How to Draw a Sea Lion (Easy Step by Step)
A sea lion balancing a ball on its nose is a classic circus trick, and it is fun to draw. The picture is built from a long curved back, a rounded head with a snout, two leaf-shaped flippers, and a circle for the ball.
- 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 sea lion step by step
How to Draw a Sea Lion · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: The curved back
Draw one long, gentle curve that starts at the upper right and bends down and to the left, like the back of a big round body. Stop near the bottom and leave the rest open for now.
Step 2: Head, snout and ball
Start at the top end of the back curve and draw a rounded head that bumps up and then slopes forward into a snout. At the tip of the snout, draw a circle for the ball, like it is balanced on the nose.
Step 3: Chin and front line
Start under the nose and draw a small chin that curves back. Then draw one long slanted line down from the chin to the bottom right, for the front of the neck and body.
Step 4: Belly and back flipper
At the bottom of the front line, draw a flat line going left along the ground for the belly. At the bottom left, add a pointy leaf shape for the back flipper.
Step 5: The front flipper
On the right side near the bottom, start at the front line and draw a curved leaf shape that bends outward and comes back to the body. This is the front flipper.
Step 6: Eye, nose and cheek
Add one big round dot for the eye and two tiny dots near the tip of the snout for the nose. Then draw a tiny curved mark under the eye, near where the head meets the body.
Step 7: Ball stripes
Inside the ball, draw two curved lines that bow outward, one on each side. Start both at the top of the ball and bring them together at the bottom.
All done!
Go over your lines with a marker, then color it in.
Finished your sea lion? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a beluga whale or how to draw a ship captain next.
Tips for drawing a sea lion
- Draw the curved back slowly in one smooth line. The head and body are easier to place once it is down.
- The front line is the trickiest part. Draw it as one long, gentle slant from the chin down to the bottom instead of stopping and starting.
- Draw the ball so it just touches the tip of the snout. When you add the two curved stripes, keep them an even distance from the edges so the ball looks round.
Free sea lion coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this sea 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 sea lion drawing
Color the sea lion warm brown or gray, and make the ball red, yellow and blue. For a creative twist, put the sea lion on a little circus stage with a spotlight.
Sea lion fun fact for kids
Sea lions have small external ear flaps, which true seals do not have, and they can walk on land by turning their back flippers forward under their bodies.
Questions about drawing a sea lion
What shapes do I need to draw a sea lion?
You need a long curve for the back, a rounded head with a pointy snout, a slanted line for the front, and two leaf shapes for the flippers. A circle makes the ball.
How do I make my sea lion look cuter?
Make the eye a big round dot and keep the body plump and round. The two small dots near the nose make it look friendly.
How do I draw the ball on its nose?
Draw a circle that just touches the tip of the snout, then add two curved lines inside from top to bottom to make a striped beach ball.
