I’d like to start by thanking everyone for voting in the most recent poll, “Which is your favorite type of fiction?”  There was almost a tie between Traditional Fantasy (elves and things) and Bizarre option, which is what my own story is closer to.   You might be interested to know that the two biggest influences on this comic, storytelling-wise, are the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.  If you pay attention, you’ll notice some homages to both in the story.  =)  There will be an element of all the fantasy types listed in my comic eventually, but of course the bizarre will be the most prevalent.  Not that you needed me to point that out, I’m sure.  XD

In other news, HOLY CRAP MERMAIDS.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/25/double-amputee-new-zealander-has-mermaid-dream-fulfilled/

Wow, this is pretty amazing.  If you were a double-amputeee (with enough money) wouldn’t you want to do this as well??

So, I bet you never thought you’d hear about this again!  Well, you’d be WRONG. XD

I used that sketch as a cover idea after all.  I was very rushed on this, so I kind of want to redo it with proper highlights and shadows.  I’ve done some sweet underwater scenes before (practices for a scene in Sister Claire, actually!) so I know I can do better.  For a plot bunny illustration, though, it’s not too bad.  And I still totally love this idea.  I’d like to do a comic of it, even if it’s just a short one-shot. XD

So I was browsing this awesome portfolio belonging to a SCAD alumni (whoo, Scaddies!) named Erica Reis, who is the creator of Sea Princess Azuri (published by Tokyopop.) I don’t know how many of you know this by now, but I am a huge mermaid fan. <3

She’s made some really gorgeous and original mermaid designs, particularly the holiday-themed mermaids (St. Patrick’s is my favorite!), but also many other fish as mermaids. (More of these can be found at her main website, under Background Characters and Species.) Overall a really well-done site with lots of information and concept art.  I would definitely check it out, especially if you’re an aspiring comic artist.  Along with her work with Tokyopop, it looks like she’s also working on the official Finding Nemo comic.  You can see more of her artwork and updates over at her deviantart page. =)

Speaking of mermaids, I realized I never posted the mermaid drawings I did this winter:

So, while I was on Erica’s site, I also found a link she’d put to this crazy site that sells mermaid tails.  Their site is… well, not the most aesthetically pleasing, but it does the job.  Mostly I liked it for the links on the right-hand side to all the photoshoots of models wearing the mermaid tails.

Beware, though.  Some of the photos look like this:

I decided to try making a mermaid mascot for the new Mermaid group I joined on DA. Normally I like basing my mermaids off real sea creatures and making them really crazy, but it seems like this group really likes the conventional “Disney” mermaids. So I toned it down a little. XD