How to Draw a Lion in 2 Styles

Lion Drawing — How to draw a lion. (Image: Freepik)... Selengkapnya

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw a lion but didn't know where to start? Drawing this magnificent animal might seem difficult at first, but with the right steps, anyone can create beautiful lion drawings. Lions are popular subjects for artists because of their strong features and impressive appearance.

Lions are amazing wild animals that live in Africa. They are known as the "king of the jungle" because they are powerful and brave. Male lions have thick hair around their heads called a mane. Female lions are called lionesses and do not have manes. Lions live in groups called prides and are excellent hunters.

In this article, you will learn how to draw a lion in two styles: realistic and cartoon. This guide will help you to capture this beautiful big cat on the paper. We gathered these guides from various sources, Wednesday (27/8/2025).

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How to Draw a Simple Realistic Lion

Here's how to draw a realistic lion. This guide will help you to draw a realistic lion face.

Step 1: Start with Basic Shapes

Begin by drawing a large circle for the lion's head. Below this circle, draw a smaller oval shape for the snout and jaw area. These two shapes will form the foundation of your lion's face. Make sure the oval overlaps the bottom part of the circle slightly.

Step 2: Add the Mane Outline

Draw a larger, irregular circle around the head circle. This outer shape will be the outline of the lion's mane. The mane should be much bigger than the head and have a wavy, uneven edge. Male lions have thick, full manes, so make this shape bold and prominent.

Step 3: Draw the Eyes and Nose

Inside the head circle, draw two almond-shaped eyes. Place them in the upper half of the circle, leaving space between them. Add a small triangle shape for the nose at the top of the oval snout area. Connect the nose to the mouth area with a short vertical line.

Step 4: Create the Mouth and Jaw

Draw the lion's mouth by adding a curved line under the nose. Extend this line to both sides to show the width of the mouth. Add the lower jaw by drawing a curved line at the bottom of the oval shape. This gives your lion a strong, powerful appearance.

Step 5: Add Details to the Face

Draw small circles inside the eyes for pupils. Add curved lines above the eyes to show the eyebrow area. Draw small nostrils inside the triangle nose. Add whisker dots on both sides of the snout by making small dark spots.

Step 6: Fill in the Mane

Inside the mane outline, draw many curved lines going in different directions. These lines represent the individual hairs of the mane. Make some lines longer and some shorter to create a natural, wild look. The mane should look thick and full of texture.

Step 7: Add Final Details

Draw the lion's ears as small triangle shapes at the top of the head, partially hidden by the mane. Add shading under the jaw and around the eyes to give your drawing depth. Make the eyes bright and alert to show the lion's intelligence and strength.

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How to Draw a Cartoon Lion

Cartoon lions are fun and friendly-looking versions of real lions. This style uses simple shapes and bright expressions to create cute, approachable characters. We will draw a cartoon lion that is sitting and facing forward, showing its whole body.

Step 1: Draw the Head and Body

Start with a large circle for the lion's head at the top of your paper. Below the head, draw a bigger oval shape for the body. The body should be wider than the head and positioned directly underneath. Leave a small gap between the head and body - this will be the neck area.

Step 2: Add the Mane

Draw a scalloped circle around the head for the mane. Make the mane bigger than the head with gentle waves around the edges. Since the lion is sitting facing forward, the mane should look full and round. Keep the shape simple and symmetrical.

Step 3: Create the Front Legs

Draw two thick, straight lines going down from the bottom of the body oval. These are the front legs of your sitting lion. At the end of each leg, add small oval shapes for the paws. The legs should be parallel to each other and positioned in the center of the body.

Step 4: Add the Back Legs

On both sides of the body, draw curved shapes that look like half-circles. These represent the lion's back legs folded underneath as it sits. The back legs should be wider than the front legs and stick out slightly from the sides of the body oval.

Step 5: Draw Facial Features

Add two large circles for eyes in the upper part of the head. Draw a small triangle for the nose in the center, below the eyes. Create a curved line for the smiling mouth under the nose. Inside each eye, draw smaller circles for pupils and leave tiny white spots for highlights.

Step 6: Include Simple Details

Add two triangle ears at the top of the head, partially hidden by the mane. Draw three curved lines on each side of the face for whiskers. Add simple curved shapes or spirals inside the mane area to show texture, but keep them minimal and clean.

Step 7: Add the Tail

Draw a long, curved line starting from the back side of the body. This line should curve around and end with a small fluffy circle or oval shape for the tail tip. The tail can curve to either side of the sitting lion.

Step 8: Final Cartoon Touches

Add any extra details like toes on the paws by drawing small curved lines. You can also add eyebrows above the eyes or make the mouth bigger for a friendlier expression. Keep all details simple and bold to maintain the cartoon style.