Help design a Medusa tail

[Mermaid Oshun]

I have been putting the Merdusa design off for MONTHS! I had to make Yulia's tail and I still have 2 more to make AND my own!!! But next year in 2014 I want to actually produce a tail I call merdusa. The idea is a hauntingly beautiful, flowy, multi snake like design reminiscent of medusa but very feminine and flowy. I have a very defined idea in mind already but am willing to take suggestions. SO, if you have a tail design you think would lend itself to this concept and want me to consider it as a new tail design in part or entirely.... post your sketch here.
PS The challenge is to sketch a tail that is both somewhat scary maybe but ultra feminine at the same time. It will not work for me at all if it is ONLY scary,
UPDATE: I really want designs for a tousled mess of wavy hair in a fluke. The idea of snakes is really making it hard to comprehend. I might CALL this design Merdusa but I do not want anything horrific at all.. I want a highly fantasy like fluke that looks like a mess of wavy hair flowing in the water.

[PearlieMae]

Are you offering a tail as a prize for the best design? :thinks:

[Mermaid Oshun]

that's a GREAT idea Pearlie. Let me think about what the prize can be. I can not offer another free entire tail at this time because they literally cost nearly a thousand dollars to make (not allowing a single penny for months of labor/profit) and I am not made of money. A prize of some sort is a great idea though. Suggestions?

[Mermaid Oshun]

The prize is a silicone scaled bra. Entries may be submitted until March 1st 2014.

[MerAnthony]

Ok pearl. Just say that a merman wins the prise? I don't think he wears a bra. LOL

[Yulia]

Ok pearl. Just say that a merman wins the prise? I don't think he wears a bra. LOL
Maybe a pair of bracers?

[Mermaid Oshun]

sounds good Yulia!

[Mermaid Oshun]

Inspiration for fluke: A mane of messy tousled wavy hair that can remind you of snakes.

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[Mermaid Oshun]

I am upping the stakes.... The winner will receive an entire bikini top and bottom in 100% Dragonskin silicone scales in the colors of your choice. A bustier/ corset bra is OK for the top. For guys thats a scaled silicone bikini bottom and bracers or tankini (any combination of 2) for the winner! :D AND there can be 2 winners! In such case both will receive the above for FREE!
Start drawing mers!
:mermaid kiss:

[Aziara]

SahWeeet! I'm off to find some inspiration pics then.

[Rogue Siren]

Just wanting to get an opinion of what you consider feminine/scary....but what do you think of picture? XD

http://neondragonart.com/Art/display.php?img=Sea%20Witch

[Mermaid Oshun]

Hi Millieu!!! I personally see this picture as predominantly edgy/scary. I really don't see much sultry femininity in it at all. It's interesting though!! I think the same of the dragon design I sculpted from Daphne's lovely sketch. I would have personally loved it more if it was more feminine also.

PS I actually LOVE your fins you already made!

[Rogue Siren]

What do you consider more feminine? :)

At the moment my design looks more like a pheonix/snake combination more than anything....xD


Thank you!! X3 I'm so happy with them.

[Mermaid Oshun]

Curves /serpentine as opposed to sharp corners and points/lines for one. Fluidity and natural randomness in many directions. Fine strand like texture within the curves is good! Add to that a few indications of serpent heads at the ends of the curved tips and you've really balanced it all imo. There are SO MANY ways of manifesting this though. These are just a few suggestions and I already saw a lot of both in your fins!

[Echidna]

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Not a design, but my idea how an aquatic Medusa would look like :P

[Mermaid Oshun]

I will add a poll at the end so you all can contribute votes for the winner from a few finalists.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

Oooh, I've got a couple of ideas. Now to see if I can sketch them properly.

[Soulstrifer]

Well I would say considering Medusa is often shown as a naga I'd probably say something snake ish would be good, like a cobra hood fluke... but people aren't fond of the rounded paddle like fluke.

[Mermaid Oshun]

Can you post a sketch of it here?
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This is my image of starting point for Merdusa. Very hair-like, random in directions. Enlarge the canvas with more of whatever else

[MermaidMyrthe]

On my way!

;)

[Mermaid Oshun]

Daphne brought to my attention that my vision might better be called Merdusa ANGEL because the feminine, soft, mythical fantasy element is so important to my vision of this design. -A delicate balance of the dark and the light of the softness and the edginess.

[PearlieMae]

So you are moving away from the classic mythos/image of Medusa?

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[emma11]

I wouldn't consider the image you posted "medusa" like at all. Medusa was a monster, that was her curse. She was supposed to be completely hideous to look upon even if she hadn't turned men to stone when they saw her. Her two sisters were equally hideous and terrifying. She was the perfect combination of snake and woman, terrifying is the way to describe her.

I would say you are looking more for an angelic/ fairy like design. Maybe even dark elves if you want it to have an edge? Maybe even snake like if you want that. But taking away the dangerous hideous quality of medusa makes the design not medusa at all.

EDIT: pear lie that's an awesome picture of medusa!
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[PearlieMae]

Thanks! I'm up on my mythos for the most part, and Wikipedia is a wonderful resource.

My concern is how swimmable it would be.

[emma11]

Thanks! I'm up on my mythos for the most part, and Wikipedia is a wonderful resource.

My concern is how swimmable it would be.

A medusa tail? I suppose if it was made with and extended tail with a snake front like someone else is doing I think, it could be pretty good? It's more the snake hair that would be difficult.

Of course, a tail that had snakes writhing through it would be pretty awesome. Not medusa, but disgustingly cool.


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[Seatan]

Do you want the image painted on photoshop or do you want a design sketch? Or both? (I LOVE snakes, and my two babies--albino Cali king and a ball python named Timmy and Chaz--are helping as models lol)

[Daphne]

Some additional thoughts I came up with while brainstorming this with her:

-Art Nouveau: namely the scrollwork Alphonse Mucha used in the background designs and hair of his models.
-Octopus: the closest serpentine thing to Medusa's hair. I did a post-it note sketch that I sent to her; this concept I have to refine
-Oroborous, or the Auryn from NeverEnding Story: I see this arrangement working for the top of the fluke.
-Celtic Knots: same concept as above
-Elven Filigree: All those Rivendell shots, and the patterning on Elven armor and jewelry — all of which had influence from art nouveau

[Seatan]

Okay, I am at lunch at school, but I did a quick sketch and took a pic of it. Before I elaborated on it anymore (and spent a lot of time inking and painting it!), I wanted to know if this was more like what you are going for. Note that it is mostly a solid fluke with raised molded snakes on it.

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[jazz2453]

That's a really neat design!

[Daphne]

Okay, I am at lunch at school, but I did a quick sketch and took a pic of it. Before I elaborated on it anymore (and spent a lot of time inking and painting it!), I wanted to know if this was more like what you are going for. Note that it is mostly a solid fluke with raised molded snakes on it.

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This is fun. Reminds me of swamp thing! :D What if you married a hooded octopus with a cobra head? Like you take a tail with its veins, replace the thicker veins with the cobra tail (hooded head facing in towards the feet but arranged so they're radiating out), and the hoods in between the snakes could have the scaling similar to a snake belly?

[Mermaid Oshun]

Woooo Seavanna! That is amazing! I love it just as it is.
Regarding the format question, any way you can post your sketch is fine
PS Here is an entry posted by Victoria Jewel on the MerdivasStudios Facebook page
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I love how this one covers the bust and has wing like flank fins under the arms. Looks like a hauntingly elegant, snaky, fish gown. I can see a design with the wing-like under arm/flank fins from this one and the wavy essence from Seavanna's fluke as being really over the top!

[Mermaid Oshun]

more medusa imagery/inspiration
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[Echidna]

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This is my image of starting point for Merdusa. Very hair-like, random in directions.

So you're looking for a fairy-like design? The pictures you posted remind me most of a betta tail.

As emma said, Medusa was a Gorgon/Naga, and not considered beautiful or feminine at all.
Maybe what you're thinking of is more along the lines of traditional chinese snake spirits.

These spirits were half-woman, half snake, very magical, could shapechange, and are considered to be THE most seductive and alluring beings in existence- even more so than the notoriously beautiful and attractive fox spirits.

They didn't have fluked mermaid tails though :lol:

[emma11]

Oh yeah! Caltuna is definitely the one to talk to about snake tails! Hers are gorgeous.


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[Echidna]

aww thanks!

They are all only fabric though.
I'm sure if a pro tailmaker made a silicone snaketail with sculpted scales, the result would be sooo much better.

