Inside: How to Draw a Mermaid Tail in 10 Simple Steps.
Hello Artists! Today we are drawing a Mermaid tail!
Everyone I know has always wondered what it would be like to be a mermaid.
There is just something so magical about being able to swim like a sea creature.
To see clearly and to breathe underwater would be such an amazing thing. Being down there is like living in a different world!
Though imagining what it would be like to be a mermaid seems like something you’d do in your childhood, I and many people I know still think about it today whenever we’re around water.
No shame in my imagination game!
I imagine I’d have a grand tail with blue and purple tones.
So I thought I’d make that idea a reality, at least on paper.
For this drawing, I was inspired by our Beta fish, Booba. His tail is so big he can hardly swing it around at feeding time. He is beautiful!
Supplies You’ll Need:
- Paper
- Pencil
- Eraser
- Colored pencil or crayons
Artist tip: When drawing knowing what kind of space you have to work with is very important.
To get a good idea of this, put a small light dot in the center of your paper. It does not have to be perfectly centered, so don’t worry about it.
How to draw a mermaid tail with easy shapes
Let’s get started, draw a dot in the middle of your paper:
1. First, from that dot, draw a curved line down to one side.
2. Next, draw another curved line on the other side of the dot.
3. From the first curved line draw another line, end it above the dot, but not as far in.
4. Repeat on the other side.
5. From the end of these lines draw lines curved outwards reaching the top of the page…
Outline the bottom of a mermaid body
OR if you are adding this to a mermaid, end this at their midsection.
6. In the middle of the tail, where the indent is, make 2 lines come together at a point.
7. From this area, draw curved flowy lines down making separate sections of the tail.
8. Repeat on the other side.
9. Now for the scale detail. Scalloped lines across the tail area. One row at a time! Have them get smaller as they get toward the tail area.
How to color a mermaid tail
10. The Best Part: COLOR!
You can choose any color, you’re the artist! Just sit for a moment and imagine what kind of tail you think you’d have…and bring it to life!
I love the look of iridescence on a tail and created that with a mix of purple and pink.
Artist tip: to create the flowy texture, have the pencil extend past the tail in a few areas.
Don’t worry about staying in the lines and add a few colors to make it more interesting!
There you go, you have finished your mermaid tail!
Does it fulfill that childhood dream, at least a little? Mine definitely did.
You can practice this as many times as you like, with each new draft I bet your work will get better and better.
Let’s see what else we can draw together…how about a Dog Paw, or a Rainbow?