Building Bizarrely Beautiful Mermaid Suits
Hi, I'm Katie Scott. I grew up in Bend, Oregon, and have always sought new ways to create compelling artwork using any available medium. In my early 20s, I became an active member of the local art scene and participated in as many indie events/coffee shop galleries as possible. Painting, drawing, and digital art were my primary mediums of that time.
(Katie Scott, aka Creature Fins, in her first self-built head-to-toe silicone monster mermaid suit in 2020.)
I learned that Bend Studio, a Sony Interactive Entertainment studio, was seeking to hire a new local concept artist. With no college education or formal training, I took a chance, turning in my resume and portfolio and completing an art test that the Studio provided. As a trial, to see what I was capable of, I was granted a one-month contract as a concept artist. Now, twelve years later, I've helped Bend Studio launch the title Days Gone and am currently in production with the same Studio on a new IP.
Jump To Section
- From Digital Art to Building Realistic Mermaid Suits
- The Process of Creating Full-Body Silicone Mermaid Suits
- Combining Wetsuit Function with Form
(Some of the wall-mounted faux taxidermy creatures Katie Scott has built throughout the years.)
From Digital Art to Building Realistic Mermaid Suits
Since my full-time job involved digital art, I wanted to find a hobby outside of work that was more hands-on and less about screen time. I began building costumes for cosplay conventions and Halloween parties and eventually found myself in the mermaid scene.
(Katie Scott, with her largest faux taxidermy beast created to date.)
I bought my first silicone mermaid tail in 2012 and decided to learn how to make them on my own in 2016. After a full year of online research, I finally built my first silicone tail in 2017 and continue to improve the craft with every new build. At the end of 2019, I began to work on a full-sleeve top and a mask set to wear with the mermaid tails - all thanks to the help of a few classes from Stan Winston School.
(The Character Making Contest 2024 winner creation, "Nox," a new type of mermaid model by Katie Scott, aka Creature Fins.)
The Process of Creating Full-Body Silicone Mermaid Suits
I've been actively swimming in silicone mermaid tails since 2012 and have learned much about what provides peak performance and compelling aesthetics to enhance the experience.
(A mermaid concept artwork by Katie Scott.)
After the initial design and review, I began working on the sculpture. I use Monster Clay for everything I create and love the various ways it's able to be manipulated through heat and alcohol. I sculpt the belly and dorsal sections on a flat surface. The torso, arms, and mask require two-part molds that have to be assembled together at the end.
(The Monster Cay head sculpture by Katie Scott, ready for the cast and mold process.)
(The back of the torso sculpture, showing the mermaid's skin details.)
I cast everything in a custom blend of Ecoflex and Dragonskin silicone and then glue the parts together over a duct tape body form. The heart of my mermaid tail builds is a diving monofin; this provides the structure in the lower fin, allowing swimmers to propel themselves. During the casting process, each piece of cast silicone is reinforced with a layer of Power Mesh material ensuring it holds up to rigorous usage. I custom built the "Nox" monofin to provide an extra narrow fluke silhouette.
(The silicone skin before applying to the duct tape body form.)
(The silicon skin gluing process in the works on the duct tape body form.)
(Details of the "Nox" mermaid tail before airbrushing.)
(The mermaid tail with the custom-built monofin ready for airbrushing.)
After everything is assembled and glued together, I hang the entire tail vertically to airbrush the parts. I prefer this method rather than laying the pieces down because I can rotate the tail as I work; this allows for a more comprehensive painting with a full view during the entire process.
(Work-in-progress image of the airbrushed mermaid body.)
(The finished full-body silicone mermaid suit ready to be used in water.)
Combining Wetsuit Function with Form
The full-body suit was a journey of trying to marry function with form. I usually swim in really cold water, so I needed to figure out how to make a warm top that would blend well with my mermaid tail. I was inspired by the low profile and insulating properties of wetsuits. I also wanted these suits to be easy to get into alone in case I didn't have someone to help me, so I took that into consideration when creating each piece. No makeup is required to achieve this look, so that's pretty nice when you're in a hurry.
("Nox" with another mermaid built by Katie Scott on a SumMER Camp photo shoot.)
("Nox," "Froglet," and "Thistle" posing on a SumMER Camp photo shoot. All three mermaid suits were built by Katie Scott, aka Creature Fins.)
(The Character Making Contest 2024 winning creation, "Nox," by Katie Scott.)
My winning monster suit, "Nox," was able to realize all of these attributes. I'm proud to have innovated with full-body monster suits that bring a new element to the mermaid community. I'm excited to build on these successes and continue to innovate and grow with each new monster.
Check out the Grand Prize unboxing video here:
- Katie Scott
You can follow Katie on Instagram
Check out the Character Making Contest 2024 Winner Announcement here: Mermaid by Katie Scott.
View all the entries here: Character Making Contest 2024
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