Lion Running, 2023

9 × 12 inches

Color pencil on paper

This whimsical color pencil drawing depicts a lion standing calmly amid dense green foliage, its body striped with warm ochres and browns and its tail gently lifted in a soft arc. The lion’s face is rounded and expressive, meeting the viewer with a gentle, almost playful gaze and an open, smiling mouth. Rather than evoking ferocity, the animal radiates friendliness and quiet confidence, as if fully at home within its lush surroundings.

Rendered entirely in colored pencil, the drawing is rich in texture and color layering. Saturated greens frame the lion’s warm, earthy tones, while the visible pencil grain gives the surface a tactile, hand-crafted quality. The stylized anatomy and simplified forms lend the piece a folk-art sensibility, balancing strength with tenderness and humor.

Part of Amalia’s ongoing mythic-animal universe, The Lion Who Smiled Back reflects her recurring exploration of animals as emotional presences rather than symbols of dominance. This original, one-of-a-kind drawing will appeal to collectors drawn to narrative imagery, gentle symbolism, and works that carry a quiet joy beneath their bold color.

– Original color pencil drawing

– Size: 9 × 12 inches

– Signed by the artist

– Ships flat with archival protection

– Certificate of authenticity included

A compact yet character-rich work, full of warmth and personality.