How to Draw Mermaid Ariel: Easy 20-Step Guide for Kids

Draw a light circle to serve as the base for Ariel's face. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure very light here; this is just a guide that we will erase later, so don't press too hard!

Extend a smooth, curved line from the circle to form the chin. Teacher's Tip: Think of this shape like a rounded 'V'. It gives Ariel her signature youthful look.

Draw curved lines intersecting the circle to map out her bangs. Teacher's Tip: Keep these lines flowing; hair is organic and soft, not rigid or straight.

Carefully erase the internal guide lines from the head circle. Teacher's Tip: Use a kneaded eraser if you have one; it’s gentler on the paper and won't leave messy crumbs.

Extend two curved lines downward from the head to create the neck and shoulders. Teacher's Tip: Make sure the shoulders are symmetrical to keep her posture balanced.

Connect the shoulders with a gentle, curved line to form the chest area. Teacher's Tip: A slight curve makes the drawing look more natural and less like a stiff box.

Add a rectangular shape below the chest to represent the stomach. Teacher's Tip: Keep the corners rounded to maintain the cartoon style.

Extend two long, graceful lines from the stomach that meet at a point. Teacher's Tip: The longer you make these lines, the more elegant the tail will look!

Draw two sets of curved lines at the end of the tail to form the fins. Teacher's Tip: Make them look like petals of a flower to give them a soft, underwater feel.

Add a curved line where the tail meets the stomach to show the transition. Teacher's Tip: This small detail helps define the anatomy of the mermaid.

Add a collarbone, belly button, and fin lines. Teacher's Tip: Use very light strokes for the belly button—it’s a small detail that adds a lot of realism.

Draw two curved lines from each shoulder to outline the arms. Teacher's Tip: Keep the arms relaxed at her sides for a natural pose.

Add a slight bend in the arm lines to indicate elbows. Teacher's Tip: A small angle makes the arms look like they have joints, not just straight sticks.

Use small 'U' shapes to sketch the fingers. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry about perfect fingers; simple rounded shapes look great in this cartoon style.

Draw two teardrop shapes on the chest to create the seashell top. Teacher's Tip: Make them slightly overlapping to show they are connected.

Erase any remaining guide lines on the torso. Teacher's Tip: A clean drawing makes coloring much easier later on!

Draw long, flowing lines to create Ariel's iconic hair. Teacher's Tip: Let the hair overlap the shoulders to give it volume and movement.

Add eyes, nose, and eyebrows. Teacher's Tip: Draw the eyes slightly large to give her that sweet, expressive cartoon look.

Add the mouth, pupils, and irises. Teacher's Tip: A small circle inside the pupil acts as a 'highlight' to make her eyes sparkle!

Color your mermaid! Use bright red for her hair and vibrant green for her tail. Teacher's Tip: Use light pressure with your colored pencils to layer colors for a professional look.