How to Draw a Mermaid (Easy Step by Step)
A mermaid is a fun drawing because she mixes a girl with a swishy fish tail. She is built from simple shapes: a big round dome for the hair, a round face with wavy bangs, a small wavy shell top, a waving arm, and a long curvy tail that ends in a fin. Kids can add their own twists, like a bigger fin or longer hair.
- Medium
- 15 minutes
- 8 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a mermaid step by step
How to Draw a Mermaid · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch this oval. It only shows where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase it at the end.
Step 2: The hair
Start with a big, tall rounded dome for the hair. On the left side, let the line flow down into one long, wavy lock that ends in a point. On the right side, draw a short curve that bends out and stops.
Step 3: Face and bangs
Inside the hair, draw a round face with a rounded chin at the bottom. Make the top of the face a wavy line for the bangs.
Step 4: Eye, smile and neck
Draw a round dot for the eye and a small curved smile. Add two short lines going down from the chin for the neck, with two tiny marks below them. Then draw a short slanted line on the right side where the hair lock goes down.
Step 5: Little shell top
Under the neck, draw a small wavy line for the top of the shell. Finish it with a short curve going up on the right side.
Step 6: Arm, tail and fin
On the left, draw a small curved line for the side of the body. On the right, draw a long, bendy arm that waves out and up, then keep going with a big curve down the right side of the tail. End with a rounded fin at the bottom.
Step 7: Left side of the tail
Draw a long, curvy line down the left side of the body. Let it swoop around the bottom of the tail and meet the fin.
Step 8: Tail scales
Add a few small marks on the tail for scales: two little curved smiles and one short wavy line. Keep them inside the tail.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your mermaid? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a fairy or how to draw a robot next.
Tips for drawing a mermaid
- Start the hair with a big light dome and let one long lock flow down on the left. If the two sides come out different, it just looks like windy hair.
- The tail is the trickiest part. Think of the letter C, and draw it slowly so the curve bends smoothly from the body into the fin.
- Draw the scales last, as a few small curved marks. Keep them on the tail only, and space them out so they do not get crowded.
Free mermaid coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this mermaid coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your mermaid drawing
Try a bright teal or purple tail with a pink shell top and golden or red hair. For a creative twist, color each scale a different shade so the tail looks like a rainbow.
Mermaid fun fact for kids
Sailors long ago told stories about mermaids, and some historians think those tales may have started when people saw manatees from far away. Manatees are gentle sea animals with round faces and wide paddle-shaped tails.
Questions about drawing a mermaid
What shapes do I need to draw a mermaid?
You need a big rounded dome for the hair, a round face with a wavy top for the bangs, a small wavy line for the shell top, and a long curved shape like the letter C for the body and tail. A small rounded flipper shape makes the fin.
How do I draw a mermaid tail that looks smooth?
Draw each side of the tail in one slow, curving line, like a big letter C, and finish at the fin. If it wobbles, try again lightly in pencil before going over it.
How do I make my mermaid look cuter?
Put the eye and smile low on the face and keep them small. Give her a big round head, long flowing hair, and a few scales on the tail.
