Learn to Draw an Easy Cobra
Art and drawing are skills anyone can learn. It just takes consistent practice over time. The more you practice the better you will get.
Your creative time should be relaxing and enjoyable. And you should look forward to it.
Let’s grab our supplies and get ready to have some fun learning how to draw a cobra with markers.
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Art Supplies
Cobra Sketch Practice
Doing a quick cobra sketch practice exercise is a great way to warm up and get familiar with how to draw a cobra.
- Get some paper and something to sketch with (pencil, pen, marker, etc)
- Pull up some reference photos of cobras
- Set a timer for three or five minutes
And do as many quick cobra sketches as you can before the timer goes off.
Another option is to simply sketch until you run out of space on your paper.
Either way is fine. Just be sure to keep your lines quick and loose. Try to capture the essence of a cobra.
Focus on the size, shape, and proportions of the snake.
How to Draw a Cobra Step by Step
Learning how to draw a cobra is really easy if you break things down into simple shapes and steps.
The first step is to draw out some basic shapes. This helps get the size and placement down for your drawing. And it helps to get past the blank page syndrome.
Step 1: Basic Shapes
Start with a circle for the head, with a smaller circle for the nose. You can draw guidelines on the head for the eyes and the line of symmetry as well.
Draw the shape of the body and the hood as well. Just draw the rough shape.
Step 2: Add Details
Now let’s draw the eye. Start with the top of the eye closest to you.
Then draw the bottom of the eye to complete the outside shape.
Next, draw a diamond shape for the pupil.
Now draw the shape of the head, around the eye and down the side.
Then draw the shape of the nose. There are a lot of different ways to draw each part of your cobra. Make any changes you want to fit your style better.
Next, draw the other side, and the top of the head.
Draw the other eye, keeping in mind it is partially covered by the head.
Now draw the fangs and the bottom part of the mouth.
Then draw the bottom jaw and add a couple of nostrils.
Step 3: Draw the Body
The next step is to start working on the body of your cobra. Begin by refining the belly area. The belly should be wider at the top and get more narrow as it moves towards the tail.
Add some texture to the belly area. When drawing the lines make sure they have a slight curve to them.
Now draw the sides of the body by adding lines to each side of the belly.
Then draw the outside shape of the hood.
Then add some texture to the hood. This can be done in several different ways. Make yours however you want.
Now draw the rest of the body. For this example the focus is more on the head. So the body isn’t as important.
You can draw more of the body if you prefer. Don’t be afraid to take some artistic liberties.
Finish up your cobra drawing by adding a tongue and the other side of the hood.
Cobra Outline
Making a cobra outline is really easy. All you have to do is trace over the pencil lines you want to keep with a black pen or marker.
You can make your lines in your own style. They could be thin, thick, or a variation of line weights. You could also try using a color other than black for your cobra outline.
Experiment and try different things. Keep things fun and relaxing. Your creative time should be enjoyable.
When outlining your cobra do whatever fits your style. I’d you’re not sure what your style is, don’t worry. It will develop over time with practice.
Use an eraser to clean up your drawing and remove any pencil lines.
How to Draw a Cobra with Markers
Learning how to draw a cobra with markers is easy and fun. And it’s not as difficult as you might think.
First, if you want to be able to blend your colors together you need to use alcohol based markers. Bic, Sharpie, and Copic for example. As well as many others.
Second, you need to work while the colors are still wet or they won’t mix together. This isn’t a big deal. Just make sure you work on a section at a time.
Third, you need to use colors that are similar to each other if you want to create a smooth transition of color. If your markers are too different they will leave a harder edge.
Avoid using one solid area of color for your drawings. This will make them look flat and boring.
How you decide to color your cobra drawings will depend on your personal style and the look you’re going for.
There are a lot of different ways you can color your drawings. And several different color schemes you can use.
When choosing your markers to color your cobra you could use green, brown, purple, or any other color you want to use.
For this example three green markers were used. Yellow and yellow-orange were used for the eyes and belly area.
And a white Gelly Roll pen was used to add some highlights.
You can finish your cobra drawing by adding a halo of color around your drawing, or making a complete background.
Using artist trading cards for your artwork is a great way to save time and speed up the drawing process. You ca learn more in our Beginner’s Guide to Artist Trading Cards (ATCs).
Final Thoughts and Next Steps
Now that you know how to draw a cobra, what’s the next step? If you want to improve you need to practice as often as possible.
This doesn’t mean you need to spend hours a day on your artwork. Minutes a day would be a more reasonable option. Five to ten minutes a day, consistently over time, will add up.
If you want to get really good at drawing a cobra, try doing a series of them. See how many you can make in a week. Your creativity will improve along with your art and drawing skills.
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