How to Draw a Roaring Lion (Easy Step by Step)
This roaring lion is a cuddly cat with a huge fluffy mane and a wide open mouth. It is built from simple shapes: a big bumpy circle for the mane, a round face, little half circles for the ears, and a rounded bowl for the mouth. Anyone can draw it, even if you have never drawn an animal before.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 10 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawing
In this article (7 sections)
How to draw a roaring lion step by step
How to Draw a Roaring 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 big mane
Start with a big, wobbly circle for the lion's fluffy mane. Make the edge a little bumpy like a cloud.
Step 3: The face
Inside the mane, draw a round face that is a little smaller than the mane. Start near the bottom on one side, curve up and around the top, and stop near the bottom on the other side, leaving the chin open.
Step 4: The round ears
Draw two little half circles that peek out from the top of the face, one on each side. Each one looks like the letter C, with the open side tucked against the face.
Step 5: Eyes, nose, and mouth
Draw two round dots for the eyes, side by side in the middle of the face. Between them and a little lower, add a small rounded triangle for the nose. Under the nose, draw a wide open mouth shaped like a rounded bowl and fill it in.
Step 6: The tongue
Along the bottom of the open mouth, draw a small curved line shaped like a smile. It makes the tongue peeking out.
Step 7: Body and tail curve
Under the mane, start on the right and draw a line going down and curving in along the bottom for the body's side. On the left, draw a little curved line that will become the tail.
Step 8: A little paw
At the bottom left of the body, draw a small rounded bump with two short lines going up. This is one of the front paws.
Step 9: The tail tuft
At the end of the tail on the left, draw a small puffy tuft and fill it in.
Step 10: A tiny finishing line
Add a very short little line where the right ear meets the face. It is small, so take your time and keep it neat.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your roaring lion? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fox or how to draw a hedgehog next.
Tips for drawing a roaring lion
- Draw the mane as a bumpy circle, not a smooth one. Little waves along the edge make it look fluffy.
- Draw the face first, then add the ears so they tuck against it. If the ears look wrong, make the C shapes a little smaller.
- For the mouth, draw the wide bowl shape first and then add the small curved tongue line at the bottom.
Free roaring lion coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this roaring 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 roaring lion drawing
Color the mane a warm orange or golden brown and the face a lighter yellow. For a twist, give the lion a rainbow mane with a different color in every bump.
Roaring lion fun fact for kids
A lion's roar can be heard from about five miles away. Lions roar to tell other lions where they are and to keep their home area safe.
Questions about drawing a roaring lion
What shapes do I need to draw a lion?
You need a big bumpy circle for the mane, a round face, two small half circles for the ears, and a rounded bowl for the open mouth. The body is one more soft rounded shape.
How do I make my lion look friendlier?
Draw the eyes as round dots set wide apart and keep the mouth open with a little tongue. A puffy tail tuft adds to the cuddly look.
How do I draw a fluffy mane?
Draw a big circle and make the edge a little wavy as you go. Try not to lift your pencil so the bumps flow together.
