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This mermaid on a rock coloring page moves the action up to the surface. A smiling mermaid sits on a big gray rock with her tail stretched out along the top and her fin flicked up over the water. One hand waves high at the sky while the other rests on the rock. The sea breeze blows her long wavy hair out to one side. A bright sun glows in the corner, two clouds and a few gulls drift past, and a far green island sits behind her. Below the waves, a crab, a starfish and shells cling to the rock, and fish swim over the coral.
The picture splits neatly into sky and sea, which helps children plan their colors. It has a warm, sunny feel, like a perfect day at the beach.
Color choices for your mermaid on a rock coloring page
A purple tail with a yellow top looks lovely on the gray rock. Her fin can be teal or mint. Dark hair stands out well against a pale sky, but any color will work. Pick a hair shade and skin tone that remind your child of someone they love.
Use two blues to separate the sky and the water. Keep the sky very light, and let the sea be a stronger turquoise. For the rock, try a soft gray with a darker shade near the waterline. It will look wet there, as real rocks do when waves hit them.
- Give the crab a bright red shell.
- Draw a sailboat on the far side of the water.
- Use yellow around the sun, then fade out to pale blue.
The most famous mermaid on a rock
In Copenhagen, Denmark, a small bronze statue of a mermaid sits on a rock by the sea. It was made in 1913, and it is based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. People come from all over the world to see it. Many are surprised at how small it is. Wikipedia has a page on the statue in Copenhagen.
Find Denmark on a map with your child. It is a small country surrounded by a lot of sea, so it makes sense that sea stories come from there.
Tide pool talk
Rocks by the sea are full of life. At low tide, little pools of water stay behind, filled with crabs, snails and starfish. If you ever visit the coast, go at low tide and look closely. Wear shoes with a good grip, and stay with a grown up. Look, but do not move or take the animals.
Ask your child to find the crab and the starfish on the rock in this drawing, then add a tiny snail in one of the cracks. It makes a good lesson on how the ocean and the land meet.
Writing prompts
Why is she waving? Who is she waving to? A ship? A friend? A very confused seagull? Have your child write a postcard from the mermaid on the back of the page. Teachers can do this in class, then display the sheets as a line of postcards along a wall. It is a short task, so even reluctant writers can finish it.
Easy sea, detailed scales
Young kids can do the large sea and sky with a crayon. Older kids may enjoy coloring each scale on the tail and adding foam to the waves.
From up on that rock, a mermaid would see ships, birds and maybe a far off lighthouse. Ask your child to draw one of them tiny and pale on the line where sky meets sea. It adds distance and makes the scene look bigger.
More seaside pages
After this one, take a look at the seashell page and the beach coloring page. The baby mermaid page is a sweet choice for younger kids. You will find the whole group on our mermaid coloring pages hub.
Questions
Where is the mermaid sitting?
On a big gray rock that rises out of the sea, with a crab and shells below her.
How do I make the rock look wet?
Add a darker gray along the bottom, where the waves touch it.
Can I print this for my class?
Yes. Print as many copies as you need for school, home or library use. Please do not sell the page.
