How to Draw a Lion: Easy Step-by-Step for Kids
How to draw a lion in 10 easy steps
Lions are a fantastic drawing for kids because the king of the jungle is really just friendly shapes in disguise: a big bumpy cloud for the mane, a circle for the face, a round body, and a swishy tail with a tuft on the end. If your child can draw bumps and circles, they can draw a lion.
Follow the ten simple steps below, or better yet, tap "Draw it live" and DrawAlong will guide your child through every line on screen, checking each one, cheering them on, and letting them color the finished lion at the end.
How to draw a lion, step by step
1Draw the big fluffy mane with lots of bumps
Start with the lion's famous mane: a big fluffy ring made of bumps, like a cloud wrapped in a circle. Go slowly, bump by bump, all the way around.
2Draw a big circle inside the mane for the face
Draw a big circle inside the mane for the lion's face. Leave a little space between the face and the mane so the fluff can shine.
3Draw the round body under the mane
Draw a round body under the mane, starting on one side of the fluff and swooping down and around to the other side.
4Draw the left front leg
Add the left front leg at the bottom of the body: down, a little curve for the paw, and back up.
5Draw the right front leg
Add a matching right front leg. Now your lion is standing proud.
6Draw a long tail with a fluffy tuft at the end
Give your lion a long tail that swishes out from the body, and finish it with a little leaf-shaped tuft of fur at the tip.
7Draw the left eye
Draw a small circle inside the face for the left eye.
8Draw the right eye
Draw another small circle for the right eye.
9Add a little triangle nose
Add a little triangle nose right in the middle of the face, pointing down.
10Draw a happy smile under the nose
Draw a happy smile that curves down from each side of the nose. Roar, you drew a lion!
Time to color!
Try a golden yellow face and body with a bright orange mane and tail tuft, or go wild with a purple mane. Every lion is the king of its own coloring page.
In the live version, coloring is tap-to-fill: pick a color, tap a part, done.
Frequently asked questions
- What age is this lion drawing tutorial for?
- It is designed for kids roughly 4 to 8 years old. Younger kids may want a hand with the bumpy mane, and older kids can zoom through it as a warm-up. Every line is a simple bump, circle, or curve.
- What if my child's lines are wobbly?
- Wobbly is wonderful! A bumpy, uneven mane actually makes the lion look extra fluffy. In the live DrawAlong version, lines just need to roughly follow the guide, and the app checks each one gently and cheers your child on.
- What do we need to draw this lion?
- On paper, just a pencil or crayon and something to color with. Or use the free DrawAlong version, which runs right in your browser on a tablet, phone, or computer, no downloads needed, and lets kids color the lion by tapping.
Draw this lion live, right now
DrawAlong guides every line on screen, cheers your child on, and the picture always comes out great.
Try it free →