How to draw a lion? Body structure analysis and step by step instructions

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The lion is a regal animal with feline grace and a regal appearance. It is not surprising that many artists often turn to the image of this beast. Reliably drawing it is within the power of not only professional painters, but also those who have just begun to take their first steps in the field of fine arts.

How to draw a lion so that it looks like a realistic animal with the correct proportions? To do this, you can periodically call up in your head the image of an ordinary domestic cat. After all, this little prankster is in direct, albeit not very close, relationship with the royal person.

In this article we will tell you how to draw a full-length lion in two versions: cartoon and realistic. Both examples are designed for beginners in the field of art. Therefore, the lessons will show readers how to draw a lion in stages. This will make the process easier and more enjoyable. And people who decide to use the advice on how to draw a lion are very likely to be satisfied with the result of their labors. So let's get started.

We will start with the simplest task - how to draw a lion in a cartoon version. First you need to sketch out a trapezoid with rounded corners - the basis of the muzzle of the animal. Then add two circles-ears and an acute-angled trapezoid of a slightly smaller area - the body of the beast. After that, draw four semicircles at the base of the image (paws) and outline the location of the mane (red oval).

Now draw the royal hair, add the tail, erase all unnecessary lines and color the lion. Do not forget about the muzzle: a triangular nose, eyes and mouth. You can add a mustache, crown and other decorative elements at the request of the artist. The cartoon king of beasts is ready.

Let's move on to a more difficult task - how to draw a lion with a pencil in full growth in a realistic way. Just in this case, a pet walking by itself can come in handy. After all, it is here that the characteristic features of the structure of the body of the cat in general and the lion in particular will be noted.

So let's start by drawing two circles, one slightly larger than the other. In this case, the distance between them should be equal to half of the larger figure. Let's connect them with two lines: the top one will be almost horizontal, and the second one will go downhill from the larger circle to the smaller one. This is the specifics of the structure of the cat figure, which we will consider below. Next, sketch out the base of the muzzle and draw the paws. We form a clearer picture, add a neck, ears and tail.

Please note: if you decidedraw a lioness, it will be enough for you to stop at this stage, clearly drawing all the necessary lines and removing the extra ones. In order to depict not a queen, but a king, you just need to add a mane. Do not forget that it covers almost a third of the body of the animal, so do not skimp. Long hair reaches almost to the middle of the back and abdomen of the male.

Now a little more about the structure of large cats. The shoulder girdle of this graceful family is larger than the pelvic girdle, but the hind legs are longer than the front ones due to the hock joint. This applies to all cats, so, remembering such a simple fact, you can easily draw both a tiger and a cheetah in a similar way, only slightly changing some details. So, the tiger will be more massive than the king of beasts, and the cheetah will be lean and long-legged. This information will help you draw a lion realistically, even if you don't have step-by-step instructions at hand.