This illustration was done for fun and technique studies. I would drink this tea if it existed.

Having painted so many whales and dolphins, I’ve always felt a real mermaid would be half dolphin, half human, because both species are mammalian. (Unfinished. Painted on gessoed hardboard in acrylic.)

While kidsitting my nieces and nephews on a beautiful summer day, I wondered why they were transfixed on a mermaid show on television and sitting inside. When I asked them if they would like to be turned into mermaids and mermen, and turn off the TV, they jumped up and we went outside and orchestrated a photoshoot resulting in these photoshop illustrated images. We all enjoyed several hours of active creativity planning the “Merkids of Summer”. The original photo(the most difficult and fun part)is shown at the bottom.

For her birthday, my niece asked to be made into a mermaid...