The Vertical Castle!

Drawn with ballpoint pen and colored in digital. Illustration created for a little contest on WorldAnvil... you can read the entry (it's a lil' travel guide) here: https://www.worldanvil.com/w/fish-don-t-cry-cactusdifuoco/a/visit-the-vertical-castle21-document , and at the end of the page there's even a link to download the PDF brochure! Visit the Vertical Castle ;)

(It's another expansion for the Fish don't Cry Project)

https://fantasydiario.blogspot.com/2026/04/fish-dont-cry-masterpost.html

#FishDontCry #Fantasy #Merfolk #PistrixCulture #Pistrix #OdysSea #FnMArt

His long body stretching towards the depths, a silvery ribbon with red dorsal fin, the same of the creatures that inspired in the minds of sailors the wild shape of ancient sea serpents...

Artfight is approaching! Time to work on new Reference Sheets!

This is for our main guy, Sangreal :)

First image that will be part of his ref!

https://fantasydiario.blogspot.com/2025/12/character-sangreal.html

#FishDontCry #Merfolk #MerfolkAU #Pistrix #FollowThePistrix #DigitalDrawing #DigitalArt #FnMArt #ColoredWork #OC #OriginalCharacter 

The old king is chained. Long live the king?
Maybe he's immortal. Maybe he never was alive. Maybe he never was real.
But what do you feel, when his singular, luminous eye, pierces your soul?

Azoth, the Chained King. Just another illustration for the the Fish Don't Cry project. Ballpoint pen + a little of digital color.

https://fantasydiario.blogspot.com/2026/04/characters-king-azoth.html

#OC #FishDontCry #Merfolk #MerfolkAU #KingAzoth #Pistrix #Ballpointpen #FnMArt

King Azoth. He may or may not be a real king from the past and his people, the pistrix, may or may not have ever had a monarchy.

Another of the characters (depiction may or may be not accurate ;) for our Fish Don't Cry project!

#FishDontCry #Merfolk #Pistrix #FollowThePistrix #Fantasy #FantasyArt #Ballpointpen #FnMArt

When you're really deep in unfortunate situations, you could start thinking there's some supernatural force behind it, but that's a very, very dangerous trick.

It's a thing that can makes us feel like we have no control whatsoever in life. And sometimes it is real, sometimes we have no control.

But there are situations in which... we can actually react. Change our lifestyle, to be healthier. Change our mindset, to be more resilient.

It's not a curse, it's something much, much worse: the randomness and unpredictability of life, the consequences of the history of hundreds of years that unfolds now, in front of our eyes.

It's miserable and it's glorious. One flap of butterfly wings, one hurricane. We have always to remember that we're not the only people suffering in this world, that the net of our misfortune encompasses all the globe.

We're all going to die, and that's why we have TO LIVE, now, now, now. We have to write, to dance, to sing, we have to make so that our short lives were not in vain.

I can't touch you, but I want to put a hand on your shoulder, look you in the eyes.

«It's not a curse» I would say to you «It's the randomness of the World. And it's not your fault. I know, I know it's easier to think that it's your fault, for all the misfortune, but... it just isn't. You can't live scared forever. You have to live. There's only one of you, forever and ever, there won't be another one».

I can almost feel your tiredness. Is one and the same with mine. I'm feeling tired all the time, heavy head, heavy shoulders. Carrying the weight of a little World, but feeling like this training is not making me any stronger.

It's just momentary pain. We will become stronger, my friend. And if that's not enough... I am now lifting your curse.

Art is powerful magic. The most powerful you can imagine, my friend. I'm gonna lift your curse.

I charged this art with intention, and with the symbols that resonates with me and give me joy. Now breathe, unclench your jay, let your shoulders drop.

You are free from your curse.

#Pistrix #FollowThePistrix #Sillyposting #FishDontCry #BrokenCurse #TheCurseIsBroken

Grandma is always dramatic about human beings (she never saw one and was never hurt by a human, by the way).

#TraditionalArt #ComicPage #FishDontCry #Merfolk #Pistrix

A tiny Sangreal! We can't get enough of this guy! Working with his design is soothing, the contrasts between his colors & the various textures are so enjoyable to play with. Squeezing him like a fidget toy.

#TraditionalArt #Merfolk #Pistrix #ColoredPencil #Sangreal #FishDontCry #FollowThePistrix

What should we say? We really, really, really like oarfish.
And in these days... well, months... we feel very fascinated by these creature.So, here's some stuff from our sketchbooks.

#FollowThePistrix #TraditionalArt #Oarfish #Pistrix #DeepSeaFish #Fish