Easy Lion Drawing: Simple Step-by-Step for Beginners
Want lion drawing without the hard parts? This easy version strips the tutorial down to what matters: a circle face inside a bigger fluffy circle mane, refined in a few forgiving steps. It's the version we recommend for kids, classrooms, and anyone drawing the lion for the first time.
- Difficulty Easy
- Time ~12 min
- Tools Pencil, eraser, paper
- Starts with a circle face inside a bigger fluffy circle mane
How to Draw an Easy Lion, Step by Step
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Two circles first
A circle for the face inside a much larger circle for the mane — the mane should be at least twice the face's diameter. Keep the lines loose — wobbles are fine at this stage.
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Shape the muzzle
In the face's lower half, draw a wide W-ish muzzle shape: rounded nose triangle on top, two cheek curves below with a small chin. Simpler is better here: one confident line beats three careful ones.
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Place the features
Two rounded-almond eyes on the face's midline, the triangle nose between them and below, and short whisker dots on the cheeks. If it looks off, adjust the big shape rather than adding detail.
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Flame the mane
Retrace the outer circle as connected flame-like tufts, all sweeping slightly in one direction. A rough version of this step is good enough — keep moving.
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Add ears and body
Two half-circle ears poking from the mane's top edge, and — for a full lion — the body low and long behind, with a tail ending in a tuft. Draw this bigger than feels natural; big shapes are easier to control.
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Shade the frame
Darken the mane nearest the face so the face pops out bright, shade under the chin, and gild everything in golds and warm browns. Done is better than perfect — finish the step and move on.
Want the full detailed version?
The complete Lion drawing tutorial covers proportions, texture and shading in depth.
Full Lion Drawing Tutorial →Easy Lion Drawing Ideas
Lion face close-up portrait
Crop to just the face and make the eyes the star. Big expressive eyes carry the whole piece.
A baby lion next to its parent
Same drawing twice at two sizes with bigger eyes on the little one — instant "aww" with skills you already have.
A lion in its natural habitat
Add two or three environment elements behind your lion — the scene sells the story without needing a full background.
A sleeping lion curled up
Sleeping poses tuck away the legs and face details — draw one restful curve and let the pose forgive the anatomy.
A cartoon lion with a tiny accessory
Round everything, shrink the body, add one hat/bow/scarf. Accessories add personality for nearly zero extra difficulty.
A lion peeking around a corner
Half the animal hides behind an edge — you draw the easy half and the composition feels playful.
Easy Drawing Tips
- Draw big. Beginners instinctively draw tiny, and tiny drawings are actually harder — small curves demand more finger control than big arm strokes. Fill at least half the page.
- Finish it even if it looks wrong at step 3. Every finished easy drawing teaches the whole sequence; abandoned perfect starts teach nothing.
- Use a light pencil for the shape stage and press harder only on the final outline — being able to erase guide lines is what makes the simple method forgiving.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to draw a lion?
Start with a circle face inside a bigger fluffy circle mane and keep every line light until the shape looks right — that's the entire method above. Most beginners get a recognizable lion drawing on the first try because each step is one simple move.
Can kids follow this lion drawing tutorial?
Yes — this version was written for young artists: big forgiving shapes, no shading, no fine details. Ages 5-6 and up can usually follow along with a little help reading the steps.
How long does the easy version take?
About five minutes for the basic drawing — roughly half the time of the full tutorial. Adding color takes another few minutes.
