The Year of the Snake Slithers in Many Guises in Mary Maka’s Playful Illustrations

Widely celebrated in China and cultures across Asia, Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays, marked by the new moon that appears between January 21 and February 20. This year, the celebration fell on January 29, and in accordance with the zodiac, 2025 ushered in the Year of the Snake.

Mary Maka (previously) ran with the motif in a new series of illustrations dedicated to the annual event, exploring character design and experimenting with a range of shapes. Combining botanical elements and an interest in animation, her dynamic creatures writhe and twist, sometimes incorporating plant-like traits like cacti spikes and flowers into serpentine compositions.

a humorous digital illustration of a green, spotted cat with a snake's body and tongue — “Cat Snake”

Of the twelve zodiac animals, the snake may be the most tenacious, associated with the element fire. People born under the sign are said to be resilient, intelligent, resourceful, and determined. Maka’s digital portraits capture various unexpected characteristics, from a fork-tongued green cat to a berry-tailed rattler.

Through humorous depictions of serpents shaped like cats, fruit, desert flora, and creatures out of science fiction, Maka embraces new ideas and juxtapositions. Still in draft form, additional vipers try on the guises of a genie, cowboy, and others.

See more on her website, Behance, and Instagram.

a humorous digital illustration a snake textured like a cactus with pink flowers — “Plant Snake”

a humorous digital illustration of a pink and black polka dotted snake that is creased into a kind of accordion shape — “Sock Snake”

a humorous digital illustration of a pink snake with a black cape, hearts on its head and tail, and an orange at the end of its extended tongue — “Love Snake”

a humorous digital illustration of an abstract group of snakes arranged like a cluster of fungi — “Mushrooms Snake”

a humorous digital illustration of a snake-like creature with a cactus texture on its body, a pink rattler at the end of its tail, and three eyes — “Berry Snake”

a humorous digital illustration of a black-and-pink snake with large, disk-like head with numerous eyes — “Eye Snake”

a humorous digital illustration of a pink snake-like creature with a single eye that is appears to be made of eight oranges or apples connected to one another, each with a tiny snake emerging from it — “Apple Snake”

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