How to Create a Mermaid in

Adobe Illustrator
This is going to be a tutorial to teach those of any skill level to create their own mermaid
character in Adobe Illustrator. This is going to be a step by step tutorial but before we
get started, you will need a paper and pencil sketch of what you want your mermaid to
look like.

Step One: Creating a new File

1. The first thing we are going to do is open a new document in illustrator. Here are
the settings for your file:

Preset Details:
Width: 612 px
Height: 792 px
Artboards: 1

Advanced Options:
Color Mode: CMYK color
Raster Effects: High(300 ppi)
Preview Mode: Default
 2. I will be naming my file Mermaid Character since that is what we are creating
today. Here is what your settings should look like:

Step Two: Creating a Background

1. First, we will begin creating a rectangle. Start by clicking the Rectangle Tool (M)
and make a 612 x 792 rectangle for the ocean water.
2. Next, apply a linear gradient to the rectangle. Making sure the rectangle is
selected, click on the gradient menu. Here are your settings for the gradient:

Type: Linear
Angle: 90 degrees
Colors:
● Left: #2f69b3
● Middle: #0ebed1
● Right: #70c8ba

3. Next we are going to create the sand bottom. Take your Rectangle Tool (M) and
create a 612 x 50 rectangle with the color #feebae.
4. Next make sure your sand rectangle is selected and click on the Curvature Tool
(Shift + ~). This next part is free hand. Start adjusting your rectangle so that there
are curves in the rectangle. Nothing at the bottom of the sea consists of only
straight lines so neither should our ground.

5. Now that we are done with the sand, we are going to make some rocks to go on
the sand. I have used a reference image for this section. Using the Pen Tool (P),
draw out your rocks. If you did not use the reference image, please make sure
you are making these rocks look three dimensional.
Reference Image:
6. When using this reference image, once you have it into your project and do your
outline of the rock with the Pen Tool(P), we are now going to use the Eyedropper
Tool(I) for the colors of the rock. Make sure the outline of the side you are going
to color is selected then use the Eyedropper Tool by clicking the color on the
reference image to color your shape.

7. Now, you have these shapes to make the rock. Right now is a great time to
group. Select all of the shapes that make up the rock and group them together
(CTRL G). This will group this as one shape in the layers panel. Rename this
group to Rock One.

8. Repeat steps 5-7 to create more rocks for your image. While you are in your
layers panel, go ahead and rename the blue gradient to Ocean and the tan
shape to Sand.
 9. Your Background should look similar to this when you are done:

Step Three: Creating the Mermaid

1. You are now ready to start creating your mermaid. First add a second layer to
your Layers Panel and name it Mermaid. Once you're done, rename the first
layer to Background and lock this layer.
2. You are going to need a sketch for this part. Draw out your sketch of your
mermaid on paper, take a photo of it, download it to your computer and drag it
into adobe illustrator.

3. I am going to hide my background layer by pressing the eye in the layer panel so
that it is easier for me to see my sketch, this is just a preference and not
required.

4. I am now going to take my Pen Tool (P) and start tracing the sketch to get the
basic shapes of the mermaid. This step should be done with no fill color and a
black stroke. This step will take some time so be patient. This is what this step
should look like once you are done:
5. Yes, it is going to look a little strange but you have to trust the process. We now
need to add color to our mermaid. Starting with the hair, select both shapes and
choose a color that you want, I used #a57ec4. I used this same color on the
eyebrows.

6. Keep adding color to the mermaid. You can use any colors you want to but her
are my colors:
● Skin: #f4d9ba
● Dark red in the mouth: #661d1e
● Tongue: #a04d4e
● Tail at her hip: #93b6e0
● Tail: #3d6ab3
● End of the tail: #104e70
● Bra: #1e959b
7. Next thing I am going to do is get rid of these strokes on our mermaid. I'm going
to replace them with a similar color, so they will still be there, but they will be less
noticeable. Here are my colors:
● Skin: #d1b295
● Hair: #8261a1
● Bra: #197c7c
● Top of the tail: #7ba2c9
● Tail: #3ab099
● Bottom of the tail: #0f4056
● Dark red in the mouth: #561b1e

8. Next we are going to create the eye and make it less creepy. Start with the pupil
by using the Ellipse Tool (L). Then do the same thing with the color of the eye,
use a radial gradient for whatever colors you like . Then draw a black line using
the Pen Tool (P) around most of the eye. Your end result should look like this:
 9. Next we are going to fix some of our stroke liens and group things together
(CTRL G). You should have four main groups: Hair, Face, Body and Tail. Within
the Face Group you should have three groups: Right Eye, Left Eye and Mouth.

Step Four: Adding Detail

1. First we are going to add some stroke lines to the end of the tail, they are going
to be in the color #0f4056. Using the Pen Tool (P), follow the shape of the end of
the tail to do this step.

2. Next is the long part, we are going to create scales for the main part of the tail.
Each of these scales are going to have to be done one at a time. Make an oval
shape in any color linear gradient you would like your mermaids tail color to be.
These scales will cover up the previous blue color we used. Follow the shape
and size of the tail as you do this step, it should look like this when you are
complete:
3. Next we are going to do step one but with the color #7ba2c9 and this will be done
with curved lines on the top part of the tail.

4. Next we are going to group the lines together and the scales together (CTRL G).
Once these are grouped and name correctly, put both groups in the Tail group.
Step Five: Final Product

1. Unlock the background layer and make it visible and adjust the mermaid to fit the
background. Then you are done!