How to Draw a Cartoon Lion

Need to draw a lion for a school project, making a card for someone or simply bored and feel like drawing a lion? Follow this simple step-by-step how to for instructions on how to draw a cartoon lion.

Steps

  1. How.com.vn English: Step 1 Draw a large...
    Draw a large circle, which will be the lion's head.
    • Use a light colour pen or a pencil, you will draw the final outline in a darker colour later.
  2. How.com.vn English: Step 2 Draw
    a large, masterful chest beneath the head. As shown in the picture the shape of the chest resembles a backwards, capital "D" - also slightly slanted to the left. The chest should be roughly the same width as the head and about one and a half times the length.
  3. How.com.vn English: Step 3 Draw the lion's...
    Draw the lion's arms. At this point simply use lines to show the arms' gesture, then circles on the end to represent hands. In the example, the right arm is drawn like a "C" with the top meeting the join of the head and cheat (or neck). The left arm is more "V" shaped but also joining the neck but on the other side.
  4. How.com.vn English: Step 4 Draw...
    Draw the lion's legs. Again use lines and circles at this point to represent the leg and foot. In the example the right leg is slightly curved while the left is slight but angled to the bottom left. This stance makes the lion look like he is storming at the viewer.
  5. How.com.vn English: Step 5 Draw the lion's...
    Draw the lion's ears. As shown in the picture the ears are shaped like an up-side-down "V" but the sides are slightly curved. To show the softer, inside of the ear another line is drawn inside that is curved like a bridge.
  6. How.com.vn English: Step 6 Draw...
    Draw the lion's mane.
    • Starting halfway on the top of the right ear draw a curve, similar to the top of his head, to halfway on the top of the left ear.
    • From halfway on the bottom on the right ear draw a line, again following the curve of the head, until you reach the arm.
    • Do the same on the other side.
  7. How.com.vn English: Step 7 Outline the lion's ears and mane with a marker or dark colored pen.
    This time however, draw the mane with a ragged.
    • Add a "fringe" that is also jagged.
    • Draw a "W" shape under the lions chin for a "beard".
  8. How.com.vn English: Step 8 Outline the lion's...
    Outline the lion's arms and paws with a marker, or dark colored pen. This time draw them thicker, not just lines. Look at the picture to see how to draw a bent arm. The paw should be drawn as a clenched fist - which means small bumps for each finger (only 3 needed and then a thumb).
  9. How.com.vn English: Step 9 Draw the lion's...
    Draw the lion's eyebrows and eyes. The eyebrow - or mono-brow! - is a line curved like a bowl with a horizontal, downwards tick at each end. Draw two dots underneath and touching the line, for eyes.
  10. How.com.vn English: Step 10 Draw
    the lion's nose and mouth. The nose is a large bridge-curved line about halfway down the face with a small (thought larger than the eyes) circle underneath, but touching, in the center. The mouth is a simple smile - a line with the curve of a bowl.
  11. How.com.vn English: Step 11 Outline the lion's feet and paws with a marker or dark colored pen.
    They should be roughly as thick as the arms but slightly thicker at the top than the bottom. The paws should be curved at the top but quite flat at the bottom. Separate the paws into claws (toes) with 3 curved lines.
  12. Step 12 Add a tail to the lion, thinner than the arms and legs and curved like an "S".
    Make sure your lion is all joined up including drawing the back and torso lines.
  13. How.com.vn English: Step 13 Then finish by colouring if you wish.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I draw a lion face?
    How.com.vn English: Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Start with the shape of the face which is a triangular and oval. Add the eyes, nose, and curving mouth. For a male, draw a shaggy mane. For a female or lion cubs, they do not have a mane.
  • Question
    How can I make this lion look angry?
    How.com.vn English: Cecilia Flores
    Cecilia Flores
    Top Answerer
    You could draw the lion baring its teeth and make the eyes and the space around it look a bit darker than the rest of the lion.
  • Question
    How can I make it look more realistic?
    How.com.vn English: CaTsArEsOcUtE
    CaTsArEsOcUtE
    Community Answer
    You can try making the hair in the mane more stringy, and add detail such as fur, claws, highlights in the eyes, a more detailed nose, etc.
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      Tips

      • Using a pencil at first will make fixing errors much easier as you can simply erase and start over.
      • Look at the pictures for guidance, but don't feel you need to copy them rigidly - you may want to draw your lion in different poses.
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      References

      1. Stephen Marchant, Cartoon Museum, London

      About this article

      How.com.vn is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 42 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 208,214 times.
      70 votes - 73%
      Co-authors: 42
      Updated: March 20, 2022
      Views: 208,214
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 208,214 times.

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