Mermaids combine two things kids love: magic and the ocean. Mermaid pages are full of chances to try new techniques.
Shimmering tails
- Color the tail in two or three blended colors, like teal into purple.
- Add small U-shaped scales with a darker color or fine marker.
- Leave tiny white highlights for shine.
See coloring fur, scales and metal and adding highlights.
Flowing hair
Color hair in long, curving strokes that follow the waves. Mermaid hair can be any color, including ocean blues and sunset oranges.
Every kind of mermaid
Mermaids can have any skin tone and any hair color or texture. See skin tones in coloring for tips on mixing skin colors.
Underwater backgrounds
- Wavy blue water with light rays from above
- Seaweed, coral and shells
- Bubbles with white highlights
- Sea friends from Trace Then Color: Fish, Sea Creatures and More
Pages to try
- Trace Then Color: Mermaids, Unicorns and Other Cute Stuff
- The Mermaids, Unicorns and Other Cute Stuff Coloring and Activity Book, which adds mazes, word searches and drawing pages
Mermaid activities
- Name your mermaid and her sea pet
- Draw a treasure chest
- Write about an underwater adventure
Watercolor pencils are perfect for underwater scenes. See watercolor pencils for kids.
Questions parents ask
What age are mermaid pages for?
Simple mermaids for preschoolers, detailed scales and scenes for older kids.
How do you make mermaid tails look shiny?
Blend colors, add scale lines and leave white highlights.
Are there boy mermaids?
Yes, they’re often called mermen. Kids can draw and color either.
About Kevin Coulston
Kevin Coulston is a cartoonist and member of the National Cartoonists Society who has written and illustrated more than 100 drawing, tracing and coloring books for kids, including the Trace Then Color series. Meet Kevin or browse all his books on FirstArtBooks.com.
