Step 6: Draw four lines under the body (two below each circle) as guides for the legs. Bend the lines near the middle and at the bottom to indicate where the joints and the feet will be. The lioness will be stepping forward , so the front line should angle down. The first guide line for the hind legs should extend back before it angles down. The guide line for the other hind leg should not angle back because the lioness is stepping forward.

Step 7: Draw a series of curved lines that connect the major shapes to form the rest of the lion's body. The two lines on the right side create the neck, and the lines in the middle make up the torso. Add a long, curved line on the left side of the body as a guide for the tail.

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.

Step 8: Lightly sketch the lion's eyes inside the head as two small circles. Place the circles slightly above the horizontal construction line and on either side of the vertical line. Draw the outer shape of the eye around the circles. Start by drawing a line over the circle. Add another line under the circle to create the left corner of the eye. Draw the right corner of the eye. This corner droops down toward the muzzle more. Darken the initial circle to create the shape of the iris.

For the eye on the right, first draw an angled line on top and on the left side of the circle. Then darken the initial circle to create the shape of the iris. Shade the space inside the eye around the iris using a dark value. Darken the area around the iris on the eye on the right as well. The eye on the right should be smaller because of the perspective.

Draw a tiny circle near the left side of the iris to represent glare and a dot in the middle for the lion's pupil. Draw the glare and the pupil inside the eye on the right too. Shade the inside of the irises except for the tiny circles. Use a very light value as you shade the irises. Draw a few lines around the eyes for the fur. Use quick, short strokes for a fur-like texture. For the eye on the right, draw a few lines up against its left edge to represent the bridge of the nose. Use a few quick, short strokes at the top and bottom too for the fur.

Step 9: Lightly sketch a triangle inside the small circle for the lion's nose. Place the triangle between the vertical construction line and the edge of the circle for the head. When you get the placement and shape right, darken the top part of the nose. Draw two thick lines on either side that extend outside of the shape to create the nostrils. Darken the bottom corner of the nose and add a small slit at the tip. Make the nostrils thicker. Notice the line that extends from each nostril and curves up above the nose.