How to Draw a Lunar New Year Snake (Easy Step by Step)
This cute snake is built from a few easy shapes: one big round head, a tall tube for the neck, and two round loops for the coiled body. A lucky coin and a paper lantern float nearby to give it a Lunar New Year feel. It is a great drawing for practicing smooth, curvy lines.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 9 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a Lunar New Year snake step by step
How to Draw a Lunar New Year Snake · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The round head
Draw a big rounded curve for the head, like an upside-down bowl. Leave the bottom open, with a small gap in the middle where the neck will join.
Step 3: The neck
From each bottom end of the head, draw a long line curving down. Keep the two lines a little apart, like a tube. The right line ends with a tiny curl outward.
Step 4: The coiled body
At the bottom, draw a big rounded loop on the left that starts at the left neck line, and another big loop on the right that starts at the right neck line. The two loops meet in the middle at the bottom to make a cozy coil.
Step 5: The tail tip
Inside the left loop, draw a short curved line that starts at the body and flicks up at the end.
Step 6: Eyes and smile
Draw two small oval eyes in the middle of the head and fill them in. Between them, draw a little wavy smile like a tiny sideways letter w.
Step 7: The lucky coin
On the left, draw a circle for a coin. Inside it, draw a small diamond shape with rounded corners.
Step 8: The paper lantern
On the right, draw a round circle for the lantern. Add a small flat cap on top with a short stick, and a small flat base underneath.
Step 9: The lantern tassel
Under the lantern, draw a short tassel with two lines that hang down and meet in a rounded point at the bottom.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your Lunar New Year snake? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a menorah or how to draw a dreidel next.
Tips for drawing a Lunar New Year snake
- Start with the big round head. It is the biggest shape, and everything else is placed around it.
- The neck lines are the trickiest part. Draw them slowly and keep them almost parallel so the neck looks like a smooth tube.
- Make the two loops about the same size so the snake looks like it is sitting on its coil.
Free Lunar New Year snake coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this Lunar New Year snake coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your Lunar New Year snake drawing
Try a bright green or golden yellow for the snake, with a red lantern and a gold coin. For a creative twist, color the snake in two different shades.
Lunar New Year snake fun fact for kids
Snakes have no eyelids, so they can never blink. Instead, each eye is covered by a clear scale that protects it.
Questions about drawing a Lunar New Year snake
What shapes do I need to draw a Lunar New Year snake?
You need a rounded curve for the head, two long lines for the neck, and two big rounded loops for the coil. The coin is a circle with a small diamond, and the lantern is a circle with a cap and base.
How do I make my snake look cuter?
Make the eyes small and dark, and place them wide apart with a little wavy smile between them. A big round head also makes the snake look friendly.
How do I draw the lantern?
Start with a round circle, then add a small flat cap with a stick on top and a flat base below. Finish with a short tassel hanging down.