[emma11]

That would be freaking awesome! Expensive though haha


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[Mermaid Oshun]

I like the name Merdusa and the imagery I've described. So I guess we are making our own interpretation of Merdusa. I think both of the ladies who posted sketches so far have captured the essence of what I'm going for very well... regardless of the name it might be called. :clap:

So you're looking for a fairy-like design?
A delicate balance of light and dark, of edginess and softness in a balanced creation. Again she will be both scary and beautiful in her own way. I think you may be seeing one strict definition of beauty or of beauty having only one face. There are many manifestations of beauty. We are going for hauntingly beautiful instead of "classically" beautiful. I would not get so caught up in nomenclature. A rose, by any other name is still a rose. And a sexy snake mermaid by any name is still just that. ;)

[Jeblily]

It would be cool if you could make hair extensions like this.....16460

[Seatan]

I think she means it more as a concept. Medusa is pretty iconic for the snake hair in general and though she was truly terrifying, people have used her image in all sorts of ways. She has definitely become bigger than just the actual mythology. :)

[jazz2453]

A Mermaid Medusa always makes me think of the merpeople from Harry Potter!
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[Azurin Luna]

Seavanna you stole my idea ;) (kidding) I was just thinking/designing the same tail in my head when I was traveling in the train. To bad I didn't have any paper with me or we really would have close looking tails.

I'm going to think up a different design now, got some other ideas floating around.

[Mermaid Oshun]

Azurin, you can do YOUR VERSION of this general idea that i described and Seavanna sketched. There can be unlimited interpretations of that same pattern. Your version WiLL be unique. For instance, they don't have to have snake heads. You can draw it looking like it is simply a mermaid fin with all those swirves in it! You can draw curvy mermaid fin bones with finer fin bones like combed in each cluster. Everyone's flow of curves will be different too!
Seavanna "got" what I was describing. But there can be many takes on this basic idea. Everyone's flow of curves, for instance and way of presenting it will be different. So you don't necessarily have to change course Azurin just because one sketch is similar to what you thought. That just means you both could see what I was describing for the project and each of your sketches will have its own personality! .

That's nice Jazz, but we're going for a prettier take on that. :D

[Azurin Luna]

Alright, you convinced me, I will sketch up my idea as well. I got some nice other ideas as well too :)

[SirenPearls]

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also tried a design ><"

[PearlieMae]

I love how creative this community is! Wonderful work!!!

[Mermaid Oshun]

I agree Pearlie. They are all so creative and lovely!!! I am glad you all are voting and I don't have to decide :lol:

[Mermaid Dottie]

Well, I've had this for a long time, and have offered it to multiple people, but nobody has decided to use it, yet.
http://mernetwork.com/index/album.php?albumid=214&attachmentid=2536&page=2
Like I've told just about everyone else, you can totally try this design, and it won't hurt my feelings a bit. (in fact I probably know a mer who would purchase a tail like this from you.)

EDIT: Actually, go ahead and check that out, I'm gonna get it into photoshop and try and refine it a bit.

[Seatan]

Oh my God, Dottie, I LOVE THAT!!!!! I ADORE octopi!!!! That is so wonderfully fantastic! I had NEVER thought to do the tentacles like that!

[Mermaid Dottie]

Haha, ohmigosh, thanks Seavanna. Your exclamations of excitement are so stinking adorable!
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Here's a cleaner concept sketch, the idea here being that you could choose whether or not you wanted "suction cups" on your tentacles.
The other idea is that you could paint them to look like snakes, instead, if you wanted.
There's supposed to be lacy, ruffle-y tattering along the edges. This was originally an idea for a neoprene tail, with translucent fabric on the edges, but I think it would work even better with layered silicone sheets. More durable, and easier to make identical pieces with a mold.
Here's (http://mermaiddottie.deviantart.com/art/SeaWitch-Elise-V2-402130445) an additional photoshop painting on my devart of an Octomaid skin for a LoL character.

[Echidna]

wow, I love Paperystar's concept. Pretty much perfect for a snake mermaid!

I also had an idea, in case you haven't got enough inspiration already ;)

A "normal" fluke, but the sculpted lines on it snakelike, and ending in snakeheads instead of a straight edge
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please ignore crappy pc drawing skillz.

[Mermaid Oshun]

You may enter until around the beginning of next year. Then the vote ! :D

[drucilla]

I wouldn't consider the image you posted "medusa" like at all. Medusa was a monster, that was her curse. She was supposed to be completely hideous to look upon even if she hadn't turned men to stone when they saw her. Her two sisters were equally hideous and terrifying. She was the perfect combination of snake and woman, terrifying is the way to describe her.

I would say you are looking more for an angelic/ fairy like design. Maybe even dark elves if you want it to have an edge? Maybe even snake like if you want that. But taking away the dangerous hideous quality of medusa makes the design not medusa at all.

