I was looking around the art show at a local Science Fiction convention last summer with some friends, and I came across an oil painting of a merman hovering in the water. It was fairly simple, showing him hanging in dark-green waters, framed by 2 dark grey rocks (coral heads?) I commented to my companions that that image was crying out for a 3D rendering, which could add so much more detail (there wasn't even any facial detail in the painting); and this image is the result of that conversation.

The merman in question is Indigo, a character created by Dan Cortopassi, as an 'add-on' for Michael, the DAZ 3D 'Millennium Man.' I added some extra fins. Most of the other creatures in the image were created by Robert Whisenant, and sold by DAZ 3D. The pose and two framing coral heads are pretty much the same as the inspiring oil painting (unfortunately, I didn't catch the artist's name), but I added the other creatures, the 'hint' of Atlantean ruins, etc. to provide a 'context' for the merman.

• Corel Bryce 5;
• Curious Labs Poser Pro Pack;
• Dan Cortopassi's 'Indigo' character available from Renderosity.
• Manta Ray, Moray Eel, Seahorse, Triggerfish, and Lionfish by Robert Whisenant, available from DAZ (Eagle texture modifications mine).
• Clownfish by Debra Ross;