Learning to Draw Cartoon Lions

Cartoon Lions:

There are may different ways that you can draw your lions in cartoon form, yet there is so much to learn in the development of cartoon drawing.

I have a few examples of lion cartoons here drawn by other artists, and I want you to focus on the differences that can be brought out when creating your cartoon lions.

An art form within itself, you can pick up points and characteristics from real photos of lions and bring these points into your cartoons.

Are you wondering when you see a proud lion, just how you are going to turn such a prideful lion into a cartoon lion?

Where do you start....

Its not that when you draw cartoon lions  you need to bring out a comical edge to it, I have a couple of fine examples here so that you can see what I am getting at here.

This fine young lion is in cartoon form, his main features are exaggerated and dimensions have even changed.

Yet this little fellow still bristles with pride and in fact has a more serious side to him than some other cartoon styles.

Drawing Courtesy: Alex Jonas (Photos 1.0)

And that's what I want you to get used to in your mind, there are different styles of cartoon drawing.

So before you start to draw some cartoon lions, I want to to think what sort of style you are aiming for firstly, before you put pencil to paper.

Not only is this going to determine what sort of lion subject that you should be looking for in your photo, you need to decide what sort of reaction your want from your cartoon.

Cartoons have been around for a long time now, in fact cartoon magazines fetch a high price on the market these days, especially if you intend to buy a first-of-the-print magazine or very old cartoon magazine.

Cartoons in fact are serious stuff, and cartoonists become so good at their trade that they can just sit down and draw their lion cartoons from memory alone.

Drawing Courtesy: tuila

I am always amazed how these cartoon artists fast strokes of the pen bring forth their cartoons before our eyes.

Now this fellow here is quite a masterpiece, look how his head is so much bigger to his body, and those paws......

You wouldn't see a lion sitting down like this, but when you are drawing lions in cartoon form, anything goes.

What is the one main thing that an artist does to make a really good cartoon?

Can you answer this without thinking on it too much.

The cartoon artist takes what characteristics they can find in any animal, and not only animals. It could be anything, and exaggerates these features alone.

They don't necessarily change these features, otherwise the subject will not take on the intended likeness of its character and form.

They exaggerate!

And one such tip that I am going to give you here is.........

Seems as though we are concentrating on the lion here, lets work with him shall we.

OK, what are the main things when you think of a lion, their main features that naturally comes to mind? their strength, Ok, that's one.

Their big paws and claws, shaggy mane,  and angular nose.

With these main features, these are the ones that you will be focusing on changing when creating cartoon lions.

Other objects or animals all have their own distinct features that stand out.

Every one reads the newspapers, and what do you see.... "Politicians" they all have their own characteristics, and boy do the cartoonists exaggerate them to the fullest.

Work with your cartoon lions and see what you can come up with.

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