Some little girls were [mer]-made to swim! I grew up on a small coastal island and spent many summers bobbing in the ocean, building sandcastles fit for Neptune himself, and running across the sandbanks as the tide washed in and out to shore. Princess of the Sea was influenced by my childhood, but inspired mostly by my daughter, who will spend as many hours in the water as she can. Stepping back and imagining her as a mermaid with all the charming friends she made beneath the waves are what helped bring this piece to life. I used a basic printmaking technique to add texture and focused on simple shapes and minimal line. This piece would be perfect for any beach-combing, pool-plunging, summer-loving girl’s room.