Last updated: August 05, 2024 by the Homemade Gifts Coloring Team
Are you captivated by the grace and majesty of the king of the jungle? I don’t know about you, but I think lions are so cool. These powerful predators are also beautiful and entrancing. But it’s a little dangerous trying to get close to an actual lion. Instead, try out these printable lion coloring pages for kids and adults alike.
You can color a majestic, realistic lion surveying “all the light touches,” or have fun coloring in a cartoony baby lion. Choose from roaring lions, lion cubs, or an entire lion pride. Our lion coloring pages cover it all so you can feel like the king of the jungle yourself.
Cute Lion Coloring Pages for Kids
These lion cubs and lion prides are too cute to pass up. Our lion coloring pages for kids include baby lions, cartoon lions, and so much more.
Realistic Lion Coloring Pages for Adults
Take on a more challenging lion coloring page with these realistic and detailed images for adults. These kitties definitely have claws!
Lions in Myths, Legends, and Culture
So much has been made of lions. As a result, we have many misconceptions about them. Keep reading to learn what most of us get wrong about lions, as well as where you might find lions in myths and pop culture.
No Kings or Queens
We think of lions as the “king of the jungle,” but that’s wrong on a couple fronts. First off, there is no lion king – or queen. Lion prides are actually pretty equitable. You won’t find lions pulling rank against each other or placing one lion in charge of all the rest. And when it comes to hunting, male lions seem to do just as much work as female lions. Everyone has to pull their own weight in the lion pride.
No Jungles Either
Sorry, there’s no jungle either, not in the way we typically think about jungles. Lions tend to live in scrubland, grasslands, savannahs, and rocky hills. Those are all a far cry from densely wooded jungles. One theory is that this misconception stems from the root of the word “jungle,” which comes from the Hindi word “jangle.” But while “jangle” can mean a forest or wasteland, the English word “jungle” evokes something different.
Egyptian Lion Gods
The Egyptians featured lions frequently in their myths. You might recognize the cat goddess Bastet. She started out as a lioness warrior and was worshiped throughout Egyptian history. But there are more. The Egyptians also honored Aker, a double-lion deity who helps guard the sun at night, and Bes, who had the face of a lion.
The Greek Chimera and Griffon
The Greeks had their own lion myths, of course. You have probably seen many images of a mighty chimera, which had the body of a lion, the tail of a serpent, and the head of a goat. Or maybe you remember coming across a griffon, which also had the body of a lion, but the head and wings of an eagle. Try imagining roaring lions, but with goat and eagle heads! Or what about a whole lion pride of these fearsome creatures? No wonder the Greeks told so many stories about them.
Other Pop Culture Lions
Pop culture has given us many examples of baby lions and lion prides that we’ve come to love. Who among us didn’t love Simba from “The Lion King” when growing up? Many say he was inspired by another cartoon lion, Kimba the White Lion, which was a baby lion from a 1950s Japanese manga.
Then there are adult lions like Aslan from “The Chronicles of Narnia” and the Cowardly Lion from “The Wizard of Oz.” These lions inspired us just as much as the cute lion cubs of our animated films. Which pop culture lion was your favorite growing up?
Using Your Lion Coloring Pages
Let’s make the most of your beautiful new lion coloring pages! Here’s a few tips for getting crafty with your new lion pride.
Learn About Colors to Make Your Lions Shine
Don’t pick any old colors for your baby lion and adult lion coloring pages. Learning just a little about colors can really enhance how your lion coloring page looks in the end. For example, you could learn all about red and purple so that you can color in interesting and beautiful scenery around your lion. Or learn about complementary colors in general so you know what to mix and how to mix it. We have guides on mixing all kinds of colors, including blue and green, orange and blue, and red and green.
Don’t Worry About the Rules
That said, don’t stress about the rules. Whether you’re coloring a cute cartoon lion cub or a realistic adult roaring lion, just have fun! The rules can be helpful if you want to learn more about colors, but you don’t ultimately have to follow them. If you want a purple lion or a blue lioness or an orange lake, that’s up to you! Your lion coloring pages don’t need to perfectly mirror real life, so don’t hold yourself back.
Display Your Lion Pride
Once you’re done, display your lion pride by hanging up all your creations. You can put them on the fridge or add them to a scrapbook. Maybe you even want to cut out your favorite lions so they fit in a journal. Some people go the extra mile and make ornaments, magnets, and bookmarks out of their coloring pages. In all of these situations, you can simply cut your lion coloring page down to size, attach a sturdy backing, and seal it with something like Mod Podge.
Elephant Coloring Pages
If you’re looking for more cute safari animal coloring pages and free printables, take a peek at our collection of elephant coloring sheets!
More Fun Coloring Pages for Kids and Adults
Want to keep the coloring fun going? We have tons more coloring pages for kids and adults alike. See which ones catch your eye.
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