_-+Angelfish+-_

I don't often grin from ear to ear over a picture as I'm working on it...but this one really did make me smile. I've never done anything like it. It's so weird...it's like 2009 hit and I suddenly started hitting milestones in my artwork. Go see for yourself - my gallery is proof.

Anyway, this is my contest entry for Sac Anime's digital art contest this year. So far I've gotten 3rd and 2nd places...think I can go for 1st this time? =]

And yes, she looks familiar because this is Uni as a mermaid...decked out in pearls (oysters aplenty down thar~!)
xD Somethin' I've been meaning to get done for a while now. Hence...ANGELfish. xD And based off certain types of freshwater angelfish.
I used to draw mermaids aaalll the time as a 5th grader. My classmates would constantly ask me to draw them as merfolk - it was fun. ^^ So, this is kinda like a blast from the past.

I did lots of research for this piece - especially for the fish and coral. Was certainly different. Her bow and hair clip are based off a sea slug called Janolus Fuscus. Look it up, it's cool. :]

Also...this was the first time I've used the pen tool in photoshop in years.
Even back then I didn't know how to use it. A digital art class last semester gave me better insight of it in Illustrator, and dang am I glad for it. ^^ Had to trace a pencil sketch this time around in photoshop and it's...really tedious. x_X

Aaanywho...this is scaled down like WAY. Here are some details:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/SakuraAshleigh/fishdetail1.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/SakuraAshleigh/fishdetail2.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/SakuraAshleigh/fishdetail3.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/SakuraAshleigh/fishdetail4.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/SakuraAshleigh/fishdetail5.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y60/SakuraAshleigh/fishdetail6.jpg

.....is there a way to make html links here, or what....D: