After I added some older #Mermay works on DeviantArt, I mentioned one #mermaid was based on my sister. So I had short conversation in comments and other user asked me, if I plan to draw myself or my sister as a mermaid. I thought it could be a good idea and started #drawing.
Initially I planned more stereotypical scene, treasures from a shipwreck etc. Later I thought ships nowadays would drop more modern artifacts, like electronics. So what about made this picture also a symbol of my current complicated relationship with modern tech, as an IT person with some knowledge but also kind of Luddite who actively avoid mainstream devices and services?
When I sometimes read or hear about newest drama in corporate software world, my most often first reaction is similar to this picture :blobcat_uwucry:
Mixture of surprise, shock and disgust...
#Mermay - demonic edition.
Because if hell is underground, it should be under oceans. And its gates would be in deepest place, guarded by creatures like this :blobCat_devil:
One of the advantages of joining the Fediverse is that I hear about art prompts that I (as a rather asocial type) would otherwise be entirely unaware of, often for things I haven't tried to draw before.
So anyway, apparently May is 'Mermay', where you draw mermaids? Sounds good to me! Let's draw a thing. Hopefully it's a good thing.
for #InternationalMermaidDay: The #mermaid (Merrow, Morrough, Moruach, Moruadh, Maighdean-mara, Ben-Varrey, Mary Morgan) is a continental and insular folkloric figure. Half-human, half-fish beings are found in the folklore of all #Celtic lands, from the west of #Ireland across #Scotland and England to the coasts of France. These figures most often appeared as female, although male merfolk are occasionally known.
Source: P. Monaghan Encyclopedia of #Celtic #Mythology and #Folklore
For #InternationalMermaidDay: On the Isle of Man #Conchobar met with a #mermaid fast asleep on the beach. He promptly bound the syren, but she, on waking and perceiving what had happened, besought him to liberate her; and to induce him to yield to her petition, she informed him that she was Teeval, the Princess of the Ocean; and promised that if he caused the smith Culann to form her representation on the shield surrounded with this inscription, 'Teeval, Princess of the Ocean,' it would possess such extraordinary powers that when ever he was about engaging his enemy in battle, and looked upon her figure on the shield, read the legend, and invoked her name, his enemies would diminish in strength, while he and his people would acquire a proportionate increase in theirs. Conchobar had the shield made according to the advice of Teeval, and, on his return to Ireland, such extraordinary success attended his arms, that he won the kingdom of Ulster.
Source: https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/fim/fim04.htm
mermaid
sequenceDiagram
participant z as HR Software
actor p as HR
participant g as ERP
actor k as Controller
z->>p: Export file
p-->>g: Load file to ERP
g->>g: Import file
k-->>g: Check timesheet
k-->>g: Import
k-->>g: FTP Export
g->>g: Generate file
g->>z: FTP Send
A final 2023 print for #ArtAdventCalendar: I wanted to include a Canadian folktale in #FolktaleWeek2023 so for “found” I illustrated the Mermaid of the Magdalenes. I liked the idea that this fairytale is about something as prosaic as finding tinned sardines.
The rugged east coast Magdalene Islands are all but barren of grass & trees, but the waters are rich in fish and people called it the “Kingdom of Fishes”. 🧵1/n
Finally on vacation! And finally played with my watercolors again yesterday! No idea why my first few lines made my brain go “this should be a mermaid“.. But I'm quite happy with the result. It's always interesting to see where your creativity leads you. 😊