I haven’t struggled this much with a composition in forever. Usually it’s the thing that comes easiest! But it was still my favorite part of the process:)
This piece with through several iterations. Dark water or light? Blood or no blood? I have included all for your perusal.
Right now, the one on the right is my favorite. I imagined the story behind it being that a woman was dressed as a sailor and got found out. They tied her up and threw her overboard to swim with the fishes. She will :)
Mermaids save her, of course. Then she has her revenge as a siren. If anyone has recommendations for books with mermaids or women dressing up as men to sail or do something considered a man’s job, PLEASE let me know!