Thom Chen Art

Serenity

MerMay 2025 - 31

Two months overdue, but finally done at long last.
I used to be able to do these art challenges a lot faster, though part of that may have been the different circumstances back then to now. But I'm so glad to be done with this art challenge and move on to draw anything else for a bit before I eventually and inevitably go back to drawing mermaids again next week. Hopefully I'll have recovered a bit before easing myself back into the weekly MerMondays.

Exoskeleton

MerMay 2025 - 30

What kind of armor would mermaids wear? I feel that they'd at most wear some kind of light armor that doesn't affect their movement too much, since they would rely more on their speed and agility to avoid getting hit at all without affecting their mobility with how they fight with tridents and spears.
As for their tail, it being the largest part of their body, there'd be too much surface area to have to cover and would affect their motion and thus survivability. Plu...

Wicked

MerMay 2025 - 29

A particular scene has always stuck with me in the 2011 film "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" where they show how numerous mermaids have been caught and tied to stakes in the "jungle pools" half in the water to make their dying slow as they are harvested for their precious tears which are used as part of the ritual tied to the Fountain of Youth. Even when Blackbeard tries to force the captive mermaid Syrena to shed a tear, evoking the cries of other mermaid...

Gemini

MerMay 2025 - 28

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Slowly but surely finishing this long overdue art challenge, which means I won't have to keep drawing these two temptresses that have been haunting me for nearly three months.

Oasis

MerMay 2025 - 27

Imagine getting lost in the desert and finding more than just an oasis.

Memory

MerMay 2025 - 26

What are your earliest or fondest memories related to mermaids?

Tsunami

MerMay 2025 - 25

Mermaids are oftentimes blamed for causing storms and tidal waves since their sightings are considered a bad omen, but they are actually just trying to warn of impending danger.

Watercolor

MerMay 2025 - 24

Not as colorful as I probably could have made this for this prompt, but alas it's part of my aim to maintain some consistency with the overall series and not at all due to my skill issue and time constraints.

Already entering July and I still have seven more to go to belatedly finish my MerMay 2025 art challenge, can't be helped with how busy life has been. I'd definitely like to ease back into doing the weekly MerMondays, which is what I'll try to do with the rem...

Stitch

MerMay 2025 - 23

"Could you tell us more about this 'Ohana'?"

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I kinda feel sorry for fans of the 2002 animated film "Lilo & Stitch", among them my younger sister, who've recently had to endure seeing their beloved film get the live-action remake treatment.

Psychedelic

MerMay 2025 - 22

They fly now?!

Aquarium

MerMay 2025 - 21

Have you gotten to see a mermaid show at an aquarium? It's quite impressive to see how long they can hold their breath for, let alone do all those tricks and maneuvers almost effortlessly!

Clown

MerMay 2025 - 20

Apparently most sea anemone are harmless to humans so it stands to reason that mermaids wouldn't be affected by the tentacles, though the resident clownfish may have some complaints.

Bioluminescent

MerMay 2025 - 19

Anglerfish despite their fearsome appearance and reputation (thanks Finding Nemo) are actually rather small.

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Have you ever tried scuba diving at night? I still fondly remember my first night dive when I was going through my advanced open water scuba training course more than 10 years ago. This included doing a night dive, which I did one night with my instructor. We waded out from the beach carrying alongside our usual scuba equipment a pair of powerfu...

Abracadabra

MerMay 2025 - 18

Having deft hands, or tentacles, are useful for doing nifty tricks on ones as easily distracted as mermaids.

Eccentric

MerMay 2025 - 17

There's lots of odd looking sea creatures out there, but they're usually quite small. Not so the mola mola aka sunfish, one of the largest bony fish in the world.

Beach

MerMay 2025 - 16

Life's a beach for mermaids.

Peach

MerMay 2025 - 15

I wonder if because mermaids are so accustomed to the saltiness of seawater how they'll enjoy sweet stuff like peaches.

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Hi all, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm gonna keep going through the MerMay prompts despite it already being June. Not the first time that I've fallen behind on this art challenge, but this is I think the first time that I've fallen that far behind on it since I started doing these every year. May not have helped that I dec...

Brave

MerMay 2025 - 14

Of all the many deadly creatures that dwell beneath the waves that mermaids may have to contend with, none are more ferocious than the Sea Rabbit of Caerbannog, a deceitfully cute but bloodthirsty sea rabbit that guards the undersea cave of Caerbannog. Only brave but foolish mermaids would ignore the warnings and attempt to confront it up close.

Cabaret

MerMay 2025 Day 13

Never been to or seen a cabaret show, but I heard it involves a lot of dancing.

Redraw

MerMay 2025 Day 12

I decided for this prompt to go back and redraw this piece that I drew back in 2020 for the 26th day prompt "Shore" 2025-05-25 14:07:15 +0000 UTC View Post

Guard

MerMay 2025 Day 11

Lost & Found

MerMay 2025 Day 10

Cube

MerMay 2025 Day 9

My brain is too smooth and body too tired to figure out how 'cubism' works, so here's the two mermaids trying to figure out a rubik's cube.

I've never been able to solve a rubik's cube before.

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Been falling a lot behind on MerMay ever since I just started a new job with an eight hour shift starting before dawn. I try to draw and catch up as much as I can when I get home and in the evenings and on my weekends off, so thank you all for your patienc...

Atlantis

MerMay 2025 Day 8

I have my own sort of made up lore about Atlantis in relation to my imagining of merfolk, maybe someday I'll be able to share it without worry of cringe or judgement.

Miyazaki

MerMay 2025 Day 7

"Better to be with a pig than a fascist"

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What's your favorite Miyazaki film?
While all are great in their own way, Porco Rosso is still one of my favorites. The plot is simple and fun, Miyazaki's love of early aviation is truly apparent and all the main characters are all great. I distinctly remember watching this when I was younger thinking that Donald Curtis was the villain, but upon later rewatch I realized he wasn't a bad guy he's just being un...

Sweet Treat

MerMay 2025 Day 6

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I'm running a bit behind on the MerMay challenge since I've been so busy lately, so I hope you'll be patient with me as I try to catch up!

Drama

MerMay 2025 Day 5

"I-It's not what it looks like!"

Axolotl

MerMay 2025 Day 4

Hair

MerMay 2025 Day 3

Cosmic

MerMay 2025 Day 2

Out in the open sea the stars are extra bright at night.