Learn How to Draw A Mermaid in 6 Easy Steps
Draw this mermaid in 6 easy steps with a pencil and eraser. It takes about 15 minutes and works for ages 5 and up. Print the free step-by-step page below, or draw along with the video. The page comes from Kevin Coulston’s book How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff.
- Step-by-step drawing
- Ages 5+
- Grades K–2
- Easy
- About 15 min with the video
You’ll need
- Pencil and eraser
- Paper, or the printed page
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils
You’ll practice
- Breaking a drawing into simple shapes
- Following steps in order
- Adding your own details
Free Activity Page from How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff — Learn How to Draw A Mermaid
Today I’m excited to share a brand-new free activity page straight from my book How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff. This page walks young artists step-by-step through How to Draw A Mermaid, making it a perfect creative activity for kids who love magical characters, fantasy themes, and drawing something fun and whimsical.
If your child has ever looked at a mermaid and wondered how artists bring these characters to life, this free page gives them an easy, friendly introduction. With simple shapes, clear steps, and a cute design, it’s one of the most approachable ways to learn How to Draw A Mermaid at home.
Watch it being drawn
Watch the pencil draw it one step at a time, then grab a pencil and try it yourself.
Watch the video lesson
Prefer to draw along? Press play and pause after each step.
About the Book: How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff
This free page is just a small sample of what’s inside the book. How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff is one of my most popular titles because it combines several favorite themes into a single drawing experience. Mermaids, unicorns, food characters, cute creatures, magical beings—you’ll find all kinds of fun and imaginative subjects inside.
Every drawing in the book is created using the same six-step method featured on today’s page. Kids start with simple shapes and gradually build up their drawing until they have a finished character. This method is what makes learning How to Draw A Mermaid, or any other character in the book, approachable for artists as young as five years old.
All artwork in the book is hand-drawn by me—no AI-generated art, no clipart, no shortcuts. I design each character from scratch to make sure the drawings are friendly, expressive, and perfect for kids learning the fundamentals of cartooning.
Why Kids Love Learning How to Draw A Mermaid
There’s something timeless about mermaids. They’re imaginative, magical, and spark curiosity in kids of all ages. But when you combine that with a guided, step-by-step drawing page, it becomes even more engaging.
Kids love this mermaid drawing page because:
- The steps are simple and not overwhelming
- The ponytail hairstyle and friendly face make the character approachable
- The flowy mermaid tail is fun to draw and decorate
- They get to practice a variety of shapes and curves
- They end up with a finished design that looks “real”
When kids realize they can follow the steps and learn How to Draw A Mermaid successfully, that confidence carries over to other drawings in the book.
A Great Screen-Free Creative Activity
Parents often tell me how valuable these drawing pages are as a screen-free option. Learning How to Draw A Mermaid gives kids something absorbing to do that doesn’t rely on devices or apps. It encourages focus, builds fine-motor skills, and keeps them genuinely engaged.
Whether your child is working independently or drawing alongside you, these pages make it easy to reconnect with simple, cheerful creativity.
Part of a Larger Series of Drawing Books
How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff is part of my larger “How to Draw” series, which now includes dozens of themed drawing books—everything from dinosaurs and animals to monsters, robots, aliens, food characters, and holiday themes.
Browse All 80+ Drawing Books for Kids
Each book uses the same six-step drawing format and hand-drawn artwork, making them easy for beginners and fun for kids who just love drawing.
So if your child enjoys today’s free page and wants to continue learning How to Draw A Mermaid or try similar characters, this book is a natural next step. And if they’re excited to explore even more themes, there’s a whole library of drawing books waiting for them.
About the Free Mermaid Drawing Page
This free drawing activity guides kids through How to Draw A Mermaid in six easy-to-follow steps. On the page, the mermaid has a playful ponytail hairstyle, expressive eyes, and the classic mermaid tail that kids instantly recognize. She’s designed in my signature style—fun, rounded, kid-friendly shapes that are simple yet full of charm.
The steps start with basic shapes that help kids understand proportions and placement. From there, each additional step builds on the last, eventually forming the complete mermaid. Kids learn structure, layering, and how to create a full character one small piece at a time.
By the end, they’ll have drawn a finished mermaid they can proudly show off. This is why kids respond so strongly to these pages—when they follow the simple steps, they get a result they’re excited about. That’s the heart of learning How to Draw A Mermaid in a way that feels encouraging rather than intimidating.
