How to Draw a Lion (Easy Step by Step)
A lion is a fun first animal to draw because it is mostly circles and curvy lines. The round face, the cloud-shaped mane, and the two round paws all start from simple shapes. The big fluffy mane is the part kids love most.
- Easy
- 12 minutes
- 7 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a lion step by step
How to Draw a Lion · 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 circle in the middle of your page for the lion's face. Leave plenty of room around it for the fluffy mane.
Step 3: The fluffy mane
Draw a wavy cloud shape all the way around the head, with round bumps going up the sides and over the top. Let the bottom bumps hang below the chin like a big collar.
Step 4: Ears and face
Add two small half circles at the top of the head, one on each side, for ears. Then draw two dots for eyes, a little heart-shaped nose, a short line down from the nose, and a smile that curves up on both sides. Finish with a few tiny freckle dots on each cheek.
Step 5: The sides of the body
Under the mane, draw two long curved lines going down, one on each side. They start at the bottom of the mane and curve gently outward.
Step 6: Two round paws
At the bottom of the two body lines, draw two ovals side by side for the front paws. Join them in the middle with a short little line.
Step 7: The curly tail
Start at the lion's side near the bottom and draw a curve that swoops out and up. End it with a small oval loop for the tuft.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your lion? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a bee or how to draw a ladybug next.
Tips for drawing a lion
- Draw the head circle first and keep it light. Then draw the mane around it, so the bumps have room and the face stays in the middle.
- Make the mane bumps different sizes and keep them rounded. If a bump looks pointy, just round it off with your pencil.
- For the face, start with the heart-shaped nose, then place the eyes and smile around it. Tiny freckle dots are easier to place evenly if you do both cheeks one after the other.
Free lion coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this lion 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 lion drawing
Color the mane orange or golden brown and the face and body a lighter yellow, with a pink nose. For a creative twist, give your lion a rainbow mane.
Lion fun fact for kids
Lions are the only big cats that live in groups. A group of lions is called a pride, and only the male lions grow a mane.
Questions about drawing a lion
What shapes do I need to draw a lion?
You need a big circle for the face, a wavy cloud shape for the mane, and two small half circles for ears. Two long curved lines make the sides of the body, two ovals make the paws, and a curve with a small loop makes the tail.
How do I make my lion look cuter?
Add a heart-shaped nose, a big smile, and a few freckle dots on the cheeks. A round face and a big fluffy mane also make a lion look friendly.
How do I draw a lion's mane?
Draw a cloud shape around the head with rounded bumps all the way around. Keep the bumps soft and round, and let the bottom ones hang below the chin.
