I've been working on my mermaid project, and I thought you might like to see how a painting like this progresses.  It's got a long way to go.  I've blocked in the background and the tail of the mermaid.  The tail needs more work because I have to paint the scales of a fish.  The fun part will be when I get to her face and hair.  Then I'll go back and refine the water and the oyster shell that she is sitting on and decide if I want to add other things like birds flying in the distance or another palm tree or two.  I'm looking forward to getting back to this, but it probably won't be until Friday.