Salmon Coloring Pages

King of the Fish on a Long Journey

Salmon are very mysterious and strong fish that are born in rivers, swim out to the sea, and then return to the very same river where they were born to lay eggs. Travelling thousands of kilometers makes them the king of the fish!

What Kind of Nature and Meaning Do They Have?

Because of their hard-working way of life, Salmon have always been known as a symbol of good luck.

• Reaching Goals and Coming Home: They swim back from the far-away sea to their home river without getting lost. Because of this, they symbolise a strong willpower to always reach your goals.
• Big Catches and Good Food: They return to the river in autumn and bring us lots of yummy food. That makes them a symbol of plenty and a good harvest.
• Strong Life Power: They swim up the river against the strong water without giving up. This shows their strong life power.

The Mysterious Life of Salmon

A Salmon's life is a very mysterious journey.

• Being Born: They hatch from eggs in the cool upper parts of rivers.
• Growing in the Sea: They spend a few years in the sea, eating fish and tiny shrimp to grow big and strong. At this time, their bodies shine like bright silver.
• Going Back Home: When they become adults, they travel thousands of kilometers to head back to the river where they were born. Once they enter the river, their bodies change into special colors.

Changing Into Special Colors!

When Salmon return to the river and get ready to lay eggs, their bodies change into special colors.

• Boys: The boy fish turn a beech tree color with red and green patterns. Their snouts bend to make them look super tough!
• Girls: The girl fish also turn a darker color and look very strong.

How to Choose Colors: Try Cool Nuptial Colors!

The Salmon in this picture has a strong mouth, so it looks like a male Salmon that came back to the river. Let's pick colors that show the strength of the Salmon.

If you color the "nuptial colors" of a Salmon going up the river (A strong, full-of-life look)

• Body color: Use red, orange, or dark green for the base.
  • Spot pattern: Use the tiny scale lines in this picture! Boldly add a spot pattern on the back of its body using dark red or dark greenish-black. This is a special feature of the nuptial colors.
• Belly color: Color the belly a bit brighter than the back (like pale orange or light skin tone). This will make it look 3D!
• Head and mouth: Color the head and mouth with darker colors (like dark green or dark brown). This makes its strong face stand out.

If you color a "Silver Salmon" swimming in the sea (A shiny fish look)

• Body color: Use silver (gray or light blue) or light blue for the base, and color the belly white.
  • Shine: Leave the shiny spots uncolored, or use a white colored pencil over your colors. This makes the skin look nice and shiny!

How to Make It Look 3D: Show Off the Strong Muscles!

This picture of the Salmon shows the muscle shapes of its body very well. Use these lines as clues to add "shadows" and show its power as it swims up the river! Places to put shadows:

• Add shadows using a color darker than your main color in the deep spots, like around the gills, the base of the fins, and the bottom of the belly.

Places where light hits:

• Use bright colors on spots where light hits, like the middle of the back and above the eyes. This makes the body look big and strong!

Let's Add Cool Textures!

Colored pencils: Use the tip of your colored pencil to carefully color each of the tiny scale lines drawn near the top of the back. This makes it look like a real fish! Tail fin and fins: Color the lines on the tail fin and other fins with light colors so they look a little see-through. This makes them look like they are moving in the water!

Tips for Enjoying Your Coloring Page!

• Draw moving water!
  • Draw water currents and bubbles around the Salmon with light blue and white. It will look like it is swimming and splashing water everywhere!
• Look closely at nature's colors!
  • Look at books or photos of the Salmon and layer many colored pencils. This gives you deep, natural colors and makes it look even more real!