As usual, I start with a rough. As you can see I changed the hair in the final.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvz8SXVrukMzymMsRp5GEYn7Ixov79cToTAYDoFsnvLojuZbSI3SIz_Apo6sX3v-LLE4y7iMyKUoi3eM1NHLByrNi-8wsmO6WvAjwr-LpkeqEvOV4DO2pI2GKJ5LWo01MuZUTJjTTN4d4/s400/mermaid+rough.jpg)
After transferring to the colored paper, the first step I took this time was to "ink" the line work with a brush. The black areas are actual ink, the rest of the lines are acrylic.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSV0p68sshV5cwKF2sky9thTqIdZ6cAoDuO8loGvxv2cnSVvn-cnJWvt9oEmbJOisgWElxThZT0ivxMs5i27k971ZmtDLvMT_YpatHR1PdjZQxjWEXeYrMLboZ0PCSXgk4d4PH2ZdaZIM/s400/meraid+line.jpg)
Then I built up the shading with acrylic washes.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODX0OxA7OLl3GbBD_tBT4ZiLi7SQRx2FmavhCAmOYWvyFoAeqdZQS2FL6C1BTeF66SlwQ0RO1rdpzZEF2YLqdTvHGS3G4q1HxYrQTJk8ZtTthakJmHLR_Kq_OvGCqYPOcQA4cYUHRVDk/s400/mermaid+underpaint.jpg)
And lastly I hit it with a transparent later of concentrated watercolor. That stuff can be really bright, I toned it down a lot on this one. I used a little gouache as well for the highlights and white areas.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIl3Jo0JyoYYkjmermg4y4GoRFGCMlPtfnzHhMJ88WzYlGxJfTRKIjU7hDR3OBhfe0ttOlPVYlRFfsfxBQDsh6p4kYSzdU7G1PGYiuQ1KN_YGrj3xDLqGMNk5E9gIWwf51Pwy15QIjF8/s400/mermaid.jpg)
Simultaneous to all that I like to make a color study, It's basically a guinea pig for the real thing.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOZ0bt_TiBPintxlnh6FWxyVnFIS6fL3jRQ3fT4o8EgPDX0W6L3XiPa3hcbcPnOXaLtS7CXsy8zMHqUcdvkLkyO4Jp8PJVEuFPUZlpoVEtsce_7rKsHOOZtewspuLi0XGHctfyl5Ja-Rs/s400/mermaid+study.jpg)