Aycayia

Among the Neo-Taíno nations of the Caribbean the mermaid is called Aycayia.[15][16] Her attributes relate to the goddess Jagua, and the hibiscus flower of the majagua tree Hibiscus tiliaceus

Nereida

The latest of my mermaid series - not a big story here, but the meaning of her name is "sea nymph", and in Greek mythology Nereids are deities of the sea.

Das Rheingold

Ink & Watercolor


Das Rheingold ("The Rhine Gold") is the first of the four operas that comprise Der ring Des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), by Wagner. The Rhinemaidens are the three water nymphs (Rheintöchter or Rhine daughters) who appear in Wagner's opera. Their individual names are Woglinde, Wellgunde and Flosshilde (Floßhilde), although they are generally considered as a single entity and act together accordingly. The key concepts associated with them in the Ring operas—their flawed guardianship of the Rhine gold, and the condition (renunciation of love) through which the gold could be stolen from them and transformed into a means of world power—are wholly Wagner's own invention, and are the elements that initiate and propel the entire drama.

Catalina

Persian Birds

In my researching of peacocks for this commissioned portrait of a dear friend of mine, I discovered that peacocks were once referred to as the bird of Persia, which is apt because she is too ^_^