EDIT: pear lie that's an awesome picture of medusa!
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Actually, medusa was said to be more beautiful than a goddess so much in fact that it made the goddess jealous so she cursed her, also there are some other stories about a god wanting medusa over athena so athena cursed her. So the tail could signify the point of change where one half is becoming hideous while the other is still beautiful.

[Mermaid Oshun]

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ty Drucilla. In fact, the medusa head is the Versace logo. he says "sexy is always in style."
It represents the female embracing her darker power and potence, unbridled

[cinda2030]

16495 That is my design, I was thinking of colouring but after redrawing and colouring about 4 times I figured I had the wrong colours and didn't want to ruin it.. Again. Anyways after a lot of annoyance I came up with this :) I think it looks alright but its not up to me (Thankfully) Hope you like it

[cinda2030]

16496 A bit more of an 'explanation and Idea' if thats what you wanna call it :lol: If anyone understands it and wants to reword it go ahead :D

[emma11]

Actually, medusa was said to be more beautiful than a goddess so much in fact that it made the goddess jealous so she cursed her, also there are some other stories about a god wanting medusa over athena so athena cursed her. So the tail could signify the point of change where one half is becoming hideous while the other is still beautiful.

Yes she was considered the most beautiful which is why she and her sisters were cursed to be hideous monsters. You just restated what I said. Medusa is a symbol of vanity gone wrong.

It's an interesting idea to show the change, however I still think making medusa pretty is taking out the most important and best part of her.


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[Mermaid Oshun]

feel free to submit a hideous design then Emma even though that is not what the op topic requests.
Cinda yours is gorgeous!

[emma11]

feel free to submit a hideous design then Emma even though that is not what the op topic requests

Thanks for the offer, but I don't want to submit a design. I was merely replying to someone who quoted me.


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[Mermaid Oshun]

Emma makes a valid point. Although I enjoy looking at pretty things, if anyone wants to submit a design closer to the symbolism of the myth portaying Medusa in all her fright...feel free. That would be very interesting to see in design actually!

[Jeblily]

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So the base image for this design came from http://www.elfwood.com/~cwallis/Mermaid-Sketch-3.2651091.html and was made by Courtney Wallis, and the inspiration was this picture.
http://e0.vingle.net/c_limit,fl_progressive,q_85/rxx4yteqifbz2fmeti4s.jpg
The middle of the tail would be a pearly white glitter, and the sides and back would be a purple snakeskin pattern. The snake’s stripes and spots would be outlined in black and filled with a gold and black glitter. The fluke would have two parts, the elongated snake skin would run to the end to simulate the image of a real snake and the rest of the monofin would be covered in a diaphanous fabric topped in a light purple glitter silicone. It would be folded to resemble hair and embedded in the ends would be super tiny pearly snake “fangs”. The whole tail would be super shiny and iridescent like the snake in this video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xQUwjnqUt8. Yep that’s it!!!!!

[Rogue Siren]

Here's my ideas....

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Either design with or without jewels.

[jazz2453]

The second one is GREAT and will fit in very well with MerDivas style of jewels and sparkles!

[Daphne]

Milleu's concepts really align with how I envision a naga tail to be, and I feel are very feasable in terms of build. You could even get creepy and replace those jewels with LEDs.

[Mermaid Oshun]

love them!

[Mermaid Oshun]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj743gsiuFI#t=118
I def will include wing fins like these from Victoria Jewel's design.
I would love to see some simply messy wavy hair flukes that dont actually include snakes but the random wavy locks could some what remind you of them.
Seavanna's design more like hair. lnspiration for hair fin
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But wavy and random like so
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I would LOVE to see a mermaid fluke drawn that looks like the back of JLo's head here. You draw it and I will sculpt it and produce it!

[Fifi Tigg]

Milieu I adore this design especially with the jewels :)

[Mermaid Oshun]

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[Mermaid Tula]

So I was inspired to make a rainbow of tails for you! They're inspired from the belly of a snake for the front, then snake scales on the back side. For the fluke, the tongue was my inspiration. So I sketched these up in GIMP.


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[Mermaid Oshun]

very pretty Mermaid Tula

[Mermaid Tula]

<3

[MermanZen]

Very creative design

[Mermaid Dottie]

This one has a number of tendrils coming off of it, but no extra fins or anything.

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[MermanZen]

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heres my design ideas

[Azurin Luna]

Here is my idea of a medusa mermaid tail. I hope you like them :)
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[MermanZen]

WOW that is so COOL!!!!!! I think we've got our winner. that is so cool, like the snakes could be molded, OMG I'm going insane over that design, your going to keep me up with all the ideas going through my head, that should definitely be it

[Azurin Luna]

Hehe, thank you that you like my idea :)

[MermanZen]

It is true, our imagination is our limit.

[Mermaid Oshun]

now now zen. There wont even be a vote for a couple months.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Hey, Pearl, you never said what you thought of my octopus design. How do you like it?

[MermanZen]

LOL when!! when!!

[Mermaid Oshun]

Dottie I actually LOVE your design I am trying to stay unbiased though since I will not be picking the winner. Well... I may pick ONE winner and let the forum vote for another winner.
However, if I were to make a personal suggestion about your design Dottie I would LOVE to see it with this fluke pattern in the center where you have it blank around the foot pockets
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and those hair things you have around that. I would also love to see the hair things each with an S like swirve to them instead of straight then tapering on the tips. That was the ideal I had in my mind actually and yours is very close to it if you make those modifications. i hope you can follow that
Zen I think I originally posted on here that entries can be placed here until MARCH 1st 2014

[Mermaid Caspiana]

I shall work on one with a couple ideas in mind. ;)

[MermaidMyrthe]

Ehmmmm im still going, but i am out of inspiration ;)

[Mermaid Oshun]

OK Let's switch course here. Instead of thinking of it as a snake lady tail.... THINK OF IT AS A WAVY HAIR FLUKE. I think that is a more accurate description of what I am really going for with this. I think a lot of you are right that I am not going for something horrific at all. Actually I am going for a fantasy feel of very flowy wavy hair. So I would like to not even use the name Merdusa necessarily but come up with a new appropriate name.
The main point is i want a design of a fluke that is very fantasy like and looks like a huge mess of tousled WAVY HAIR. The snake concept is just confusing and not helping to envision what I am really going for.
Remember the winner gets a free silicone bathing suit top and bottom or bracers and bottom or similar for guys. And just in time for Summer swimming. Entries until March 1, 2014

UPDATE: I really want designs for a tousled mess of wavy hair in a fluke. The idea of snakes is really making it hard to comprehend. I might CALL this design Merdusa but I do not want anything horrific at all.. I want a highly fantasy like fluke that looks like a mess of wavy hair flowing in the water.

[Echidna]

So I would like to not even use the name Merdusa necessarily but come up with a new appropriate name.
The main point is i want a design of a fluke that is very fantasy like and looks like a huge mess of tousled WAVY HAIR.
The Farrah Fawcett Fluke? :p

[Mermaid Oshun]

Farrah's hair was usually round brushed and very styled.
I am looking for like JLo's hair in a fluke. If you know the hair texture scale, it is approximately 2c wave hair.
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The central base of the fluke can look like this one
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With Jlo's wavy hair around the outer perimeter of it on sides and bottom.
So I am showing you exactly what to draw for me to select your design as my choice for a winner. Of course you guys can vote on another winner of your choice.

[MysticMerman]

Ill post some ideas today, snakes are actually just as big of a part of me as the ocean.

[Mermaid Dottie]

Dottie I actually LOVE your design I am trying to stay unbiased though since I will not be picking the winner. Well... I may pick ONE winner and let the forum vote for another winner.
However, if I were to make a personal suggestion about your design Dottie I would LOVE to see it with this fluke pattern in the center where you have it blank around the foot pockets
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and those hair things you have around that. I would also love to see the hair things each with an S like swirve to them instead of straight then tapering on the tips. That was the ideal I had in my mind actually and yours is very close to it if you make those modifications. i hope you can follow that
Zen I think I originally posted on here that entries can be placed here until MARCH 1st 2014

I'm not sure I follow....
But I can take a crack at it... did you see my octopus one though? It has lots of curls to it...
I posted it a couple of pages back.

[Mermaid Oshun]

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My own sketch for inspiration

[Mermaid Oshun]

Another inspiring find
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Imagine that as a fluke

[Miyu]

Golden Pearl, I have been thinking about this idea for a few days... sleeping on it and developing it... I will be making some sketches soon (I sketch by hand, I'm no good with photo editing at all).

[MermaidMyrthe]

Should i post my sketches here?

[Mermaid Oshun]

yes please
Should i post my sketches here?

[MermaidMyrthe]

Hope y'all like it!!! Here they are:
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Maybe the other mers find this inspirational, and i hope you like it too, Mermaid Golden Pearl!

Little note: my drawing skills are not perfect ;)

[Mermaid Oshun]

I love the ouroboros belt and top!

[MermaidMyrthe]

I love the ouroboros belt and top!

Thank you!