This lesson will break down the steps to draw a “Portrait of a Lion” in Charcoal with a colored background. The steps are very simular to the “Portrait of a Wolf.” The Grid is altered to include the bigger features of a Lion.
Step 1- Using an HB, 2B, B, or F draw a horizontal line above the halfway mark on the paper. Draw 2 vertical lines, about 2 inches apart from center, around 2 1/2 inches down. Mark where the center is and cross the lines making a wide X, making sure the lines cross in the center.
Step 2- Mark the width of the Eyes on the Hortizontal Line and mark the spot you will start drawing the Eyes on the Vertical Lines. Make sure the marks are even on both sides. Begin the Eyes by drawing a slightly curved line beginning on the Vertical mark and ending on the Horizontal line. Notice the shapes, marked with an X, or the Negative Space makes. Try to match these shapes. If they are too small, you may have drawn your curve rounder instead of wider.
Step 3- Draw the bottom curve of the Lion’s Eyes. Make sure the Eyes are not too small or too rounded.
Step 4- Draw wide curves (like parenthesis) on both sides where the grid made an X. This is going to become the muzzle of the Lion. Notice the curves do not touch the X and are wide.
Step 5- Draw a wide curve below the X. Notice the curve does not extend past the width of the points at the bottom of the X. Also, make sure the curve is not to round or pointy and the distance from the the X is not too close or too far. Hold up your drawing, look at it, and make any adjustments.
Step 6- Draw a very wide circle around the top and sides of the Lion’s head. Stop before you reach the bottom, where the mouth is. You are going to complete the circle by drawing a straight line through the center of the X and only begin curving up, to complete the circle of the head, after your line passes the curves you had drawn for the muzzle. *Notice how the circle looks flat on the bottom and how it connects to the rounded part of the head. Next, draw the Ears. Keep an eye on the spacing and size of the Ears.
Step 7- Draw the Mane.
Step 8- Draw Zig Zags curving downward, like hair falls, on the Mane.
Step 10- Draw the base of the Ears, like the bottom of a cylinder.
Step 11- Draw the Nose by closing the top part of the X. Make sure the line curves in, in the middle. Erase the line going through the center of the X.
Step 12- Draw the bridge of the Nose. The shape looks like 2 wide parenthesis that curve inwards, at the Eyes where they connect.
Step 13- Lightly sketch in Hair. Curve the X shape, below the nose, to form the Mouth. *Notice the facial features of the Lion being defined. (Eyebrows, Cheek bones, Shape of Face)
Step 14- You are now ready to use Charcoal. Before you begin, use a Kneaded Eraser to pick up extra Graphite on your drawing, leaving an imprint of your Lion. If you have a lot of Graphite left on your drawing, the Charcoal will not be able to cover that area. I am using a 4B General’s Charcoal Pencil for the drawing. Outline the Eyes with the Charcoal Pencil making the Lines really thick, like Eyeliner. Fill in the Tear Ducts and block out areas that will be the Highlights on the Lion’s Eyes. Make sure the Highlights are not placed in the center. If you place the Highlights in the center of the Eyes, it will look like the Lion’s Pupils and make the Eyes look creepy.
Step 15- Draw and fill in the Pupil of the Eyes. Look at the placement of the Pupil and the Shape is round not oval. Make sure you don’t cover over the Highlights you blocked out for the Eyes. Next, draw the spokes on the Iris. Make sure the direction of the lines rotate around the Pupil, like sun rays. Use a Stump to make the Charcoal lines solid around the Eyes and Pupil. Clean the Stump, with your Kneaded Eraser prior to going over the spokes on the Iris. It is important you don’t make the Iris a solid Value. It is important to see highlights on the Iris to make it glow. If you make the Iris solid, by mistake, use your Kneaded Eraser, shaped, to pop out Highlights on the Iris of the Lion’s Eyes. After you complete the Eyes, draw lines above and below the Eyes with slanted Feathered Hatching around the lines. Soften them with a Stump.
Step 16- Draw a small V at the base of the Nose. Trace the line that you drew for the top of the Nose. Next, draw the Nostrils beginning at the V, curve inwards, and stop before the top line of the Nose. Draw a small line in the middle of the V. Complete the Nostrils and fill them in, making them solid. Trace the Mouth and use a Stump to make the Charcoal solid. Clean the Stump and lightly fill in the Nose. *Make sure the Nose is not a solid Value and has Highlights.
Step 17- Sketch the Mane using Feathered Strokes with your Charcoal Pencil. To make the areas under the Mouth darker, overlap Feathered Strokes. *Notice the shape of the Chin is square and the Feathered Strokes flow downward on the outside and inside of the Mane. Look at the wide V shape of Hair on the top of the Lions head between the Ears.
Step 18- Add the Hair/Shadow under the Mouth. Make short dashes downward on the bridge of the Nose. The short hair on the Nose will be Rendered using light circular strokes. Add additional layers of the Mane, making it look fuller. Notice how the body of the Lion is implied on the left side. Some Students chose not to put an “implied body” on their Lion. Instead made the “Portrait of a Lion” just the Head of a Lion. It is a creative choice, as an Artist, and looks great either way. Make sure the hair of the Mane falls in downward feathered or Zig Zag Strokes. Draw the Whiskers on the Muzzle by Stippling. Adjust Values and add Highlights on the Nose, Muzzle, Cheeks, and Mane using your 4B Charcoal Pencil and a White Charcoal Pencil. Hold up your Lion and look for any needed adjustments.
Step 19- Add a colored background using Woodless Colored Pencils. Sharpen the pencils and rub in the color using Circular Strokes with tissue. I used an Orange, Red, and Yellow Woodless Colored Pencils. You can use many different color combinations, for your background, to set a mood or feeling to your Artwork.