How to Draw a Lion in 6 Easy-to-Follow Steps
Draw this lion in 6 easy steps with a pencil and eraser. It takes about 15 minutes and works for ages 5 and up. Print the free step-by-step page below, or draw along with the video. The page comes from Kevin Coulston’s book How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2.
- Step-by-step drawing
- Ages 5+
- Grades K–2
- Easy
- About 15 min with the video
You’ll need
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper, or the printed page
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
You’ll practice
- Breaking a drawing into simple shapes
- Following steps in order
- Adding your own details
Free Drawing Page: How to Draw a Lion Step by Step
In this post, I’m sharing a free step-by-step drawing page straight from my book How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2. The character featured on this free page is a friendly cartoon lion, drawn in a simple, approachable style that makes it easy for kids to follow along and feel successful.
Lions are one of those animals kids love to draw, but they can feel intimidating at first. This free page breaks the process down into clear steps, making How to Draw a Lion feel fun instead of frustrating. The lion has a cheerful expression, a simplified mane, and a cartoon look that keeps the focus on learning rather than perfection.
Watch it being drawn
Watch the pencil draw it one step at a time, then grab a pencil and try it yourself.
About the Book: How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2
How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2 is all about variety. Instead of sticking to a single theme, the book includes step-by-step drawing pages featuring characters inspired by many different ideas, including animals, people, robots, dinosaurs, and more.
The lion featured on this free page is one of many characters designed to give kids a broad drawing experience. Learning How to Draw a Lion is just one example of how the book helps kids explore different subjects without having to commit to a single theme.
All of the artwork in the book is hand-drawn by me. I don’t use AI-generated art or stock images. Every character is created with kids in mind, using clear lines and simple shapes that support learning.
Why Lions Are Great for Step-by-Step Drawing
Lions are recognizable, expressive, and easy to simplify into cartoon form. That makes them perfect for teaching drawing fundamentals.
When kids learn How to Draw a Lion, they’re practicing:
- Drawing rounded shapes
- Creating facial expressions
- Understanding symmetry
- Building confidence through repetition
Because the character is friendly and not overly detailed, kids can focus on enjoying the process rather than worrying about mistakes.
Part of the Art Books for Kids Series
How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2 is part of my larger art books for kids series, which now includes many different drawing styles and themes. The goal across the entire series is the same: make drawing approachable, fun, and rewarding.
Across the series, kids can explore:
- Step-by-step drawing
- Tracing and coloring
- Grid-based drawing
- Open-ended creative challenges
Learning How to Draw a Lion is one small step in a much bigger creative journey.
Encouraging Screen-Free Creativity
Activities like this free lion drawing page are a great way to encourage creativity without screens. Sitting down with paper and a pencil gives kids a chance to slow down, focus, and create something tangible.
Learning How to Draw a Lion helps kids practice patience, fine motor skills, and creative thinking in a relaxed, enjoyable way.
About the Free Lion Drawing Page
The free activity page included with this post teaches How to Draw a Lion using the same step-by-step method found throughout How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2. Kids start with basic shapes and slowly build the drawing until the full character comes together.
On this page, kids will learn how to draw:
- The lion’s head and rounded face
- A simplified mane that frames the character
- Friendly eyes and a calm, happy expression
- A clean cartoon outline that’s easy to color
Free Activity Page (save and print):
Learning How to Draw a Lion this way helps kids stay focused and feel confident as they move from one step to the next. Each step adds just enough detail to keep the drawing interesting without feeling overwhelming.
This page is also great to print more than once. Many kids like to draw the lion again after finishing it the first time, changing colors, expressions, or even adding a background.
Learn to Draw 49 More Characters
Final Thoughts
I hope you and your young artist enjoy this free drawing page and have fun learning How to Draw a Lion step by step. The friendly cartoon style makes this a great activity for kids who love animals and want to build their drawing confidence.
If your child enjoys this page, How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2 includes many more characters to explore, all created using the same easy-to-follow approach.
Draw it 3 ways
Every FirstArtBooks theme comes in three formats. Trace it, draw it step by step, or copy it square by square: the more ways kids draw a character, the better they know it.
- How to Draw
Draw it step by stepYou’re on this pageSee all How to Draw books - Trace Then ColorTrace Then Color booksTrace it, then color itNo free page of this one yet. See the Trace Then Color books (ages 3+)
- Draw by GridDraw by Grid booksCopy it square by squareNo free page of this one yet. See the Draw by Grid books (ages 7+)
Fun facts about the real lion
- Lions are the only big cats that live in family groups, called prides.
- A lion's roar can be heard from miles away.
- Lions rest for most of the day and hunt mostly at dawn, dusk or night.
Draw your lion, then add one of these facts in a speech bubble or on the back of the page.
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw a snowy hill with a sled.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
It had never seen snow before, so…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your lion a name. Where does it live, and what does it love to do? Write two or three sentences.
Directed drawing and writing worksheets for this lesson: Lion Directed Drawing and Writing Worksheet, with a kindergarten, 1st grade and 2nd–3rd grade writing page.
Print a draw-and-write sheet: a box for the drawing and lines for the story. Primary lines (K–2) · Regular lines (grades 2–5)
Want to make it a whole story? Try the comic story starter or fold a mini-book in Story Studio.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- The head is too small for a cartoon look.
- Cartoon animals are cute because their heads are big. Make the head almost as big as the body.
- The eyes are too far apart.
- Keep the eyes close together near the middle of the face. Leave about one eye’s width between them.
- The legs don’t line up with the body.
- Draw the legs straight down from the bottom of the body, so the animal looks like it’s standing on the ground.
- Pressing hard from the very first step.
- Use light, sketchy lines first. You can erase them easily and go over the lines you keep at the end.
More in 10 common drawing mistakes kids make.
Talk about it
For the grown-up: ask one or two of these while your child draws. There are no wrong answers.
- Where does this animal live, and what does it eat?
- If this animal could talk, what would its voice sound like?
- Which part are you proudest of?
- What colors will you use, and why?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this lion drawing lesson for?
Ages 5 and up (about grades K to 2). Younger kids can follow along with a grown-up, one step at a time.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes, including time to pause the video. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
Pencil and eraser; paper, or the printed page; crayons, markers or colored pencils.
What size does it print?
US Letter (8.5 by 11 inches). Use Print this page or Download PDF above. On A4 paper, choose “Fit to page” in the print settings.
Can kids draw the lion without printing the page?
Yes. Draw on any paper and copy one step at a time from the screen, or pause the video after each step. Classroom mode shows one step at a time, full screen.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades K–2, about 15 minutes. Step-by-step drawing, easy level. The video does the teaching: press play and let students draw along.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students build drawing skills by following a sequence of steps.
- VA:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work: students add their own details, expressions and color to finish the character.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. Use classroom mode above to show one step at a time on your board. More in the teacher resources, the Animals hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Animal Drawing Pack
12 printable animal pages to draw, trace and color, sent with your welcome email. After that, Kevin’s newsletter brings new free pages and book news.
Take the idea into a book
Want more characters to draw, trace or color? Explore these related books and see which approach fits your next creative session.
How to Draw: Cool Stuff 2
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Trace Then Color: Cartoon Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 55 free animal drawing lessons and pages →
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