How to Draw a Lion
What's good, future artists? Ready to learn how to draw a lion? This lesson is perfect for beginners who want to create a fierce and majestic king of the grasslands. Grab your blank paper, pencil, and some crayons or colored pencils.
Drawing a lion might sound tough, but don’t sweat it. I’ve got you covered with easy steps that’ll have you sketching like a pro in no time. With just 50 minutes, you'll see your paper come alive with this powerful creature.
We'll kick things off by breaking down the lion into basic shapes first. Then, we’ll build up the details step-by-step. Trust me, anyone can do this if they follow along and take their time.
Adding colors will make your lion pop! I'll guide you on shading and adding those final touches. Remember, it's all about having fun and expressing yourself. So let's get started!
Estimated Time: 50 minutes
Level: Intermediate
Materials
- Blank Paper
- Pencil
- Crayons or Colored Pencils
Lesson: How to Draw a Lion
Alright y'all, ready to learn how to draw a lion? Follow each step closely so your lion doesn't end up lookin' too funky. Grab your pencils, and let's get this wild animal onto your paper! You got this!
Draw the Head
Start by drawing a curved line to form the lion’s head.
Add the Eyes
Add two pointed ovals to draw the lion’s eyes.
Form the Snout
Draw the outline of the lion’s nose. Next, form its fuzzy rounded muzzle connected to the base of its nose. Then, add short lines near its eyes to emphasize its snout.
Add the Mouth
Draw the lion’s mouth attached to the bottom of its muzzle.
Outline the Ears
Form the curved outline of then lion's ears on each side of its head.
Draw the Mane
Draw the thick wavy mane around the lion’s head. Create short wavy pointed lines to add more texture to its mane.
Outline the Body
Draw two wavy lines to form the outline of the lion’s body.
Attach the Legs
Attach the lion’s strong, upright legs to the bottom of its body. Then, form the shape of its paws. Make sure to erase any overlapping lines.
Add the Tail
Form the lion’s thin, wavy tail.
Outline the Tuft
Draw the pointed outline of the tuft at the end of its tail.
Add Grass
Let’s draw a grassland by making tall, pointy grass in the background. Then, add shorter grass outlines around the lion.
Color the Eyes and Nose
Color the eyes with black and add small white shimmer. Next, fill in the nose with dark brown.
Shade the Lion’s Body
Use a cream color to shade the lion’s underbelly, paws, muzzle and mouth. Now, color the inner ears with light brown. Then, fill in the rest of its head, body and tail with yellow.
Fill in the Mane and Tail Tuft
Use a brown color to fill in the mane and tail tuft.
Add Color to the Background
Shade the grass green and the sky blue.
Artist & Educator