Dive into Mermay: How to Draw a Martini Mermaid & Mermaid on Toned Paper

I'm in love with drawing and painting mermaids, and even more obsessed with our LIVE art-alongs!  In case you missed today's episode of Brain Stretches & Sketches, don't worry, because I've always got a replay ready and waiting for ya as soon as the LIVE is over.

Today's project kicks off the beginning of "Mer-May." As a Fun Fab Drawing Club member, you'll get FOUR super FUN mermaid drawing lessons throughout the merry month of May :)

And just because it's Friday... I thought I'd teach ya how to draw a Martini Mermaid!

*All product links are affiliate & for U.S. residents only.*

Supplies are fairly minimal. I'm using a mix of alcohol markers and dual brush fineliners, but YOU use whatever you've got on hand or love most!

Supplies

​0.5 from Pentel GraphGear Mechanical Pencil Set
https://amzn.to/2GFzZlf

Bristol (11x14 for me!) https://amzn.to/3OlOZr0
Ohuhu dual brush fineliner pens (in the cute gift pack only $19 btw) https://amzn.to/3QHyB69
Assorted Copics
Archival Ink in Magenta https://amzn.to/3ydTdg9 and black

Alphabet stamps https://amzn.to/3URrdYi

🧜‍♀️Wanna start this 1.5-hour REPLAY? Let's go!!

Toned paper drawings are SO dramatic, aren't they?!

I have SO much fun with them! I hope you like this mermaid "breaking free" project as much as I do :)

As always, use whatever you love and have on hand to create her, here's what I used...​

Supplies

Strathmore Toned Grey paper (while this is Mixed Media paper, I ONLY use it dry) https://amzn.to/3Oq1sKg
Pentel GraphGear Mechanical Pencil Set
https://amzn.to/2GFzZlf
Can't afford that one? Here is a link to a super and VERY affordable (and cute!) set I just picked up that has all the same pencil leads in it!!
 https://amzn.to/3OW5YBL
Blackwing Matte pencils https://amzn.to/45mgirV
Vanish Eraser 3 pack https://amzn.to/3DJp8EF
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen https://amzn.to/47qiAbk
Copic markers Greyscale C7, C6, C5, C3 (ANY greyscale markers will do!)
White prismacolor pencil

🧜‍♀️Ready to dive into this project? Me toooooo!

Love Mermaids and need another mermaid drawing project already?!

​You got it!!

​Not Into Mermaids?

​That's ok! There are SO many other projects inside the Fun Fab Drawing Club to enjoy :) Feel free to scroll through the Visual Index to find something that does inspire you. 

If you need a recommendation, have you ever played around in the Toned Paper Classroom? There are a number of really fun projects in here to get you familiar with that medium. I often find myself reaching for toned paper because it makes shading faces an absolute BREEZE! The color of the paper becomes the mid-tone of your face, so all YOU have to do is add your brightest whites & darkest darks!! So cool, right?

​Here are some toned paper drawing projects to consider...

Or hop over to the Visual Index to scroll through EVERYTHING and choose whatever you're in the mood for today!! 

What Else is Coming Up in May?

The stunning mermaid drawing lesson below is coming up for you LIVE (again! so fun I know!!) on Sunday, May 26th at 2pm EST.  I'll teach you how to draw her with a black stabilo all pencil, and we'll activate those lines with a watercolor brush or water brush.

This will be a "cross-club" event and streaming on YouTube, so feel free to invite an artsy friend along, even if she's not a club member:)

​CLICK HERE TO GRAB PDFs
of Supply List & Reference Image

Here's the May calendar so you can keep track of what's happening when...

Looking for Something Else?

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