coil
Under the top coil, draw a longer sausage coil, tucked just over its bottom edge.
Tip Keep the coils fat: pit vipers are thick, heavy snakes.
Step 7: Short tail
From the right end of the bottom coil, draw a short tail along the ground, curling up to a point.
Tip Keep the tail short and pointed. This snake has no rattle.
Step 8: The ground
Draw a straight ground line under the snake, from the left edge to the right edge.
Step 9: Top triangles
Start on the top coil's top edge. Draw 2 big V shapes hanging down, back up to the edge.
Step 10: More triangles
Start on the bottom coil's top edge. Draw 3 more V shapes hanging down, back up to the edge.
Step 11: Ginger snake
Colour the head, neck, coils and tail ginger, around the triangles. Leave the eyes, pits and tongue white.
Step 12: Brown and red
Colour the triangles and the 2 pits brown. Colour the tongue red, and your pit viper is done!