@Phantom Rider
It’s one of those little things that annoys me to no end too because it just makes them look way too much like it’s just a costume. I did have someone explain once that the reason behind it is it’s easier to draw this iconic mermaid-on-rock pose with knees:
It solves all the problems I have with depictions of mermaids by completely doing away with any semblance of a humanoid pelvis, instead being based on those of pinnipeds so the hips still flare out (hips being my second favorite part after pubes, which Mer wouldn’t have).
@NLTLF
I think there’s just something inherently funny about the word “bee”. Also there’s like a million pun possibilities XD
@Dracorex
Same here. I have my own little set of dos and don’ts for different species. Usually it’s little minor things I don’t draw like knee joints in mermaids or hands on harpies :D
Understandable. I have similar differentiations in the way I ideate my monsters (which no one will never see because I’m not good enough at drawing humanoids).
For instance, harpies and sirens, while conceptually similar, look drastically different. Sirens are kemonomimi gulls with seperate arms and wings, while harpies are feral vultures with breasts and human heads.