How to Draw a Lion Cub (Easy Step by Step)
A lion cub is a friendly one to draw because almost every part is a circle or an oval. You will start with a big face, add a puffy mane like a cloud, and finish with a curvy tail with a tuft on the end. It is a great drawing for practicing smooth, round lines.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 9 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 cub step by step
How to Draw a Lion Cub · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The face
Draw a big oval for the cub's face. Make it a little wider than it is tall, and leave room around it for the fluffy mane.
Step 3: The fluffy mane
Draw a wavy, bumpy line all the way around the face, like a puffy cloud. Start at the top, go down each side, and finish with little bumps under the chin.
Step 4: The round ears
Draw a small circle on each side at the top of the head, tucked into the mane. Draw a tiny circle inside each one for the inner ear, and add a couple of short curved lines where each ear meets the mane.
Step 5: Neck and tummy
Draw two short slanted lines under the chin for the neck. Then draw a circle below the head for the round tummy.
Step 6: Arms and legs
Draw a tall, skinny oval on each side of the tummy for the arms. Then draw a wide, rounded shape at the bottom on each side for the sitting legs, and join them with a curved line along the bottom.
Step 7: Paws
Draw a small flat oval inside each foot for the paw pad.
Step 8: Eyes and muzzle
Draw two round dots for eyes. Then draw a wide oval in the middle of the face for the muzzle, with a small nose and mouth inside and a tiny dot on each side.
Step 9: The tail
Draw a long curvy line that swings out from the bottom of the body on the right, then a second line beside it to make the tail thick. Finish with a little leaf shape tuft at the tip.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your lion cub? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a tiger cub or how to draw a baby monkey next.
Tips for drawing a lion cub
- Draw the face oval first and lightly, then wrap the wavy mane around it. If the mane bumps are uneven, that just makes it look fluffier.
- The two arms are tall, skinny ovals that sit on each side of the tummy circle. Draw the tummy first so you know how much space is left for them.
- For the tail, draw the first curvy line, then draw the second line beside it with the same curve. Finish with the little leaf shape at the tip.
Free lion cub coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this lion cub 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 cub drawing
Try golden yellow for the face and body, and orange or brown for the mane and the tail tuft. For a creative twist, color the mane in rainbow stripes for a party lion.
Lion cub fun fact for kids
Lion cubs are born with faint spots on their fur. The spots fade as they grow up, and adult lions have mostly plain tawny coats.
Questions about drawing a lion cub
What shapes do I need to draw a lion cub?
You mostly need circles and ovals. Use a big oval for the face, a circle for the tummy, tall ovals for the arms, and a wavy line for the mane.
How do I make my lion cub look cuter?
Keep the muzzle small and round, and place the eyes wide apart on the face. A big, puffy mane also makes the cub look soft and cuddly.
How do I draw a fluffy mane?
Draw a wavy line made of small bumps all the way around the face, like a cloud. Make the bumps different sizes so it looks soft and fluffy.
