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^{Mermaids- the New Wave In Pop Culture?}

Over the past few years mermaids have been swimming there way into pop culture leaving their mark in the art world, the literature world, and the movie world. Women are taking up jobs educating and performing as mermaids while costume designers and cosplay artists are enjoying the challenge of creating realistic looking tails. This journal feature is going to share with you a little bit of the "mermaiding" world while drawing reference to the many ways in which mermaids are popping up on deviantART!


_{A shot from the First Mermaid Convention Aug 2011}

A quick peek at fantasy author Carolyn Turgeon's Mermaid Blog shows you that the mermaid genre of pop culture is alive and well. From mermaid music videos such as You and I by Lady Gaga to the well known various Mermaid use in commercials like This One Mermaids are popping up everywhere. See more mermaid commercials here and see more music videos featuring mermaids here


_{"Darwin may have been quite correct in his theory that man descended from the apes of the forest, but surely woman rose from the frothy sea, as resplendent as Aphrodite on her scalloped chariot."
― Margot Datz, A Survival Guide for Landlocked Mermaids}

Movies and TV are starting to feature mermaids as more prominent characters from the Spooky Sirens of POTC 4 or making their special appearances as listed here in a list of TV and movie appearances. See more movie trailers with mermaids in them here and TV here Mermaids are also popping up a lot in print ads. In a recent article even Stephenie Meyer is talking about writing a Mermaid Book Like the Many others all ready out there!


<sub>"I'm always happy when I'm surrounded by water, I think I'm a Mermaid or I was a mermaid.

The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective… it humbles you and makes you feel almost like you've been baptized. I feel born again when I get out of the ocean."
― Beyoncé Knowles</sub>

Now a days, anyone can be a mermaid or merman! There are many artists who sell tails ranging from easy to use fabric for recreational swimming or higher quality latex and silicone for professional performing and swimming! There are also men and women all over the world that you can hire to perform at your event or for many educate about the ocean and environmental issues. You can see a list of mermaids for hire here



The mermaid community is constantly growing with more and more people learning to make and use tails and becoming performers, educators, or both. Mernetwork is the best place to go online if you're looking to join a community where you can learn about making/buying tails, performing, hiring a mermaid/merman, various causes, and all things mer-pop culture. This past August the mermaid movement was so great that a convention was organized for the first time. It was called The World Mermaid Awards and saw over 800 mermaid/merman performers and enthusiasts from all over the world! That's a lot of fin!



So just what does it take to be a mermaid or merman? If you really want to experience it the first step is to decide if you want to swim, and if so, with what type of tail! Fabric is light weight and easy for beginners while silicone and latex are more expensive but offer something more realistic. For most mers, being a mer is more beyond the typical environment of cosplay but rather a life style defined by swimming fitness and passion for the sea and the growing pop culture. Many mermaid performers have free diving and breath holding abilities too. Check out some of these professional mers who happen to have DA accounts!

and so many more at

Mermaids have been steadily growing on deviantART and being represented in many different styles. From traditional art, digital, arts and crafts, to literature and costuming. Many mermaid pieces have actually started getting a lot of attention through DDs! Check out this sample of DD's from the past little while on DA


See the entire collection here: [link]

Mermaid Stamps on DA:


With the growing mermaid popularity artists are having lots of fun creating wonderful pieces based on the creature. The stock gallery has been growing steadily with created digital tails for photo manipulations and photos of people perfect for drawing reference or manip- some complete with excellent tails. Here are just a few of the excellent stock out there for artists to use:

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Mermaid groups are taking over DA too! From groups that only focus on fanart, to more inclusive ones that cover every genre, to ocean groups that also include mermaids it's never been easier to share the love of mermaids. Check out some of these excellent mermaid groups from DA!


Before we leave you with the rest of the mermaid art feature please check out all these relevant an interesting links to do with mermaids from around the web:
Mermaid/man forum: [link] Mernetwork on Facebook: [link] The Mermaid Dive Bar (have a beer and watch mermaids swim above your head!) [link] Mermaids online: [link] to this page to buy organic makeup by Mermaid Minerals: [link] and while you're surfing the web perhaps plan a trip to meet the Week Wachi [link] Mermaids and perhaps read a copy of the latest mermaid magazine: [link]

Some of the Mermaids and Mermen on Facebook:
Mermaid Hannah: [link]
Mermaid Raina: [link]
Mermaid Kariel: [link]
Mermaids in Motion: [link]
Mermaid Shelly: [link]
Blue Mermaid: [link]
Merbellas: [link]
Swimming Mermaid: [link]
Merman Jesse: [link]
Merman Ryan: [link]
Mermaid Jewel: [link]
Doctor Sea Weed: [link]
Black Mermaid: [link]
Taylor the Plus Sized Mermaid: [link]
Mermaid Mimi: [link]
Mermaid Marla: [link]

Okay! Now that you've got all the info, what do you say we share a little more of the fin-tastic mermaid/merman art on DA? Let's get going!
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That's all for now, don't forget to check out the group and all the others for awesome amazing mermaid artwork. This feature was brought to you by: