The name Shelly seems rather unimaginative, yet the obvious choice for this mercurial little mermaid. People have asked how I came up with the names for my “Girls”. The process, contrary to common opinion, was not at all premeditated. Only twice did I select a name before I started drawing. Both were intended as gifts, one for a newborn named Alisa and the other for my niece Zoe. All of the others were of random choosing. After I finished each girl, I would sit with her and just look, waiting for the name to come to me. Sometimes it would come quickly, other times I’d have to wait longer for it to reveal itself. Once that happened, I never questioned or second guessed. Shelly is a good ending to a pleasing experiment and personal workshop. I acquired a lot of artistic growth in the process and feel I left a little of myself in every girl.