How to Draw a Rattlesnake (Easy Step by Step)
This cute rattlesnake is fun to draw because it is made from simple shapes: a big oval head, a long wavy neck, and a round coil like a doughnut. It has a friendly face with two dot eyes and a tiny wiggly smile. The pointed tip at the end of the tail stands in for the rattle.
- Easy
- 10 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 rattlesnake step by step
How to Draw a Rattlesnake · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The round head
Draw a big, wide oval near the top of your page for the head. Stop before you close it, and leave a small gap at the bottom where the neck will join.
Step 3: The wavy neck
Start at the left side of the gap and draw a long, gently wavy line going down. Draw a second line from the right side of the gap that wiggles down and curls to the right at the bottom.
Step 4: The coiled body
Around the bottom of the neck, draw a big, wide loop that circles out to the left and right like a doughnut. Let the loop meet the neck lines so the snake looks like it is sitting in a coil.
Step 5: The tail
On the right side, start at the edge of the coil and draw a thin, bendy line that curves up like a letter S. This is the first side of the tail.
Step 6: The rattle tip
Next to the tail line, draw a second curved line that rises from the coil and meets the first one at a small pointed tip, like a little arrowhead. This makes the tail and its rattle.
Step 7: The round eyes
Draw two round dots on the head, one on each side, and color them in solid black. Keep them the same size and at the same height.
Step 8: The tiny smile
Between the eyes, a little lower down, draw a tiny wiggly line, like a small w. It makes a cute, smiling mouth.
Step 9: Coil gaps
Draw two short curved lines inside the coil, one on each side of the neck, to show the gaps between the loops. They should look like thin, curved slits.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your rattlesnake? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a rattlesnake
- Draw the head oval first and leave a small gap at the bottom. It is much easier to attach the neck lines to the gap than to squeeze them in later.
- Keep the two neck lines about the same distance apart all the way down, so the neck stays the same width as it wiggles.
- Draw the big coil as a wide, flat loop around the bottom of the neck. Let it meet the neck lines so it looks like the snake is sitting on its own body.
- Keep the little coil gaps short and curved. They are small details, so draw them last.
Free rattlesnake coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this rattlesnake 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 rattlesnake drawing
Try green and yellow for a classic desert snake, with a little brown on the rattle tip. For a creative twist, give your snake rainbow stripes or spots along its coil.
Rattlesnake fun fact for kids
A rattlesnake's rattle is made of hollow rings of keratin, the same material as your fingernails. Each time the snake sheds its skin, a new ring is added, and shaking them together makes the buzzing sound.
Questions about drawing a rattlesnake
What shapes do I need to draw a rattlesnake?
You need a big oval for the head, two wavy lines for the neck, a wide loop for the coiled body, and a thin curved tail with a small pointed tip. Two dots and a tiny wiggle make the face.
How do I make my snake look cuter?
Draw the eyes big and round, and keep them wide apart on the head. A tiny wiggly smile and a fat, round coil make the snake look friendly instead of scary.
How do I draw the coiled body?
Think of a doughnut lying on its side. After the neck lines are drawn, draw a wide loop around the bottom of the neck so the snake looks like it is sitting on its coil. Finish with two small curved lines for the gaps.
