How to draw a lion with pencils and paints - the best step-by-step master classes for children and novice artists

The graceful and stern creature, which has similarities with cats, represents a great protector or a formidable warrior. Sometimes a character from the Chronicles of Narnia and sometimes a cartoon about the Lion and the Tortoise.

You'd think that portraying such a formidable animal would be difficult, but we've put together a selection of interesting ways for you to do it easily with your kids.

But first, let's figure out what we'll need to get started with the drawing:

• a simple pencil
• an A4 sketchbook
• watercolor paints
• felt-tip pens
• colored pencils
• eraser
• non-pouring cup
• brushes
• watercolor paints.

A lion cub

For this picture, we need an eraser, plain pencils and colored pencils:

1. We lay a sheet of paper on the table and mark on it two lines, vertical and horizontal, in the form of a cross.
2. Draw the head as a circle at the top and the torso as an oval to the right.
3. Arcing stripes connect the muzzle and torso, so that there was a back. Then a flat contour forms the neck and part of the front paw.
4. Add three more lines to show where we will have the rest of the paws. Since the lion cub is sitting, the back leg will be bent, will be semi-circular in front and bent in back.
5. With small ovals we mark where we will have the bottom of the paws, which will be at the front of the torso, closing it a bit. Detail them, draw a more realistic form of paws.
6. Carefully use the eraser to remove the auxiliary strokes on the paper, we won't need them further on.
7. Use semicircular lines to finish drawing the ears and the inside. Tracing the toes.
8. Shade the muzzle, tracing the nose, mouth and chin.
9. In the form of ovals mark the eyes, pupils and eyelids. Detail them, filling the pupil with black, leaving a glare of white.
10. Arc band draws the tummy.
11. On the head and tummy, we detail the hair with sharp silhouettes. Two lines add a tail to the picture and a fluffy tip. Draw a mustache on his snout.
12. Delete unnecessary strokes with eraser and paint the image.
13. The end of the tail, the inside of the ears and the nose is dark brown, the muzzle is a little pink, the eyes are green, and the body is painted in beige.

And we get a cute lion cub, which any child would be happy with.

A simple way to draw a lion

In the last version, you learned how to draw a lion in pencil, and for this we need a black felt-tip pen and colored pencils:

1. On a sheet of paper we draw a circle with a felt-tip pen, which will be the head of our animal.
2. In the circle, eyes should appear in the form of large grains, and inside we mark the pupils with sticks.
3. A triangle represents our nose. Draw two lines that will stretch from the nose, so form the mouth of our lion. A smile should appear.
4. Step back 1.5 centimeters from the edge of the head and draw the most important part - the thick fur. Zigzag strokes in a circle to depict the mane.
5. Proceed to the body. Dorisovyvym semi-oval body and elongated ovals paws, front will be slightly hidden behind the mane.
6. Wavy line draws the lion tail, it should come out thin, and with a fluffy brush on the end.
7. Draw the animal with colored or wax crayons. Fill the body and legs with bright orange, like an orange. We make the eyes green, and the strands and tassels of the tail yellow. Take a lighter shade of orange and paint the face.

That's it, our drawing of a lion is ready!

Drawing with felt-tip pens

For this method we will use felt-tip pens and a simple pencil:

1. First, we need to mark in circles the head and underneath the body. We connect them with a line. In the circle that marks the head, we add two strips crosswise to further determine the location of the eyes, nose and mouth.
2. Beginning to draw a snout. Nose square and fluffy chin. Here also appears fluffy, semicircular cheeks.
3. Above, on the head we add a thick coat on the lion. Dorisovyvayut inside of the ears.
4. Detail the face and in the form of petals represent eyes, pupils and eyelids. On the sides finely shaded whiskers. Go down to the neck.
5. Sharp lines outline the silhouette of the chest of the animal in the form of an oval, which marks the torso. And down to the feet.
6. The front paws come through first, add rounded toes on the limbs.
7. Move on to the back, which wavy line descends to the hind legs. One of the legs will be slightly protruding and toes on it will not be visible.
8. Doris long and wavy tail with a fluffy brush at the end.
9. Add contrast to the details. More work on the eyebrows, pupils, and the outline of the picture, so they become blacker.
10. Let's paint our beast. Nose will be pink, chest light shade and body brown. Tassels, eyes and the inside of the ears will be orange.

