Lion Art: ‘Head of the Family’ A Pencil Drawing by Kevin Hayler

This post reveals the story behind my lion drawing. Learn how and why I chose to draw this striking portrait. I’ll walk you through my methods and explain the thinking behind each decision.

Read through this post if you’ve ever wondered how artists get inspired, plan a drawing, and turn their art into sales.

This is my pencil drawing of a male lion, shown from a head-on perspective. The focus is on the lion’s intense, forward-facing gaze and the fullness of his mane, which fills much of the composition.

The head is raised giving the classic lion pose.

The expression is calm but no-nonsense, with subtle detailing around the eyes and nose adding to the character of the expression. The mane is rendered with flowing, textured strokes, giving the drawing depth and movement.

The background is kept plain and dark, helping to push the lion forward and emphasizes the contrast in the fur and face.

The Story Behind This Lion Drawing

It’s a striking image of a male lion staring down his nose. There’s something about that stare, quiet strength with a touch of arrogance. It’s got presence, and that’s what people respond to.

I took the reference photo in a lion park just outside Harare, Zimbabwe. He wasn’t wild, but he was still in Africa, and that counts for something – maybe.

I got lucky with the timing. I was standing in the right place at the right time. Another lion roared in the distance, and this guy’s head snapped up with full attention. I took the photo and caught that moment, and that’s the look you see in the drawing.

A lot of people connect with this image for different reasons. Some just love lions. Some want it for a tattoo, and for some, it’s their zodiac sign.

Some people love the symbolism. It represents strength, identity, or in the case of some in the black community, the Lion of Judah. I’ve seen it speak to people in really personal ways.

Great Titles Sell an Image

I called this drawing ‘Head of the Family’ on purpose. People love buying it as a gift for their dad, usually with a wink and tongue-in-cheek. That’s the emotional hook.

Art isn’t just about how it looks, it’s about what it says. If a picture reminds someone of their family, their values, or traits, it’s halfway to being sold already.

I’ve drawn other lions too, including a lioness and her cub, but this one’s by far the most popular. It’s simple, bold, and confident. If you’re only going to draw one lion, make it a male portrait.

I’ve got a wealth of selling info if you need help selling from your own market pitch. Take a look

My Original Reference Photo

You’d think a drawing this popular would’ve been referenced from a great photo, but that wasn’t the case at all. The pose? Spot on. Classic lion, head held high, snooty, but the photo itself was poor.

The lighting was flat, the detail in the fur was lacking, and the colors are yuk. I really didn’t know what I was doing back then. This was taken in 1999

I drew this when I was still learning my craft, this was before I’d discovered the joys of using mechanical pencils. Instead, I leaned way too hard on scoring the paper to create the fur texture.

A few scored lines can work a wonders, but once you overdo it, the surface turns to mush. I kept going over the chest mane so much I nearly wore right through the paper. I stopped when I realised I couldn’t erase it anymore without risking the whole drawing.

At the time, I saw it as a bit of a failure, but the pose pulled it through. I sat on it for a while and eventually decided to print it. Turns out, that was the right call. People loved it, and it’s been one of my bestsellers ever since.

Just goes to show how artists are often far too critical of their own work.

‘Head of the Family’ A Framed Pencil Drawing of a Lion

Here’s how the drawing looks once it’s been professionally mounted and framed. It really lifts the image. I’ve used a narrow black frame paired with a broad off-white mount, and that combo works every time.

Having a generous border around the artwork gives it room to breathe and makes the whole piece feel more polished. It’s a simple setup, but it does the job perfectly.

‘Head of the Family’ Hanging on the Wall

Sometimes it’s hard to imagine how the art will look in the wall. These 4 mockups will give you a better idea. Hopefully you can see how black and white art adds a touch of class without clashing with any color scheme.

These are my essential drawing materials:

• Pentel Mechanical Pencils 0.3mm
• Derwent Graphic Drawing Pencils
• Daler-Rowney Heavyweight Cartridge Paper
• Jakar Battery Eraser
• Tombo Mono Eraser Pen
• Faber Castell Putty Eraser
• Blu Tack
• French Box Easel (A good portable alternative)

To find out why I use these drawing tools, read this: The Best Drawing Supplies

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