How to Draw Pretty Mermaid Fins

Draw complex, beautiful mermaid fins.

When most people think of mermaid fins, they think of the standard fishtail look that involves two connected almond-shaped fins. If you are drawing a picture of a mermaid, give her beautiful fins that step away from the "norm." Using your own creativity, create pretty fins that are more ornate and feminine. When drawing pretty mermaid fins, think of elaborate, dainty jewelry or jewelry seen in fantasy films and stories. Jewelry like silver filagree is a great reference to use when drawing gorgeous mermaid fins.

Instructions

1. Draw a light outline of two connecting almond shapes to create a standard fishtail fin at the end of the mermaid's tail. Draw additional connected almond shapes if you would like the mermaid's tail to have more than two fins.

2. Connect curls, wispy lines or additional length to the fishtail that extend past the almond-shaped outlines. Make ornamental lines as large or as complex as you desire. Do not be afraid to change the underlying almond shape of the fin.

3. Elaborate on the curls or other ornaments, making them thicker or thinner and more complex. Erase any lines that you do not want from the original almond-shaped fishtail.

4. Draw oval or teardrop shapes inside the mermaid fins to represent holes or open spots on the fin. This makes the fin look more complex and fragile.

5. Draw light, sketchy lines beginning from the base of the tail to the tip of each fin to represent fin veins. This gives the fins a more realistic look by adding texture.