Such a drawn lion, will like its simplicity of execution and bright shades of felt-tip pens.

Curly Mane

To depict a curly lion, you need a black pencil:

1. Let's start with a sketch of the drawing, with ovals mark the head and mane with a large circle. Next oval draw a front paw, then form a bent back leg. With a circle we mark the back part of the torso, and on it the curved silhouette of the tail.
2. Rounded elements mark the lower limbs. Connect lines head with torso, and the torso unite with paws.
3. Beginning to detail, so, in the figure appears ear, and the second will not be visible, because the lion stands in profile.
4. Wavy lines add a more realistic outline of the mane and the nose of the beast. Smooth contour with sharp angles in the bend area, detailing the legs.
5. Light strokes mark the paws, which will be on the right side of the profile of the lion. We finish drawing the fingers, eyes in the form of grains, nose and outline of the mouth.
6. At this stage, the features of the animal's face are worked out more clearly, he has more sullen eyebrows, facial expressions and a mane on his forehead, which should add character and nobility. More clearly traced ears, chest part of mane, its curly tip, cheeks and sharp chin.
7. Strokes draw the direction of the mane hair and fur all over the body. Appears pupil and mustache on the face.
8. Finally, it is important to work the entire image with curls, alternating between contrast and light. The point outlines of the lion's curls should be worked hardest, and where there is not enough light, you can lightly erase them with the eraser. The eraser can give lightness, airiness in the right places, and the contrast will make the animal volumetric and realistic.

Water Color Painting

This version of drawing a lion for children will appeal to everyone, because the technique of watercolor drawing helps you learn to mix colors and get soft transitions. You will need a simple pencil, watercolor paints, a glass of water and brushes:

1. At the very beginning, we need to make a sketch of the future drawing to make it easier to navigate and fill in the watercolor technique.
2. With a pencil it is easy to mark the head in the form of a vertical oval, at the bottom the head will be narrower, further the ears are triangular in shape, with semicircular tips.
3. At the top of the animal's head we draw a horizontal line that will indicate to us the correct location of the eyes and the distance between them.
4. Circles mark the shape of the eyes, so that the line was above the pupils, now we will know where the pupils of the animal will be.
5. Now draw the nose, a wide, triangular shape, and under it will be a sketch of the chin and mouth.
6. Around the head we will mark the rump, along the edges we will work with light strokes, add strands. As dots place the pupils inside the eyes, at this point the sketch is over and move on to watercolor.
7. To paint the sketch, take orange, brown and yellow. Yellow we will have a mane, it is important when filling the drawing with watercolors to make light and quiet strokes, do it along the line of hair growth. This simple rule will keep the volume of the mane.
8. The watercolor technique may not be so easy and the main thing is not to rush, so that there is a smoothness of transitions and strokes.
9. On the palette mix orange and brown, you get a darker shade of orange, which we work through the ears and mane. Gradually closer to the edge it will get darker, add a little green around the edges.
10. We take a brown, mix a little black to make it a darker shade, then draw the shadows on the ears. Use a thin brush to work in more detail the hair on the mane.
11. The main part of the face will be yellow, but to start with we are going to add brown to it. Part of the nose will be yellow and the eyes brown. On the eyes black shading the eyelashes and inside the pupils.
12. The middle of the nose will remain a light shade. Then we mix black and brown and detail the outline of the nose and mouth.

That's the end of the image and now you've learned how to depict a drawing of a lion with watercolors.

So, now you know the simple ways to draw a lion using a variety of techniques. Such techniques will show your child's creativity and help him or her to love drawing with all his or her soul.

A picture of a lion drawn with pencils and paints