Lion Coloring Page (3 of 4)

Warm colors suit the coat best. Lay down gold and tan first, then work in some reddish brown, and let the mane go darker toward the roots so it gains depth. A soft shadow under the muzzle is often all it takes to bring the face alive. None of this is fixed, so color it the way that pleases you.

About the Lion

The lion is one of the few cats that lives in a group. A pride is built around related females who hunt together and raise their young side by side, while the males, with their heavy manes, mostly guard the territory. A male's mane tends to darken as he ages, and it is read by other lions as a sign of his condition.

Across many parts of the world the lion has come to mean courage and dignity. In Japan the same idea appears in the stone guardian lions outside shrines and in the lively lion dance, performed at New Year and festivals to wish for good health and to drive bad luck away. That image of a brave, watchful protector is familiar to people of every generation.

Benefits as a Coloring & Brain Training Activity

A lion is a satisfying subject precisely because of the mane. Filling it in strand by strand asks for a steady hand and a bit of focus, and layering warm tones to give the fur some depth is good, gentle exercise for the fingers. Many people find the repetition quietly calming, and the finished sheet is bold enough to be worth framing.