1Step 1 of 7
Draw the face
Start in the upper part of your page and leave room around it for the mane. Draw a round face that is a little wider at the cheeks. Press lightly so you can fix it later.
▶ Watch this stepHow to Draw a Cartoon Lion
This cartoon lion starts with a simple round face and a big bumpy mane. Watch each step being drawn in pencil, then copy it on your own paper. It works for kids from about age 5 and for adult beginners too.
7 easy steps 20 minutes Easy level Ages 5 and up
Copy the dark lines in each step. The grey lines are the parts you already drew.
How to draw a cartoon lion, step by step
2Step 2 of 7
Add the fluffy mane
Around the face, draw a big circle made of round bumps, like a cloud or a flower. Leave a gap between the face and the mane. Try to keep the bumps about the same size.
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3Step 3 of 7
Draw the ears and eyes
On the top of the face, draw two small round ears with a smaller circle inside each one. In the middle of the face, draw two round eyes, color them dark and leave a tiny white dot for the shine.
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4Step 4 of 7
Draw the muzzle
On the lower part of the face, draw a wide oval for the muzzle. At the top of it, draw a round nose and color it dark. Add a short line down, a small curvy smile and three tiny dots on each side for the whiskers.
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5Step 5 of 7
Draw the body
Under the mane, draw a body that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, like a pear.
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6Step 6 of 7
Add the legs and tail
Draw two front legs going down the middle with round paws and small toe lines. On each side, draw a rounded back leg and a long foot. Add a long tail curving up on the right with a fluffy ball at the tip.
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7Step 7 of 7
Color your lion
Color the face, ears, body, legs and tail golden yellow. Use orange or brown for the mane and the tail tip. Color the muzzle and inner ears cream, and keep the eyes and nose dark.
▶ Watch this stepTips for a better cartoon lion
1
Draw light first
Keep your first lines soft, then press harder once you like the shape.
2
Leave room for the mane
Do not draw the face too close to the edge of the page, because the mane goes all the way around it.
3
Bumps, not spikes
Round bumps make a friendly lion. Pointy spikes can make it look like the sun.
4
Two colors for the mane
Add a little brown on top of the orange mane to make it look fluffy.
5
Go over the final lines
Trace your drawing with a darker pencil or a black pen so it stands out after coloring.
6
Make a baby lion
Leave out the mane and make the eyes bigger for a cute lion cub.
Done? Now make it colourful
Colour your cartoon lion in, or keep practising with more ideas to copy.
Questions people ask
Is this cartoon lion easy enough for young kids?
Yes. Most children from about age 5 can follow it. The mane is the trickiest part, so let younger kids draw bigger, fewer bumps.
How do I draw a lion mane?
Draw a big circle of round bumps all the way around the face, like the edge of a cloud. Twelve to fourteen bumps looks just right.
What colors do I need for a cartoon lion?
Golden yellow for the body, orange or brown for the mane and tail tip, cream for the muzzle and black for the eyes and nose.
Can I draw a lion cub with these steps?
Yes. Skip the mane, make the head a little bigger and the body smaller.
Can I print the steps?
Yes. Right click or long press any step picture to save it, then print it and keep it next to you while you draw.