Free Activity Page (save and print):
Closing Thoughts
This free step-by-step page is a great introduction to learning How to Draw A Mermaid in a simple, enjoyable way. It shows kids that they can create something magical by following just a handful of steps—no artistic background required, just curiosity and a pencil.
If your child has fun drawing this mermaid, I think they’ll absolutely love the full book. It’s packed with more cute characters, more imaginative themes, and more opportunities for kids to discover what they can create.
Draw it 3 ways
Every FirstArtBooks theme comes in three formats. Trace it, draw it step by step, or copy it square by square: the more ways kids draw a character, the better they know it.
- How to Draw
Draw it step by stepYou’re on this pageSee all How to Draw books - Trace Then Color
Trace Then Color A Cute MermaidThe same character · Ages 3+See all Trace Then Color books - Draw by GridDraw by Grid booksCopy it square by squareNo free page of this one yet. See the Draw by Grid books (ages 7+)
Finished? Draw the scene next
- Add a background: draw an underwater palace with shells.
- Write one line under your picture to finish this story:
The queen gave it a secret mission to…
That’s a picture book page. Draw two more and you have a whole story.
Draw it, then write about it
Give your mermaid a name and a job. What makes it happy, and what makes it grumpy? Write two or three sentences.
Print a draw-and-write sheet: a box for the drawing and lines for the story. Primary lines (K–2) · Regular lines (grades 2–5)
Want to make it a whole story? Try the comic story starter or fold a mini-book in Story Studio.
Common mistakes and quick fixes
- The horn or tail is too small.
- The horn and the tail are the magic part, so make them big and bold.
- The hair or mane is one solid blob.
- Draw it in a few wavy sections, like ribbons, instead of one big shape.
- It looks plain once it’s colored.
- Add sparkles, stars or a rainbow pattern in the mane, tail or wings.
- Pressing hard from the very first step.
- Use light, sketchy lines first. You can erase them easily and go over the lines you keep at the end.
More in 10 common drawing mistakes kids make.
Talk about it
For the grown-up: ask one or two of these while your child draws. There are no wrong answers.
- What magic power does this character have?
- Where would you go if you could ride on its back for a day?
- Which part are you proudest of?
- What colors will you use, and why?
More ideas in 25 questions to ask kids about their art.
Questions about this drawing lesson
What age is this mermaid drawing lesson for?
Ages 5 and up (about grades K to 2). Younger kids can follow along with a grown-up, one step at a time.
How long does it take?
About 15 minutes, including time to pause the video. Kids who add their own details or a background often keep going longer.
What supplies do you need?
Pencil and eraser; paper, or the printed page; crayons, markers or colored pencils.
What size does it print?
US Letter (8.5 by 11 inches). Use Print this page or Download PDF above. On A4 paper, choose “Fit to page” in the print settings.
Can kids draw the mermaid without printing the page?
Yes. Draw on any paper and copy one step at a time from the screen, or pause the video after each step. Classroom mode shows one step at a time, full screen.
For teachers: grade, timing and standards
Grades K–2, about 15 minutes. Step-by-step drawing, easy level. The video does the teaching: press play and let students draw along.
National Core Arts Standards (visual arts)
- VA:Cr2 Organize and develop artistic ideas and work: students build drawing skills by following a sequence of steps.
- VA:Cr3 Refine and complete artistic work: students add their own details, expressions and color to finish the character.
See every lesson by standard, plus the math in grid drawing, on the arts standards map.
Copies: print as many as your class needs. Use classroom mode above to show one step at a time on your board. More in the teacher resources, the Unicorns & Mermaids hub and our no-prep sub plans.
Get the free Unicorns, Mermaids and Mashups Pack
12 printable unicorn, mermaid and mashup pages to draw, trace and color, sent with your welcome email. After that, Kevin’s newsletter brings new free pages and book news.
Take the idea into a book
Want more characters to draw, trace or color? Explore these related books and see which approach fits your next creative session.
How to Draw: Mermaids, Unicorns, and Other Cute Stuff
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
How to Draw: Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →
Trace Then Color: Cartoon Food Monsters
By Kevin Coulston
Explore this book →More like this: all 7 free unicorn and mermaid drawing lessons and pages →
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