As for digital users, you can either draw on your line art layer or create a third layer and place it at the very top of your layer’s panel. On that layer, you can do draw in all your shadows and details.
How To Draw An Easy Mermaid Step by Step
I want to teach you how to draw an easy mermaid! If you are familiar with my work, you will know that I love to draw mermaids! You can view all my mermaid illustrations on my main Instagram account @dreampigment. You can say that I am a mermaid expert. And I want to share with you my mermaid drawing tips and tricks. This tutorial is for anyone who wants to learn how to draw an easy mermaid. This design is simple compared to my other mermaids. But I have a more challenging lesson on my website if you are interested in learning. You can view that fun tutorial on my main website at dreampigment.com! On that note, let’s learn how to draw an easy mermaid!
Step 2: Dominant Detail of the Mermaid
Next, you will want to sketch out some of the dominant detail: such as the hair, ears, arms, and fins. Keep the mermaid arms simple; use macaroni-like shapes and a tiny circle for her thumb. As for the fins, these look like leaves from a tree or plant. You can also use the same shape for her bangs. Use “C” like shapes for her ears. The Ponytail is a combination of “S” like curves.
Step 3: Draw The Mermaid’s Eyes, Bra, and the Top of the Tail.
Once you have sketched out some of the mermaid’s dominant detail, draw out the mermaid’s eyes, bra, and the top of the tail. The features on her face are super simple; illustrate an emoticon on your mermaid’s head. For the top of her fishtail, draw a “V” contour for her waist. Lastly, sketch her bra with teardrop-like shapes on its side.
Get Your Tools Ready
First things first: having the right tools is key to ensuring your mermaid sketch comes to life. Without the proper equipment, even the most skilled artist would struggle. Here’s what you’ll need:
Choosing the Right Pencil
Not all pencils are created equal. For beginner mermaid drawings, it’s easy to start with an HB or 2B pencil. These are versatile and perfect for sketching your initial outline without leaving heavy marks. As you gain confidence, you can explore with softer pencils like 4B or 6B for darker lines and shading.
Finding the Perfect Sketchbook
Your sketchbook is like your personal art studio—it’s where your mermaid will come to life. Look for a sketchbook with medium-weight paper that can handle erasures and shading. Brands like Moleskine and Strathmore have sketchbooks that are tried and tested by many artists.
Selecting Erasers and Sharpeners
Finally, don’t forget about erasers and sharpeners. A good eraser is your best friend when it comes to correcting mistakes. A kneaded eraser is great for lightening lines without completely erasing them. For sharpeners, a standard one will do the job, but you might consider a long point sharpener for more precise lines.
Now that you have your tools ready, the real fun can begin. In the next section, we’ll start with basic shapes to create the foundation of your mermaid drawing.
Start with Basic Shapes
When it comes to beginner mermaid drawings, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by intricate details. But every complex drawing starts with simple shapes. Breaking your mermaid down into basic shapes lets you focus on proportion and structure before you dive into the details.
Drawing the Head
Begin by sketching a circle for the head. Don’t worry about it being perfect—this is just your guide. Once you have the circle, you can add a cross inside it. The horizontal line represents where the eyes will go, and the vertical line helps align the nose and mouth.
Sketching the Body
Moving on to the body, imagine it as a combination of rectangles and triangles. Draw a small rectangle under the head for the neck. For the torso, think of an elongated triangle with the top cut off. Remember, mermaids are known for their graceful, flowing figures, so feel free to add curves to your shapes.
Outlining the Tail
The tail might seem tricky, but it’s just a big, elongated ‘S’ shape. The top of the ‘S’ starts at the waist and the bottom ends in a classic mermaid fin, which you can shape like a spread-out fan or a wide ‘W’. This part is all about creativity—feel free to make your tail as long, short, wide, or narrow as you like.
Now that you have your basic shapes, you’re ready to start adding details to bring your mermaid to life. Let’s start with the face, then move on to the tail and hair.
Add Details to Your Mermaid
Now that we’ve laid the foundation with basic shapes, it’s time to breathe life into your mermaid drawing. Details are what transform your collection of shapes into a stunning mermaid. So, let’s start sculpting our mermaid’s face, tail, and hair with fascinating details.
Designing the Face
Start by adding oval shapes inside the head for the eyes along the horizontal line. For the nose, a simple line or dot in the middle of the vertical line will do. As for the mouth, a curved line beneath the nose creates a serene expression. Remember, when it comes to beginner mermaid drawings, easy does it. You don’t need to go into extreme detail—just enough to express your mermaid’s personality.
Adding Scales to the Tail
The tail is where your mermaid drawing truly shines. Begin by drawing curved lines down the length of the tail, creating the illusion of segments. Then, fill each segment with small ‘U’ or ‘V’ shapes to represent scales. Remember, the scales don’t have to be perfectly uniform. In fact, a little variation makes your mermaid seem more lifelike.
Creating Flowing Hair
Mermaid hair is all about movement. Start by deciding which direction the hair will flow. Then, draw long, wavy lines from the head to show the hair’s path. Fill in the path with more lines to create thickness and volume. Again, don’t strive for perfection. The aim is to capture the wild, free spirit of the sea.
Adding details to your mermaid is a thrilling step. It’s where your creation truly starts to sparkle with life. Once you’re satisfied with the details, we’ll move on to shading and highlighting to add depth and realism to your masterpiece.
