How to Draw a Lion: Easy 9-Step Guide for Kids

Ready to bring the king of the jungle to life? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 6 and up, requiring only a pencil, paper, and an eraser. Follow along to master basic shapes and fur textures while building your confidence as an illustrator.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Eyes and Nose

Close-up sketch of a lion's face showing two almond-shaped eyes with pupils and a heart-shaped nose.

Begin by drawing two almond-shaped eyes. Add small, dark circles for pupils to give your lion personality. Between the eyes, draw a small, inverted heart shape for the nose. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light here so you can easily adjust the spacing if the eyes look a bit lopsided.

Step 2: Defining the Chin and Mouth

Drawing the lion's mouth and chin using small U-shaped lines to simulate fur texture.

Sketch the mouth using a 'Y' shape extending from the nose. For the chin, use a series of small, connected 'U' shapes. Teacher's Tip: These little 'U's are a great way to practice 'furry' textures—don't worry about making them perfect, as fur is naturally messy!

Step 3: Framing the Face

Outlining the lion's face and the inner perimeter of the mane with smooth curved lines.

Use smooth, curved lines to outline the cheeks and the start of the mane around the face. Ensure the lines connect under the chin to create a solid base for the head. Teacher's Tip: Imagine you are drawing a fluffy cloud around the face.

Step 4: Building the Mane

Adding volume to the lion's mane with long, overlapping jagged lines.

Expand the mane by drawing long, overlapping curved lines that extend outward. Let some lines meet at sharp, jagged points to mimic wild hair. Teacher's Tip: Vary the length of your strokes to make the mane look thick and voluminous.

Step 5: Completing the Mane

Finalizing the shape of the lion's mane with varied line lengths and internal texture strokes.

Close the bottom of the mane with more jagged, curved lines. Add a few extra strokes inside the mane area to create depth. Teacher's Tip: Think of this as the 'frame' for your lion's portrait—the more jagged the lines, the more energetic your lion will look.

Step 6: Drawing the First Leg

Sketching the lion's front leg and paw with detailed toe markings.

Draw the front leg using two long, parallel curved lines. At the base, use small overlapping curves to define the toes. Teacher's Tip: Draw a slight wavy line across the ankle to show where the paw begins.

Step 7: Adding the Second Leg

Drawing the second front leg and the lion's belly line to connect the body parts.

Sketch the second front leg slightly behind the first. Connect the legs with a curved line for the belly. Teacher's Tip: Keep the second leg slightly shorter to show perspective—it makes your drawing look 3D!

Step 8: The Back and Hips

Outlining the lion's back, hip, and rear leg to complete the body structure.

Extend a long, smooth curve from the mane to form the back and the rounded hip. Add the rear leg using similar techniques to the front legs. Teacher's Tip: A lion's back is strong and muscular, so make this line nice and bold.

Step 9: Finishing the Tail

Adding the final rear leg and a long tail with a tufted end.

Draw the final rear leg and add a long, flowing tail. End the tail with a teardrop-shaped tuft of fur. Teacher's Tip: Use quick, flicking motions with your pencil to make the tail tuft look soft and fluffy.

Step 10: Bringing Your Lion to Life with Color

A fully colored, majestic cartoon lion with sandy fur and a dark, detailed mane.

Now for the fun part! Use sandy-browns for the body and a darker, rich brown or even a hint of red for the mane. Teacher's Tip: Try using light pressure for the body and heavier, layered strokes for the mane to show different fur textures.