Lion Mandala Coloring Page

In this lion mandala coloring page, the mane is the mandala. A calm, front facing lion looks straight out from the center. Around the face, rings of pointed locks swirl in the same direction, like a pinwheel. There are 20 locks in each ring, and the rings overlap, so the mane seems to spin. Inner locks hold a small leaf shape, and outer ones carry a long stripe. The face has a lotus pattern on the forehead, a diamond between the brows, leaf marks on the cheeks, and rows of whisker dots. Rosettes with beads fill the corners, and paw prints and stars sit at the top and bottom.

It suits ages 9 and up. Most people will need about an hour, and it is a favorite style for teens who like bold animal art.

How the mane works

Each ring leans a little to the right. That lean is what gives the mane its motion. If you color the rings in one sweep, turning the paper as you go, you will feel it spin under your hand.

Think of the mane as four steps. The ring next to the face is the darkest, then each ring out gets lighter, and the tips are nearly yellow. That simple fade is all it takes to give the head some depth.

Palettes for a lion mandala coloring page

Golden hour is the natural pick. Use brown near the face, then orange, gold and pale yellow at the edge. The face stays a warm yellow. That is what our colored sample does, with a soft peach page.

Fire is a fun one. Run red, orange and yellow from the tips inward, then put a dark red ring next to the face. Teens tend to like this one.

For a cool lion, try a moonlit mane in deep blue, purple and silver, with a pale gray face. Add one bright touch, such as gold eyes, and the look comes together.

Getting the face right

• Do the eyes first. Leave a tiny white spot in each so the lion looks alive.
• Color the nose in a dark rose or brown, and shade its lower edge.
• Keep the muzzle pale. It should be the lightest part of the face.
• Add a little orange under the brows and along the sides of the nose.
• Use a soft touch on the forehead petals, so the pattern stays light.

If you use markers, test them on a scrap first. Yellow can pick up dark ink and drag it across the page, so color pale areas before dark ones nearby.

Lion facts from the zoo

The Smithsonian's National Zoo says lions live in groups of related females called prides. A pride can have from several to about 40 members, along with one or more males. Females are the main hunters and they raise the cubs. Adult males have shaggy manes that can be anywhere from blond to black, so a dark ring on your page is true to life. A roar can carry up to five miles. Apart from a small group in India's Gir Forest, wild lions live in Africa. Read more on the National Zoo lion page.

Something to do afterward

Turn your finished page into a mask for pretend play. Cut around the outer locks, cut out the eyes with an adult's help, and tape on a craft stick for a handle.

Teachers can use this for a short writing task. Ask students to list three words for how the lion looks, then three for how it might sound. Those words can start a poem. Since a roar can carry five miles, a class can also map what lies five miles from school.

Keep the animals coming

Next to this lion mandala coloring page, try the owl mandala coloring page for another wise looking face. If you want more swirl and less fur, the sun mandala coloring page has a similar ring of rays.

Questions