On this page
Look closely and every part of her turns into a pattern. This zentangle mermaid coloring page shows a mermaid with one arm raised to hold up a scallop shell. Her tail is divided into bands of diamonds, chevrons and rings, then leaves and triangles. Long locks of hair are cut into pattern sections too, and a pair of arm bands repeat the same shapes. Below her, row on row of wave fans fills the page from side to side.
We made this for teens and adults. Set aside an hour or more, or treat it as a slow project over several evenings. Her face and arms stay plain, and they give your eyes a rest among all the fine work.
A tour of the patterns
The tail alone has eight bands. From the waist down you will find scales, diamonds, chevrons, rings, leaves, triangles, more scales and a checked band just above the fin. Each one sits between strong lines, so it is easy to stay in one area at a time.
Her top has three bands of its own, and small beads run along the neck. Behind her head, a round halo carries a ring of pearls and a row of leaf shapes. The background holds flowers, shells, starfish, fish and bubbles. Two large flowers mark the top corners.
Zentangle mermaid coloring page color ideas
Too many colors can turn a pattern page into noise. Pick a limited set and repeat it. Our sample uses teal, pink, yellow, orange and lilac, with plenty of white left in the mix.
- Black, gray and one bright color
- Three blues with a touch of gold
- Pink with peach and a little cream
- Rainbow bands, one color for each section of the tail
The wave fans at the bottom have rings inside each one. Color only every second ring for a light look, or fade each fan from dark at the rim to pale in the center. That one choice sets the mood for the page.
Keep her skin and face soft. A calm face gives all that pattern a center.
Tips for fine detail
Work in short sittings. Twenty minutes on one band of the tail feels good. Three hours straight does not, and your lines will get messy.
Rest your hand on a clean sheet of paper as you move across the page. Colored pencil smudges less than you might think, but marker ink can drag if it is still wet.
Use a sharp point. Sharpen often, and keep a fine marker for the smallest diamonds. If a cell is too small to fill, leave it white and move along. Nobody will notice.
What a tangle is
The word on this page comes from the Zentangle Method, a relaxing way of drawing structured patterns on small paper tiles. Its makers call those patterns tangles. Each one is built from simple strokes such as dots, lines, curves, S curves and little round orbs. You follow the steps one stroke at a time, without knowing just how it will turn out. Our drawing borrows that spirit, and it is meant for coloring.
Patterns are all over the real sea, too. A starfish has parts that spread out evenly around its center, and it can even regrow a lost arm.
Take it further
Draw your own band. On a scrap sheet, make a long strip and fill it with one repeating shape, such as dots or small waves. Do it five times and you will have a small library of ideas to use on your next page.
Art clubs can trade pages halfway through. Each person finishes a tail started by someone else, then they compare the results. It is a fun way to see how color choices differ.
More pattern pages
Fans of this style can move on to the zentangle cat coloring page. For another detailed take on the same subject, try the mermaid mandala coloring page.
Questions
What pens work best on this page?
Fine tip markers or sharp colored pencils. The pattern cells are small, so a broad crayon will cross the lines. Print on thicker paper for markers.
Do I have to color every pattern?
No. Lots of people leave some bands white and color only the others. The pattern still reads, and the page gains some breathing room.
Can I add my own patterns?
Yes. The wave fans and the plain water are good spots to add dots, lines or tiny curls of your own.
