“The Golden Rose” by Donato Giancola.

Donato made this cover painting for the book The Golden Rose.  He kept dead fish under hot lights in order to study the color and gills for the mermen.

This image tops the list of my retina resonations today.  It is a step aside from what appeals to me generally in terms of imagery these days.  However, it feeds the me of yesteryear.  It contains a good amount of dark whimsical tragedy that always strikes a chord with my obsession for the flowing line. 

I love how he has captured the luminescence of the fish skin, probably the best mermaids ive ever seen.  And the colour of death in the lady in black.  The tangle of ropes, and the movement of the waves, the wetness on the rocks .. you can see this image enlarged via here

I’ll bet you anything the original is awesome.