Interview with a mer-tail maker: part 3 ~ hardest part, favorite part, swimming

[asakiyume]

And here we are at the last mer post! I hope you’ve enjoyed spending time with the mer community and learning about making tails as much as I have. This post has Stillwater_fx’s answers to my questions about favorite things, hardest things, and the thing I most wanted to know about—can you actually swim in a mermaid tail. (Special thanks to genarti for teaching me how to make a cute Instagram tag of Stillwater_fx’s name.)

asakiyume: What’s the hardest part of tail creation?

stillwater_fx: For me, the hardest part has to be sculpting, especially sculpting big flukes and scale sheets. But it’s not the sculpting itself that makes it hard. No, sculpting is fun. It’s the hours of being hunched over or kneeling down on the floor. The pain is bad—sometimes it forces me to take a day off, sometimes two, just to rest and recuperate. And honestly, the second-hardest part for me is having to part with my babies, the tails I make, after spending so long, usually months or weeks making them. It’s so personal to me that I become attached to them.



asakiyume: What part is the most fun?

stillwater_fx: My favorite part of the tail-making process has to be designing. I have sketchbooks filled with old fin designs and styles and descriptions. It honestly looks like a mad scientist’s journal. Sometimes I like to imagine a background story for the mermaid or merman. For example, if the character is a warrior, it’s safe to say that it won’t have long and flowy fins. More like a lion fish, the fins will be looking sharp and dangerous—ready for battle. If the character is perhaps a princess, then long and flowy fins like that of a betta fish would look more aesthetic.

lion fish


betta fish


asakiyume: And is it possible to swim in a mermaid tail?

stillwater_fx: Yes, people can swim in mermaid tails. The main reason for that is the monofin. Swimming in a monofin takes a bit of practice, but once you get that dolphin movement down, you’ll be as graceful as any professional mermaid. Silicone tails can weigh up to 30 lbs. depending on a client’s size and stature. It’s also depending on how many fins they’ve ordered and the size of the caudal fins, because the caudal fin is the biggest and heaviest part of a mermaid tail.

a young mermaid—who can swim in her tail


Proof!--click for a 10-second video

I have swum upstream in rivers and against the raging seas. Swimming in a tail isn’t safe for everyone. Make sure that you are physically able to perform such a demanding task. There are always risks when in the water. Always make sure you’re not swimming alone, and if possible, that there are lifeguards on duty. And always tell someone where you’re going to be before any nature exploration, be it above or below the seas. Stay safe, guys, and I hope you enjoy this interview!

Comments

[sartorias]

The mer tails as well as those fish are so beautiful!

[asakiyume]

I had never seen betta fish before doing this interview--I'm in awe! And yeah, the tails are works of art.

[sovay]

I have sketchbooks filled with old fin designs and styles and descriptions. It honestly looks like a mad scientist’s journal.

Photographs?

a young mermaid—who can swim in her tail

Very naturally!

I swam like that under the water before I was taught how to swim like a person, overhand. I've never had the opportunity to try swimming in a tail.

[asakiyume]

I swam like that under the water before I was taught how to swim like a person --you were a mermaid natural!

[stillwater_fx]

I'll try to figure out how to send you pictures of my books if not I'll ask Asaki to send em your way.

Yes that Guppy is Mermaid Sade, kids aren't always mad friendly with me when I wear my tail probably cause I'm always in the water minding my own business lol, girls in mermaid tails are swarmed by children but I bet it's a hassle not being able to swim in peace, point is Sade was super exited to meet me and she also wanted to be a mermaid so me and her dad say down and discussed safety and they assured me that she would always be under strict supervision while in the water with or without tail, I believed in their word and made her tail and it was the best feeling seeing her big smile and under water prowess.
I still would recommend fabric tails for young kids because they are easy to get out of in case of an emergency and overall much lighter in weight outside the water, on the other hand kids grow fast and silicone tails can only stretch so much so the expensive silicone tail would be a trophy in about 2 years or less.

[asakiyume]

Sade really does make *such* a natural mermaid! She's lucky she has parents who understand her passion!

[sovay]

I'll try to figure out how to send you pictures of my books if not I'll ask Asaki to send em your way.

I would love that!

and it was the best feeling seeing her big smile and under water prowess.

She looks great. I hope she keeps it up.

[kore]

....why are the mermen so hot, damn

[asakiyume]

I hope he reads all the comments to this entry ;-)

[stillwater_fx]

We thank you ❤️🧜🏾‍♂️

[amaebi]

I don't suppose he has video of people swimming in tails?

[asakiyume]

Yes, there's a link in this entry, underneath the picture of the girl in the tail--it's blurry, but you can see her swimming in a pool.

[amaebi]

Sorry for my obliviousness! Nice to confirm and correct my guess how it works.

Excellent core strength!

I don't think I'd want to risk it in natural water, though.

[asakiyume]

Yeah, it seems Hard to me! Although apparently if you can master that motion, then at least with the mononfin, it gives a lot of power. (I still don't think I have even a fraction of the core strength it takes.)

Swimming in open water.

[stillwater_fx]

I swim in open water but it's because I've been doing it for years against River and Sea.

It's a workout with a little magic.✨
To swim against currents takes lots of stamina and training. Always practice safety when in the water!

[gale_storm]

Oh, wow, so glad that he’s making these tails and that people are buying them, for whatever reason they do!

[asakiyume]

It's a wonderful world out there, full of all sorts of cool things!