My project in Narrative Illustration: Tell a Story without Words course: Fisherman and Mermaid

My project in Narrative Illustration: Tell a Story without Words course: Fisherman and Mermaid

These are illustrations to the "Fisherman and Mermaid" fun song by a Russian group Mango-Mango. Each of the images illustrate one verse of a song.

The story should be understandable without words (I hope I have succeeded), but I am including the translation for you if you are curious (I haven't tried to create the rhythm or rhyme - this is just a translation):

Old fisherman is happy with his catch
He is dragging a Mermaid by her tail,
The girl is crying - she is not in pain,
She is just disappointed to tears.

Chorus: (x2)
The sea is engulfing the dusk
I will make a fish soup today

Old Fisherman is sharpening an anchor on the stone
The Mermaid is sitting in the corner, frightened,
Two flies with angry and hungry eyes
Are exploring the moist table.

Chorus: (x2)
The sea is engulfing the dusk
I will make a fish soup today

The Fisherman comes to me often to eat bananas
And brings the Mermaid in his sac.
She sings to us about faraway lands
In her silent fish language.

Chorus: (x2)
The sea is engulfing the dusk
I will make a fish soup today

Thank you so much Enrique, this is a great course! I have used gouache before, your class has reminded me about that. And special thanks for suggesting a format 15x15cm. Even with this size it took me a week to complete all three illustrations, but the small size definitely made the task more manageable. And it is still big enough for comfortable work and for showing the final project!

One question - what do you use to seal your works to preserve them from water? Thank you!