The Mermaid of the Depths and the Horses of the Sea: A Journey of Art, Healing, and Transformation
- Kim McElroy
- Jun 8
- 3 min read

The Little Mermaid
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a swimmer. We had a pool in our backyard in California, so as a toddler, my parents taught me to hold my breath and make it safely to the side of the pool. As a child, my favorite way to swim was alone in the still pool, gliding slowly along the bottom with my goggles. I loved to watch the kaleidoscope of rainbow colors cast along the bottom of the pool.
Often, I wore fins, and I would hold my ankles together and swim undulating like a mermaid. This notion was not initiated by books or movies. "The Little Mermaid" and "Splash" were yet to be released. When I was in the water, I wished I was a mermaid, just as when walking on the earth, I wished I was a horse.
I loved the few memorable times when we went to local beaches and I could swim in the surf. I recall how I would feel that night in my bed, my body felt as if I was still rolling along with the waves as they lulled me to sleep.
Horses and mermaids became my twin passions, as expressed in many of my childhood drawings.

The Underwater Realms
When my family started spending summers on the Hood Canal in Washington, I was able to explore my curiosity and longing for a connection with nature. Instead of dry, lifeless sand, the rocky beaches were teeming with life. On a hot summer day, it was warm enough to swim in the Puget Sound. With my fins, snorkel, and mask, I could behold the magic of the underwater realms. Small fish and crabs inhabited the shallow, clear waters amongst flowing seaweed and kelp, and the colorful anemones were like flowers opening their petals. I remember the taste of salt in my mouth and the viscosity of the water. The light that shone into the green depths was diffused in shafts and rays. In the distance, I could hear the clicking sounds of mysterious, unseen life forms.
The Connection between Horses and the Sea
When I was in high school, my mother and I moved to the Northwest. In 1989, after beginning my equine art career, I started to see visions of horses in waves. My intuition led me to create horses in the elements. I learned that horses are born of all the elements, including water. This elemental connection is reflected in myths and legends across cultures, where mystical underwater horses like the Greek hippocampus and Scottish kelpies captured my imagination. At last, my underwater experiences and love for horses had come full circle, and the dots all began to connect.

A Mermaid Tale/Tail
Though I always collected mermaid art and sculptures, the memories of my mermaid dreams were submerged in my subconscious until one day in the summer of 2023, they surfaced again. I was grieving the recent passing of my last two horses. I decided one way to reorient my inner compass was to begin swimming again. I looked up the website for the local pool, and to my surprise, there was a kids’ class called Mermaiding showing pictures of adults and kids swimming with mermaid tails! Further research showed me this phenomenon had been a trend for two decades and had become a sport, hobby, and performance art.


Becoming Kim the Kelpie: Embracing the Mermaid Within
The moment I slipped on a monofin and a flowing fabric tail, something inside me reawakened. My dreams of being a mermaid, once a joyful fantasy, became a living truth. This transformation was not just outward but deeply inward. It was more than a costume, it was a reclaiming of identity, a merging of spirit and expression.
Now, whenever I get the chance, I join my mermaid friends at whatever body of water I can find, including returning to my childhood joy of swimming in the Puget Sound.



Art as Healing and Self-Expression
Creating mystical water horses has been a way to communicate the magic and mystery that resonates within me. Each stroke of my pastels tells a story of transformation and connection to the elemental forces that inspire us. My transformation into Kim the Kelpie has allowed me to access new forms of healing and self-expression.. Through my artistic expression and personal transformation, I hope to inspire others to explore their forgotten dreams. May the horses of the sea and the mermaids of the depths inspire your soul.


WOW...Just when I think I am aware of so many amazing details of your life experiences, I see this incredible post as I had not seen your painting of your mermaid self at a young age...how fascinating to have that passion come alive for you, especially during a time of grief and loss...
God bless your path on land and sea, always...
, always!! XOXO
Kim, I love how genuine and vulnerable you are in your writing-self. I think that is what makes your words so inspiring.
Wow! I can hardly keep from smiling while watching the video and reading your blog, Kim. It’s so inspirational and you make it even more so with your wonderful way with words💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💜💜💜💜💜💜
Once again, I'm at a loss for words. This is so beautiful--the story, the deep soul connection, the artwork. Wow. I'm terrified of the sea, and uncomfortable in deep water in general. I find that interesting and something that maybe I need to explore. You always make me think, my friend! Love you!