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King Cobra

King Cobra line art illustration (click image to enlarge)

King Cobra full color illustration (click image to enlarge)

Artist's notes:

The King Cobra was completed on 10.30.2010. Generally, snakes might be the most challenging subject, due to the patterns of the scales and the way they define the form of the snake. That wasn't so much of an issue with the cobra here, as the scales are fairly large and at this scale and with the green gray the scales could be more suggested than rigidly defined. The drawing is based on a photo by Owen Wyte.

Information about the King Cobra:

The King Cobra has the unique distinction of being the planet's longest venomous snake - growing up to about 18.5 feet long (5.6 meters.) These reptiles are found in the dense, highland forested areas of Southeast Asia and parts of India. It is perhaps the most dangerous snake in Asia and one of the most deadly in the world. Like other cobras, it is a member of the genus 'Naja' and has the distinctive hood. Unlike other snakes, the female King Cobra is a dedicated mother, making a nest for the eggs which serve as an incubator for them. She will defend the nest fiercely, rearing up in a fearsome defensive pose if she or the eggs are threatened.